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Recently, we demonstrated that the local heating of degassed water can generate water vapor microbubbles and induce a rapid flow around the bubble. Although flow generation involves the self-excited oscillation of bubbles at a local heating point, the conditions under which the bubbles oscillate are not fully understood. In this study, the dependence of microbubble size and oscillation frequency on the concentration of non-condensable gases in water was investigated. A continuous-wave laser beam was focused on a β -FeSi 2 thin film, and water was locally heated using the photothermal conversion properties of the film. The results showed that the lower the concentration of non-condensable gases dissolved in water, the smaller the bubble size and the higher the oscillation frequency. Furthermore, it was found that the bubbles oscillate when the amount of non-condensable gas absorbed by the bubbles, i.e., the bubble size, falls below a specific level. This study can provide a new understanding of the bubble oscillation mechanism and lead to the development of fluid control technology using bubbles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to solve the problems of low energy utilization and poor structural stability of photothermal conversion materials, a graphene-based photothermal conversion material was prepared, which was structurally integrated with a light-absorbing upper layer and a heat insulating base. During the preparation process, a tightly arranged nanotube array upper layer was constructed on the basis of graphene films by microimprinting technology, and a porous aerogel base was molded by a fixed-point titration and multiple-foaming method. The results show that the light trap constructed from graphene hollow nanotubes can significantly increase the number of light reflections and reduce light reflectivity. Meanwhile, the length of the nanotubes is directly proportional to the light-absorbing capacity of the material, which can increase the light-absorbing rate to more than 98% under the embossing conditions of 85 kN and 8h. In addition, the porous aerogel insulation base can effectively improve the photothermal conversion effect, and a photothermal conversion efficiency of 87% and a water evaporation rate of 1.3 kg/(m2 h) can be achieved at a base thickness of 6 mm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient absorption of solar radiation holds the key to photothermal utilization; however, realizing solar absorber designs with high absorption efficiency remains challenging. Herein, a nickel-based metamaterial selective solar absorber with a nanopillar array structure was proposed to realize nearly perfect optical absorption over a broad spectrum. The average absorbance is up to 96% in the 300–2033 nm wavelength range. Notably, a reasonably detailed analysis of the physical mechanism of the proposed absorber was performed in this paper, attributing the exceptional broadband absorption to the concurrent interaction with surface plasmon resonance, quarter-wavelength resonance, and electric dipole resonance. The absorption efficiency declines significantly when λ > 2.5 μm, with only 20% absorptivity at λ = 6 μm in the radiation-absorbing transition region. This decline is desirable, as it contributes to reducing the emissivity in the mid-infrared range and, therefore, prevents self-radiation. The results demonstrate that the selective absorber possesses the potential to capture solar energy within a broadband, while avoiding undesirable self-radiation, thereby enhancing the integral efficiency of the solar energy conversion system. Moreover, the absorption spectrum shows insensitivity to polarization and angle of incidence. The selective solar absorber proposed here offers excellent performance with a simple structure, showing great promise in the field of photothermal conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exploring new oil absorbing materials with high adsorption rate remains a global challenge. Hydrophobic porous materials with photothermal conversion property are an attractive option to address oil spills. Herein, the organosilicon (hydroxyl‐terminal polydimethylsiloxane) was used to modify polyurethane (PU) foam to endow it good hydrophobic and compressible properties. Meanwhile, polypyrrole (PPy) with photothermal effect was introduced to endow PU foam with excellent photothermal properties. The PPy@Si/PU composite foams can reach 77.1 and 49.6°C under the laser and simulated sunlight (with the intensity of 1 kW/m2), respectively. The raised temperature of PPy@Si/PU