Search

• Molecular engineering by σ-bond spacer is adopted for designing new host materials for the TADF emitter. • The newly developed host materials exhibit excellent solution processability and high triplet energy levels over 2.8 eV. • Host material with the lowest polarity achieves the highest reverse intersystem crossing rate. • Solution-processed TADF devices with a maximum external quantum efficiency up to 21.6% are demonstrated. High-performance solution-processable host materials for thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) emitters are of great significance to the development of organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). In this study, three solution-processable hosts, namely mCP-Ph, mCP-Py, and mCP-BmPy featuring a basic structure paradigm of donor-σ-acceptor (D-σ-A) are reported for green TADF OLEDs. Attributing to the well-designed structure, the three host materials exhibited high triplet energy levels and excellent solution processability. It was found that the host materials had a significant impact on the excited state characteristics of the TADF emitter, and the mCP-Ph host with the lowest dipole moment showed the highest intersystem crossing rate constants (k ISC and k RISC). In consequence, solution-processed TADF OLEDs based on the emitter 4-(4-(9,9-dimethylacridin-10(9 H)-yl)phenyl)-2,6-diphenylpyridine-3,5-dicarbonitrile (DMAC-PCN) and the host 9-(3-(9 H -carbazol-9-yl)phenyl)-3-(2,7-di- tert -butyl-9-phenyl-9 H -fluoren-9-yl)-9 H -carbazole (mCP-Ph) secured a maximum external quantum efficiency of 21.6%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the host engineering by σ-spacer. This work reveals the important principle for designing bespoke host for TADF emitters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneously achieving both effective reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) process and high values of radiative decay rate (k r)/photoluminescent quantum yield (PLQY) are critical for efficient thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) emitters. The separation of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) through typical molecular geometry tuning method guarantees a small Δ E ST but results in disfavored oscillator strength for fluorescent decay. Herein, a simple method is provided to facilitate the reverse intersystem crossing (RISC) of TADF emitters via enhancing electron donating property of donors rather than twisting the donor-acceptor configuration. Three molecules, namely Me-Cz, Me-MOC and Me-DOC, are designed and synthesized. The introduction of methoxy group enhances the electron-donating ability of carbazole. The stabilized charge transfer state features a reduced splitting energy between the first singlet and triplet excited state, thus activating TADF process. Consequently, the molecules Me-DOC and Me-MOC achieve good external quantum efficiency of 18.6% and 12.4% in electroluminescent devices. Image 1 • Two thermally activated delayed fluorescent (TADF) emitters constructed by solely carbazole as donor. • Efficient TADF-OLED with external quantum efficiency up to 18.6%. • Activating TADF process via enhancing electron donating properties of donor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on novel phenanthro[9,10- d imidazole (PI) chromophore, three deep-blue luminescent donor-acceptor molecules with different molecular configurations at the triphenylamine (TPA) core were designed and synthesized, the linear TPA-1PI, the V-shaped TPA-2PI and the star-shaped TPA-3PI. All three molecules displayed the hybridized local and charge-transfer (HLCT) excited state character, and highly efficient deep blue emissions were observed in their solution state, but only those of linear TPA-1PI and V-shaped TPA-2PI molecule were maintained in the solid state. Meanwhile, the V-shaped TPA-2PI and star-shaped TPA-3PI showed the much better thermal properties. Thus the molecular configurations of HLCT materials significantly influence their solid-state, and the V-shaped TPA-2PI molecule was highlighted because of its both deep-blue emission and good thermal stability. A double-layer device by using TPA-2PI as the emitter showed a highly efficient deep-blue electroluminescence with a very good CIE coordinate of (0.14, 0.08) and high current efficiency of 2.7 cd A−1, which suggest that it might be a promising candidate for emission-layer materials for high-performance deep-blue OLEDs. Image 1 • Three high efficiency blue emission benzimidazole derivatives were synthesized. • Different configurations compounds in linear, V and star-shape were analyzed. • All of the three compounds have hybridized local and charge-transfer properties. • TPA-2PI based OLED show deep blue emission with CIE (0.14, 0.08) and EQE max = 2.6%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sm-doped Pb(Mg 1/3 Nb 2/3 )O 3 -0.28PbTiO 3 (PMN-0.28PT) ceramic has been reported to exhibit very large piezoelectric response ( d 33 ~1300 pC/N) that can be comparable with PMN-0.30PT single crystal. Based on the Sm-doped PMN-0.28PT ceramics, a high frequency ultrasound transducer with the center frequency above 30 MHz has been designed and fabricated for intravascular ultrasound imaging, and the performance of the transducer was investigated via ultrasound pulse-echo tests. Further, for a porcine vessel wall, the 2D and 3D ultrasound images were constructed using signal acquisition and processing from the fabricated high-frequency transducer. The obtained details of the vessel wall by the IVUS transducer indicate that Sm-doped PMN-0.28PT ceramic is a promising candidate for high frequency transducers., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Hydrogen (H 2 ) is crucial in the future global energy landscape due to its eco-friendly properties, but its flammability requires precise monitoring. This study introduces an innovative thermocatalytic H 2 sensor utilizing ultrathin mica sheets as substrates, coated on both sides with Pd nanocluster (NC) films. The ultrathin mica substrate ensures robustness and flexibility, enabling the sensor to withstand high temperatures and mechanical deformation. Additionally, it simplifies the fabrication process by eliminating the need for complex microelectro-mechanical systems (MEMS) technology. Constructed through cluster beam deposition, the sensor exhibits exceptional characteristics, including a wide concentration range (from 500 ppm to 4%), rapid response and recovery times (3.1 and 2.4 s for 1% H 2 ), good selectivity, high stability, and repeatability. The operating temperature can be as low as 40 °C, achieving remarkably low power consumption. The study explores the impact of double-sided versus single-sided catalytic layers, revealing significantly higher sensitivity and response with the double-sided configuration due to the increased catalytic surface area. Additionally, the research investigates the relationship between the deposition amount of Pd NCs and the sensor's sensitivity, identifying an optimal value that maximizes performance without excessive use of Pd. The sensor's innovative design and excellent performance position it as a promising candidate for meeting the demands of a hydrogen-based energy economy.

