Latest ArticlesOrganic semiconductor single crystals (OSSCs) have shown their promising potential in high-performance organic field-effect transistors (OFETs). The interfacial dielectric layers are critical in these OFETs as they not only govern the key semiconductor/dielectric interface quality but also determine the growth of OSSCs by their wetting properties. However, reported interfacial dielectric layers either need rigorous preparation processes, rely on certain surface chemistry reactions, or exhibit poor solvent resistance, which limits their applications in low-cost, large-area, monolithic fabrication of OSSC-based OFETs. In this work, polyethylene (PE) thin films and lamellar single crystals are utilized as the interfacial dielectric layers, providing solvent resistive but wettable surfaces that facilitate the crystallization of 6,13-bis(tri-isopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-PEN) and 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)-5,7,12,14-tetraazapentacene (TIPS-TAP). As evidenced by the presence of ambipolar behavior in TIPS-PEN single crystals and the high electron mobility (2.3 ± 0.34 cm2 V-1 s-1) in TIPS-TAP single crystals, a general improvement on electron transport with PE interfacial dielectric layers is revealed, which likely associates with the chemically inertness of the saturated C-H bonds. With the advantages in both processing and device operation, the PE interfacial dielectric layer potentially offers a monolithic way for the enhancement of electron transport in solution-processed OSSC-based OFETs.
Converting CO2 into value-added chemicals and fuels through various catalytic methods to lower the atmospheric CO2 concentration has been developed to be a crucial means to alleviate the energy shortage and ameliorate the ever-fragile environment status. However, the complexity of the CO2 conversion reaction and the strong reduction conditions lead to the inevitable structural evolution, making it difficult for the prior design of suitable catalytic materials. Herein, to guide the rational design of efficient catalysts, we will be centered on the thermal, electro, and photo-induced structural evolution and active species identification during the CO2 conversion, including the in situ/operando characterization techniques monitoring the activation, steady, and deactivation stage of the catalysts as well as the inherent restructuring mechanism towards active species. Besides, the future challenges and opportunities on the merits of combining the structural evolution with the adsorbed intermediates recognized by ultra-fast spectroscopic techniques, simultaneously, the combination of theoretical simulation and the results of in situ experiments will also be addressed. This review can not only guide the identification of real active species, but also provide an approach to design the specific active species towards CO2 conversion, rather than only focusing on activity, for the purpose of practical industrial application.
Numerous supramolecular macrocycles have been utilized for developing catalysts by exploiting their specific molecular recognition and ability to form inclusion complexes through noncovalent interactions. The cyclic structure and modified functional groups of these macrocycles can influence substrate and transition state stability, as well as reaction selectivity. The inner cavities of these macrocycles are particularly beneficial, as they enable substrates to adopt preorganized arrangements and serve as versatile platforms for highly efficient supramolecular catalytic systems. This minireview provides an overview of recent advancements in supramolecular catalysis using various macrocycles, such as crown ethers, cyclodextrins, calixarenes, pillararenes, cucurbiturils, and other novel macrocycles.
A practical method for the construction of difluoromethylene-containing 1,4-thiazine moieties using readily available diethyl bromodifluoromethanephosphonate (BrCF2PO(OEt)2) as difluorocarbene precusor has been developed. This transformation features the efficient capture of difluorocarbene by pyridinium 1,4-zwitterionic thiolates. A series of structurally novel and functionalized difluoromethylene-containing 1,4-thiazine derivatives were thus synthesized in good yields.
Realizing high-rate capability and high-efficiency utilization of polyanionic cathode materials is of great importance for practical sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) since they usually suffer from extremely low electronic conductivity and limited ionic diffusion kinetics. Herein, taking Na3.5V1.5Mn0.5(PO4)3 (NVMP) as an example, a reinforced concrete-like hierarchical and porous hybrid (NVMP@C@3DPG) built from 3D graphene ("rebar") frameworks and in situ generated carbon coated NVMP ("concrete") has been developed by a facile polymer assisted self-assembly and subsequent solid-state method. Such hybrids deliver superior rate capability (73.9 mAh/g up to 20 C) and excellent cycling stability in a wide temperature range with a high specific capacity of 88.4 mAh/g after 5000 cycles at 15 C at room temperature, and a high capacity retention of 97.1% after 500 cycles at 1 C (−20 ℃), and maintaining a high reversible capacity of 110.3 mAh/g in full cell. This work offers a facile and efficient strategy to develop advanced polyanionic cathodes with high-efficiency utilization and 3D electron/ion transport systems.