foam makes it adaptable to reduce the crude oil's viscosity and improve its oil adsorption rate. The maximum oil adsorption rate of PPy@Si/PU foam can obtain 175% and 145% under the laser and simulated sunlight, respectively. Therefore, the PPy@Si/PU foam possesses effective photic‐driving oil adsorption capacity, which has a good prospect to be an efficient oil spills treatment material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] NIR-IIa fluorescence imaging (FI) and NIR-II photothermal therapy (PTT) have gained popularity due to the advantages of high temporal and spatial resolution and deep penetration. However, the hyperthermia (>48 °C) of conventional PTT with nonspecific warming and thermal diffusion may inevitably cause damage to healthy tissues or organs surrounding the tumor. Therefore, it is highly desirable to provide effective cancer treatment by implementing mild photothermal therapy (mPTT) at mild temperatures with lower laser power density. Here, the nanotheranostic platform FN@P-GA NPs with NIR-II absorption and NIR-IIa emission was developed by constructing J-aggregates. FN@P-GA possesses good biocompatibility, favorable NIR-IIa FI performance, decent stability, and high photothermal conversion efficiency (57.6 %), which lays a solid foundation for FI-guided mPTT. Due to its ability to effectively down-regulate the expression of HSP90 and reduce cellular thermoresistance to kill cancer cells, FN@P-GA successfully achieved NIR-IIa FI-guided mPTT and demonstrated its potent anti-tumor effect under 1064 nm laser irradiation at mild temperature and low power density (0.3 W/cm2). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Ni-NiO@CNFs/ZnIn 2 S 4 -Vs was prepared by electrospinning and solvothermal methods. • The different photothermal conversion abilities of Ni and CNFs convert NIR into heat energy. • The hydrogen production rate of the best sample (0.9Ni-NiO@CNFs/ZIS-Vs) was as high as 29.16 mmol·g−1·h−1. • Under Vis-NIR conditions, the apparent activation energy (Ea) of 0.9Ni-NiO@CNFs/ZIS-Vs is as low as 9.28 kJ·mol−1. • The photothermal conversion efficiency of the 0.9Ni-NiO@CNFs/ZIS-Vs sample is 61.42%. Photothermal synergistic catalysis is a novel technology that converts energy. In this study, ZnIn 2 S 4 with S-vacancy (ZIS-Vs) is combined with Nickel, Nickle Oxide and Carbon Nanofiber aggregates (Ni-NiO@CNFs) to create a multi-interface coupled photocatalyst with double Schottky barrier, double channel and mixed photothermal conversion effect. Theoretical calculation confirms that the Gibbs free energy (ΔG *H) of the S-scheme heterojunction in the composite material is −0.07 eV, which is close to 0. This promotes the adsorption of H* and accelerates the formation of H 2. Internal photothermal catalysis is achieved by visible-near infrared (Vis-NIR, RT) irradiation. The internal photothermal catalytic hydrogen production rate of the best sample (0.9Ni-NiO@CNFs/ZIS-Vs) is as high as 17.24 mmol·g−1·h−1, and its photothermal conversion efficiency (η) is as high as 61.42 %. Its hydrogen production efficiency is 20.52 times that of ZIS-Vs (0.84 mmol·g−1·h−1) under visible light (Vis, RT) conditions. When the Vis-NIR light source is combined with external heating (75 ℃), the hydrogen production efficiency is further improved, and the hydrogen production efficiency (29.16 mmol·g−1·h−1) is 26.75 times that of ZIS-Vs (1.09 mmol·g−1·h−1, Vis-NIR, RT). Further analysis shows that the increase in hydrogen production resulted from the apparent activation energy (Ea) of the catalyst decreasing from 16.7 kJ·mol−1 to 9.28 kJ·mol−1. This study provides a valuable prototype for the design of an efficient photothermal synergistic catalytic system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glutathione-mediated copper sulfide nanoplatforms with morphology and vacancy dependent photothermal catalytic activity for multi-model tannic acid assays. [Display omitted] Interface engineering and vacancy engineering play an important role in the surface and electronic structure of nanomaterials. The combination of the two provides a feasible way for the development of efficient photocatalytic materials. Here, we use glutathione (GSH) as a coordination molecule to design a series of Cu x S nanomaterials (Cu x S-GSH) rich in sulfur vacancies using a simple ultrasonic-assisted method. Interface engineering can induce amorphous structure in the crystal while controlling the formation of porous surfaces of nanomaterials, and the formation of a large number of random orientation bonds further increases the concentration of sulfur vacancies in the crystal