In this study, we successfully synthesize palladium-decorated indium trioxide (Pd/In 2 O 3 ) hybrid nanoclusters (NCs) using an advanced dual-target cluster beam deposition (CBD) method, a significant stride in developing high-performance ethanol sensors. The prepared Pd/In 2 O 3 hybrid NCs exhibit exceptional sensitivity, stability, and selectivity to low concentrations of ethanol vapor, with a maximum response value of 101.2 at an optimal operating temperature of 260 °C for 6 at% Pd loading. The dynamic response of the Pd/In 2 O 3 -based sensor shows an increase in response with increasing ethanol vapor concentrations within the range of 50 to 1000 ppm. The limit of detection is as low as 24 ppb. The sensor exhibits a high sensitivity of 28.24 ppm -1/2 , with response and recovery times of 2.7 and 4.4 seconds, respectively, for 100 ppm ethanol vapor. Additionally, the sensor demonstrates excellent repeatability and stability, with only a minor decrease in response observed over 30 days and notable selectivity for ethanol compared to other common volatile organic compounds. The study highlights the potential of Pd/In 2 O 3 NCs as promising materials for ethanol gas sensors, leveraging the unique capabilities of CBD for controlled synthesis and the catalytic properties of Pd for enhanced gas-sensing performance.

At present, both the incidence and mortality rates of colorectal cancer are on the rise, making early screening a crucial tool in reducing the fatality rate. Although colonoscopy is the recommended method according to the guidelines, compliance tends to be poor. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT), a new technology that uses latex immunoturbidimetry to detect fecal blood, offers high specificity and sensitivity. Additionally, it is low-cost, easy to operate, and less likely to be affected by food and drugs, thus improving the compliance rate for population screening. Compared to other screening techniques, FIT represents a safer and more accurate option. This article reviews the application of FIT in early colorectal cancer screening., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Objective: Dysbiosis of the intestinal fungal community has been observed in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD); however, its potential role in IBD development and prevention remains unclear. Here, we explored the biological effects and molecular mechanisms of intestinal fungi isolated from human faeces on colitis in mice., Design: Intestinal fungal strains with differential abundance in IBD were cultivated in human faeces and their effects on various mouse models of experimental colitis were evaluated. In addition, the bioactive metabolites secreted by the target fungus were accurately identified and their pharmacological effects and potential molecular targets were investigated in vitro and in vivo., Results: The abundance of Candida spp was significantly higher in patients with IBD. After large-scale human intestinal fungal cultivation and functional analysis, Candida metapsilosis M2006B significantly attenuated various models of experimental colitis in wild-type, antibiotic-treated, germ-free, and IL10 -/- mice by activating farnesoid X receptor (FXR). Among the seven acyclic sesquiterpenoids (F1-F7) identified as major secondary metabolites of M2006B, F4 and F5 attenuated colitis in mice by acting as novel FXR agonists. The therapeutic effects of M2006B and its metabolites on colitis via specific FXR activation were confirmed in Fxr -/- mice., Conclusion: This study revealed that C. metapsilosis M2006B significantly attenuated colitis in mice and identified two acyclic sesquiterpenoids (F4 and F5) as major active metabolites of M2006B. Notably, these metabolites were able to effectively treat experimental colitis by selectively activating FXR. Together, this study demonstrates that M2006B could be a beneficial intestinal fungus for treating and preventing IBD., Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors were granted patents related to the preparation and use of the novel fungus (Candida metapsilosis M2006B and GDMCC 61628) and metabolites (F1–F7) as probiotics and prebiotics, respectively., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Revealing the photoluminescence (PL) origin and mechanism is a most vital but challenging topic of carbon dots. Herein, confined-domain crosslink-enhanced emission (CEE) effect was first studied by a well-designed model system of carbonized polymer dots (CPDs), serving as an important supplement to CEE in the aspect of spatial interactions. The "addition-condensation polymerization" strategy was adopted to construct CPDs with substituents exerting different degrees of steric hindrance. The effect of confined-domain CEE on the structure and luminescence properties of CPDs have been systematically investigated by combining characterizations and theoretical calculations. Such tunable spatial interactions dominated the coupling strength of the luminophores in one particle, and eventually resulted in the modulated PL properties of CPDs. These findings provide insights into the structural advantages and the PL mechanism of CPDs, which are of general significance to the further development of CPDs with tailored properties., (© 2022. Crown.)