The photovoltaic properties of double-cable conjugated polymers are significantly influenced by the length of the alkyl linkers that connect donor backbones and acceptor side units. In this study, a series of 2-(3-oxo-2,3-dihydroinden-1-ylidene)malononitrile (IC)-based double-cable polymers with alkyl linkers ranging from C8H16 to C16H32 (Px, x = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16) were synthesized for single-component organic solar cells (SCOSCs). Among these, the linker length x = 12 (P12) is found to optimize the power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) in SCOSCs. Specifically, PCEs increase from P8 to P12 and then decline from P12 to P16. Detailed investigations of optical absorption, charge transport, and morphology provide insights into the underlying factors contributing to these PCE variations. The findings indicate that the exceptional photovoltaic properties observed in P12 can be attributed to three key factors: A delicate balance between enhanced charge separation facilitated by the increased spacer length and reduced crystallinity resulting from longer spacers, higher charge mobilities, and well-balanced hole/electron transport characteristics. This study highlights the critical role of linker length in determining the photovoltaic properties of double-cable conjugated polymer-based SCOSCs and offers valuable guidance for the design of novel double-cable conjugated polymers.
An efficient NH and C(sp3)-H functionalization of aryl ketones with benzylamines/amino acids was developed under mild conditions by virtue of anodic oxidation. A variety of functionalized 2,5-diaryloxazoles were obtained with good to excellent yields. Moreover, some important natural products can be prepared by this method. The reaction features a broad substrate scope, scalability, metal-free and chemical oxidant-free.
Aging is a natural physiological process with various challenges, related to the loss of homeostasis within the organism, which is not a disease, but a significantly strong risk factor for multiple diseases, including myocardial infarction, stroke, some age-related cancers, macular degeneration, osteoarthritis, neurodegeneration, and many others. In the body, the main manifestation of aging is cellular aging, which exists within tissues and has a local or global impact on tissue function. However, the lack of effective aging detection tools has always been an issue that cannot be ignored in the field of aging research. Therefore, it is necessary to construct a non-invasive tool for in vivo detection of aging. Here, we show that the photoacoustic probe (LGAL), which has peak excitation and emission wavelengths in the near-infrared optical window, binds in vivo and at high contrast to the hallmark of aging, and allows for the microscopic imaging of aging through the intact mice. Firstly, this tool LGAL has been successfully applied to detect senescence in cells, displaying stronger photoacoustic signals than normal cells. Then, by using the photoacoustic probe, the blood vessels and tissues inside the mice can be visualized. Young and elderly mice exhibit varying intensities of photoacoustic signals, marking the first time a probe has been used to explore the aging of blood vessels and tissues inside the mice. Finally, we monitored the changes in the degree of aging during tumor treatment under photoacoustic (PA) imaging for the first time. As the treatment time increased, the degree of aging of the tumor gradually deepened. We expect the powerful tool could be a noninvasive and powerful tool for the study of aging biology.
Spectroscopic investigations discovered that the in-situ generated phenylhydrazone anion was significantly bathochromically shifted to visible light region for photoactivation under irradiation. The photoexcited phenylhydrazone anion was potential to reduce aryl iodides via single electron transfer process for the subsequent radical chain reaction. A redox-neutral photochemical carbonylation of aryl iodides was developed on basis of the special spectroscopic features of phenylhydrazone anion. This protocol provided a convenient and efficient synthetic tool for accessing carbonylation products under redox neutral conditions without the need of transition-metals.
Melanoma is one of the most malignant skin tumors, whose high invasion is generally associated with BRAF gene mutation. Although new chemotherapeutic drugs, such as vemurafenib, have been developed to inhibit the growth of melanoma, these drugs are usually administered intravenously or orally, resulting in toxic side effects on major tissues and organs. Tetrahedral framework nucleic acids (tFNAs) are a novel type of DNA nanostructures with excellent biocompatibility and versatility which have been proven to penetrate through skin barrier with ease. In this study, we prepared tFNAs with vemurafenib and connected DNA aptamer AS1411 at the apex of tFNAs (AS1411-tFNAs/vemurafenib). On one hand, AS1411-tFNAs/vemurafenib could kill melanoma cells by blocking the mutated BRAF gene in vitro. Compared with free vemurafenib, AS1411-tFNAs/vemurafenib had no obvious toxicity to normal cells. On the other hand, AS1411-tFNAs could transfer vemurafenib to cross through the skin barrier and permeate into tumor tissues. In vivo, transdermal delivery of AS1411-tFNAs/vemurafenib could inhibit the growth of human A375 melanoma, whose inhibiting effect was stronger than intravenous administration of vemurafenib. These results demonstrated the application prospects of tFNAs combined with chemotherapeutic drugs in skin tumors.
No. 86 Xueyuan South Road, Haidian District, Beijing
010-62199257
qkjq@cast.org.cn
Copyright © 2025 China Association for Science and Technology. All rights reserved. For all open access content, the relevant licensing terms apply.
Sponsored by the Office of the Leading Group for Cybersecurity and Informatization of CAST, and supported by Science and Technology Review Publishing House