structure. This study shows that interface engineering and vacancy engineering can enhance the light absorption ability of Cu x S-GSH nanomaterials from the visible to the near-infrared region, improve the efficiency of charge transfer between Cu x S groups, and promote the separation and transfer of optoelectronic electron-hole pairs. In addition, a higher specific surface area can produce a large number of active sites, and the synergistic and efficient photothermal conversion efficiency (58.01%) can jointly promote the better photocatalytic performance of Cu x S-GSH nanomaterials. Based on the excellent hot carrier generation and photothermal conversion performance of Cu x S-GSH under illumination, it exhibits an excellent ability to mediate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through peroxide cleavage and has excellent peroxidase activity. Therefore, Cu x S-GSH has been successfully developed as a nanoenzyme platform for detecting tannic acid (TA) content in tea, and convenient and rapid detection of tannic acid is achieved through the construction of a multi-model strategy. This work not only provides a new way to enhance the enzyme-like activity of nanomaterials but also provides a new prospect for the application of interface engineering and vacancy engineering in the field of photochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of advanced photothermal materials for personal thermal management to improve thermal comfort and regulate heat exchange between the human body and the environment is a focal point of research. Herein, this study presents the design of in situ metal-ion-incorporated photothermal GO films with high light capture efficiency (98.51% of GO--Fe-0.3 film) and exceptional photothermal conversion capability (~61.3 °C under 1 solar illumination), offering temperature adjustability within the range of 39.1--61.3 °C. This temperature adjustability is facilitated by the straightforward control of the metal ion content, which enables versatile applications in daily human thermal regulation and high-temperature medical contexts. Furthermore, this strategy demonstrates scalability and flexibility through the variation of metal ion types. Practical simulations using a tailored flexible and wearable device reveal a rapid temperature increase of ~61.5 °C within 600 s. Therefore, the in situ metal-ion-incorporated photothermal GO films exhibit significant potential in advancing photothermal conversion for adaptable personal thermal management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of multifunctional nanocarriers with enhanced photothermal efficiency is of great significance for the photothermal therapy of cancer. In this study, hollow CuS@gold nanorods/polydopamine (HCuS@AuNRs/PDA) nanohybrids with synergistically enhanced photothermal efficiency were prepared by electrostatic self-assembly method. The high photothermal conversion efficiency of HCuS@AuNRs (55.88%) is attributed to the interfacial electron transfer between CuS and AuNRs, as well as the increase in free charge carrier concentration. The excellent adhesion performance and strong negative charge of PDA ensure a high doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) loading efficiency of 96.08% for HCuS@AuNRs/PDA. In addition, HCuS@AuNRs/PDA reveals outstanding NIR/pH dual-responsive drug release properties owing to the weakened interaction between PDA and DOX in acidic media and the distinct NIR responsiveness of HCuS@AuNRs. In vitro cell viability results confirm that HCuS@AuNRs/PDA could efficiently kill tumor cells under the dual effect of acidic media and NIR laser. This study presents a novel nanocarrier with synergistically enhanced NIR photothermal responsiveness and high drug loading capacity, which provides a versatile platform in intelligent drug release and photothermal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localized foaming of polymers is promising to fabricate polymeric composite structures for applications in biomedical, aerospace, automotive, etc. However, the severe pyrolysis and carbonization of polymer chains during localized foaming may degrade the bulk strength. Herein, a mild localized foaming strategy is proposed to fabricate poly(lactic acid) (PLA) micro‐foams within dense PLA matrices using ultrafast lasers. The PLA substrates doped with graphene (Gr) and azodicarbonamide (AC) are developed for mild foaming. A picosecond laser is applied to pattern PLA micro‐foams on the PLA/Gr/AC substrates to fabricate porous/nonporous micro‐composite structures. The thermal behavior of the PLA/Gr/AC substrates is characterized to evaluate their capability in photothermal conversion and mild foaming during ultrafast laser pulses. To optimize the laser foaming process, the microstructure of the laser‐foamed PLA processed with different laser parameters is studied. It demonstrates that the oxidation of the functional groups dominates the side reactions on the PLA chains with slight variation in molecular weight during laser foaming, indicating that the PLA chains keep almost intact and mild localized foaming is realized. Furthermore, the developed technology is demonstrated for micro‐patterning and texturing, material toughness programming, and shape memory programming, showing promising applications for smart materials, metamaterials, micro‐robotics, and biological scaffolds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lignin is the main component of plant cell walls, conferring upon lignocellulosic biomass both excellent mechanical and barrier properties. At the same time, the considerable number of unsaturated groups and conjugated structures present in lignin render it a promising candidate for applications in the optical domain. In recent years, the development of the optical properties of lignin and lignin-derived optical materials has paved the way for a novel avenue of lignin valorization. This review is concerned with the mechanisms of lignin-derived optical materials, with particular emphasis on the physical and chemical structures that are linked to their optical performance, including UV absorption, photothermal conversion, and photoluminescence. Additionally, the potential applications of these materials in energy storage, bioimaging, structural materials, and photonic crystal are also presented, demonstrating the unique optical properties of lignin. Finally, the challenges and future directions of lignin as an optical material are presented, with the objective of developing lignin into a polymer biobased raw material that can serve advanced emerging industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Give the emergence of drug resistance in bacteria resulting from antibiotic misuse, there is an urgent need for research and application of novel antibacterial approaches. In recent years, nanoparticles (NPs) have garnered significant attention due to their potential to disrupt bacteria cellular structure through loading drugs and special mechanisms, thus rendering them inactive. In this study, the surface of hollow polydopamine (HPDA) NPs was utilized for the growth of Prussian blue (PB), resulting in the formation of HPDA-PB NPs. Incorporation of Co element during the preparation process led to partial doping of PB with Co2+ ions. The performance test results demonstrated that the HPDA-PB NPs exhibited superior photothermal conversion efficiency and peroxidase-like activity compared to PB NPs. HPDA-PB NPs have the ability to catalyze the formation of hydroxyl radicals from H2O2 in a weakly acidic environment. Due to the tiny PB particles on the surface and the presence of Co2+ doping, they have strong broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. Both in vitro and in vivo evaluations confirm their efficacy against various bacterial strains, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, and their potential to promote wound healing, making them a promising candidate for advanced wound care and antimicrobial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven interfacial evaporators (SDIEs) have recently attracted considerable interest due to their ability to harvest abundant solar energy and treat seawater/wastewater for both freshwater production and electricity generation. However, during photothermal conversion in SDIEs, a portion of the incident sunlight is inevitably wasted, which presents an opportunity for potential alternative applications. There are also other types of harvestable energy like interactions between absorber materials’ surfaces and water/ions—called hydroelectricity (HE), as a form of renewable energy. This review paper provides an overview of studies focusing on utilizing SDIEs with a single structure capable of simultaneously producing freshwater and electricity, referred to as all‐in‐one hybrid SDIEs, with a particular emphasis on the HE power generation mechanism, which is the most commonly applied. An introduction to the photothermal conversion of sunlight into heat and fundamental aspects of the HE effect in hybrid SDIEs are discussed accordingly. The key results from studies on photothermal materials employed in all‐in‐one hybrid SDIEs are then explained and compared. This review will be concluded by spotlighting recent advancements, existing challenges, and promising opportunities that lie ahead for the materials used in these systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing CO 2 by CH 4 (CRM) is of great significance for alleviating greenhouse effects and fuel shortages. However, the high energy consumption and low yield of fuel, as well as the deactivation of Ni based catalysts constrained its development. Herein, a novel Ni–CeO 2 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst for photothermal catalytic CRM merely upon focused light irradiation was reported. Very high yield of H 2 and CO (80.2 and 96.3 mmol min−1 g−1) and excellent catalytic durability were achieved. The results of UV-VIS-IR diffuse reflectance spectra and experimental test indicate that high yield of H 2 and CO originates from efficient photothermal conversion and the molecular activation effect of light. More importantly, Ni–CeO 2 /Al 2 O 3 exhibits better carbon deposition resistance than Ni/Al 2 O 3. The structural characterization and experimental evidences reveal that the active lattice oxygen in CeO 2 nanoparticles can be transferred to Ni nanoparticles via Ni–CeO 2 interface to accelerate carbon oxidation and form oxygen vacancies. The formed oxygen vacancies can re-adsorb and activate CO 2 to form new active lattice oxygen. [Display omitted] • Dual nanoparticles catalyst with rich Ni–CeO 2 interface was synthesized. • High production rate of H 2 and CO were achieved for photothermal catalytic merely upon focused light irradiation. • Molecular activation effect of light enhanced production rate of H 2 and CO. • Rich Ni–CeO 2 interface enhanced the carbon deposition resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field-controlled micromanipulation represents a pivotal technique for handling microparticles, yet conventional methods often risk physical damage to targets. Here, we discovered a completely new mechanism for true noncontact manipulation through photothermal effects, called thermal-optical tweezers. We employ a laser self-assembly photothermal waveguide (PTW) for dynamic microparticle manipulation. This waveguide demonstrates superior photothermal conversion and precision control, generating a nonisothermal temperature field. The interaction of thermal convection and thermophoresis within this field creates a microfluidic potential well, enabling noncontact and nondestructive particle manipulation. By varying the path of PTWs in lithography and manipulating laser loading modes, diverse manipulation strategies, such as Z-shaped migration, periodic oscillation, and directional transport, are achievable. Our innovative noninvasive micromanipulation technology minimizes not only physical damage to target objects but also enables precise and diverse manipulation of micro entities, opening up new avenues for the photothermal control of cells and biomolecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CS-PVA@DFC composite hydrogel was first developed. • CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel showed significantly enhanced mechanical properties. • Simultaneous evaporation and dye adsorption performance was evaluated. • CS-PVA@DFC showed a high and stable evaporation rate of 2.34 kg·m−2·h−1. • A mechanism of simultaneous evaporation and dye adsorption was proposed. Solar-driven photothermal conversion can produce clean water from dye wastewater while leaving the dye in the evaporation medium. Herein, a biomass-based composite hydrogel via down-fiber carbon (DFC) aerogel modified with chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (CS-PVA) hydrogel was designed to address the aforementioned problem. The CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel integrated the capacity of simultaneous clean water production/dye adsorption during the day and continuous dye adsorption during the night. Furthermore, the modification of the CS-PVA hydrogel endowed the composite hydrogel with enhanced compression stress of 190.07 kPa (76.03 times that of DFC aerogel of 2.50 kPa) and impressive resilient recovery. Moreover, the CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel possessed solar light absorption of 99.56 % and strengthened water replenishment capacity due to the high porosity and CS-PVA hydrophilic network structure. The CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel demonstrated a stable, high evaporation rate of 2.34 kg·m−2·h−1 and simultaneous dye adsorption capacity of 70.39 % for treating methyl orange dye solution within 5 h. Additionally, the 24-h outdoor test showed that the CS-PVA@DFC hydrogel possessed excellent clean water production capacity during the daytime (reaching 4.17 kg·m−2·h−1 at 1:00p.m.) and continuous satisfactory dye adsorption capacity all day (89.68 %). These findings will inspire researchers seeking opportunities to improve the mechanical properties of aerogel and its application for treating wastewater, especially wastewater with harmful dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A stable organic radical dye has been synthesized which showed high fluorescence intensity in the NIR-II region; • Polypeptide nanoparticles encapsulating the dye shows high bright in NIR-II region with high photothermal efficiency; • Mild photothermal therapy (m-PTT) has been achieved using the nanoparticle; • M−PTT led to the creation of immunostimulatory tumor vaccines. Stable organic radicals have emerged as a promising option to enhance fluorescence quantum yield (QY), gaining traction in medical treatment due to their unique electronic transitions from the ground state (D 0) to the doublet excited state (D 1). We synthesized a stable dicyanomethyl radical with a NIR-II fluorescence QY of 0.86 %, surpassing many NIR-II organic dyes. Subsequently, amphiphilic polymer-encapsulated nanoparticles (NPs) containing the radical were created, achieving a NIR-II fluorescence QY of 0.32 %, facilitating high-contrast bio-imaging. These CNPPs exhibit self-enhanced photothermal properties, elevating photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) from 43.5 % to 57.5 % under 915 nm laser irradiation. This advancement enables more efficient photothermal therapy (PTT) with lower dye concentrations and reduced laser power, enhancing both feasibility and safety. Through regular fractionated mild photothermal therapy, we observed the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and an increase in cytokine expression, culminating in combined mild phototherapy (m-PTT)-mediated immunogenic cell death (ICD). Consequently, we developed an immunostimulatory tumor vaccine, showcasing a novel approach for refining photothermal agents (PTA) and optimizing the PTT process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Phase junctions exhibit great potential in photocatalytic energy conversion, yet the narrow light response region and inefficient charge transfer limit their photocatalytic performance. Herein, an anatase/rutile phase junction modified by plasmonic TiN and oxygen vacancies (TiN/(A-R-TiO 2 -Ov)) is prepared through an in-situ thermal transformation from TiN for efficient photothermal-assisted photocatalytic hydrogen production for the first time. The content of TiN, oxygen vacancies, and phase components in TiN/(A-R-TiO 2 -Ov) hybrids can be well-adjusted by tuning the heating time. The as-prepared photocatalysts display a large specific area and wide light absorption due to the synergistic effect of plasmonic excitation, oxygen vacancies, and bandgap excitations. Meanwhile, the multi-interfaces between TiN, anatase, and rutile provide built-in electric fields for efficient separation of photoinduced carriers and hot electron injection via ohmic contact and type-Ⅱ band arrangement. As a result, the TiN/(A-R-TiO 2 -Ov) photocatalyst shows an excellent photocatalytic hydrogen generation rate of 15.07 mmol/g/h, which is 20.6 times higher than that of titanium dioxide P25. Moreover, temperature-dependent photocatalytic tests reveal that the excellent photothermal conversion caused by plasmonic heating and crystal lattice vibrations in TiN/(A-R-TiO 2 -Ov) has about 25 % enhancement in photocatalysis (18.84 mmol/g/h). This work provides new inspiration for developing high-performance photocatalysts by optimizing charge transfer and photothermal conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper is relatively low cost and highly abundant compared with the well-studied noble metals such as gold and silver. However, the poor plasmonic and high susceptibility towards oxidation limit the study of its optical properties and applications as well. Herein, copper nanoparticles@polycarbonate (Cu@PC) composites were prepared by using a facile one-step solvothermal method. The Cu@PC composites have strong localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPR) due to that the PC shell can induce the particles to form many-particles system with different particle numbers, which not only lead to overlap and hybridize of the LSPR modes, but also shift the LSPR away from the interband transitions, and the PC layer also prevents the oxidation of Cu nanoparticles. The photothermal conversion efficiency of Cu@PC composites reaches 41.1% under 808 nm continuous wave (CW) laser irradiation which is higher than previously reported Cu nanomaterials that have been reported. Meanwhile, the composites also have high photothermal stability. Moreover, interfacial evaporator is prepared by assembling the Cu@PC composites on scouring sponge as light absorption layer which has > 92.8% absorption in entire solar spectrum range. Its seawater evaporation rate is 3.177 kg·m−2·h−1 with a Eevaporator/Ewater of 5.2. The high evaporation rate interfacial evaporator with low cost, simple, and scalable approach shows great application value in the field of photothermal evaporation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal conversion at the water-air interface has been considered a promising route for steam generation, distillation and desalination. Due to the strong lattice vibration, high conductivity and substantial thermal stability, carbon materials, such as carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide and graphene, are considered promising photothermal materials for solar-driven water evaporation. However, most of the interfacial photothermal evaporators based on graphene are hydrophobic and often require complicated systems with multiple components. Herein, a 3D porous Cellulose/Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Graphene photothermal aerogel membrane that has distinctive properties, i.e., creditable hydrophilicity, broadband light absorbance and substantial thermal stability is fabricated by freeze-drying method. When the graphene content is 15 wt%, the light absorbance of the hybrid aerogel membrane is improved remarkably. Under the simulated solar irradiation (1 kW m− 2), the surface temperature of the wet aerogel is 48.6 °C, and the evaporation rate reaches 1.17 kg m− 2 h− 1, and the evaporation efficiency is 71.12%, benefit from the excellent photothermal conversion of graphene and the porous structure of the aerogel. Such all-in-one solar distillation and self-containing evaporation mode indicate the great potential of the cellulose aerogel membrane for practical solar-driven seawater desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of conjugated polymer–based water‐soluble nanoparticles for near‐infrared‐II (NIR‐II) fluorescence (FL; 1000–1700 nm)‐guided photothermal therapy holds promise in advancing cancer treatment. However, excessive nonradiative decay leads to almost complete quenching of conjugated polymers’ fluorescence. Therefore, a critical challenge is to suppress nonradiative decay while maintaining high‐quality fluorescence imaging and excellent photothermal conversion efficiency. In this study, a series of NIR‐II‐conjugated polymers with aggregation‐induced emission (AIE) effects are designed and synthesized using the Stille coupling reaction. The dual enhancement strategy of modulating the AIE units and introducing non‐conjugated backbone into the polymer backbone resulted in BCT1 with a high αAIE value of 3.27. BCT1 nanoparticles exhibit excellent NIR‐II fluorescence, a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 70.51%, and a tenfold enhancement in fluorescence compared with BT1. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments validated their good biocompatibility and outstanding performance in NIR‐II fluorescence imaging for accurately determining the location of tumors. This study provides a novel strategy and method for designing and developing multifunctional conjugated polymers for NIR‐II fluorescence imaging–guided photothermal therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The challenge in treating diabetic foot infections caused by drug‐resistant bacteria is rapidly eradicating bacteria and accelerating wound healing. NIR‐II‐induced photothermal therapy (PTT) offers notable advantages over conventional treatments, such as broad‐spectrum bactericidal efficacy, better penetration depth in biological tissues, and higher skin tolerance thresholds, making it particularly suitable for addressing diabetic foot infections. Herein, it is found that NIR‐II dye IR26 exhibited good photothermal effects but poor photothermal stability. By modifying IR26 with methoxy and triphenylamine groups, a novel D–A–D‐type NIR‐II small molecule photothermal agent (IRC) is developed, with high photothermal stability and photothermal conversion efficiency (44.3%). IRC exhibited a maximum absorption wavelength of 1166 nm and a maximum emission wavelength of 1238 nm. However, PTT alone cannot effectively promote diabetic wound healing. Therefore, a novel nanoplatforms (Cur‐IRC@PCM) are developed by coloading IRC and curcumin, a natural wound–healing compound, into thermosensitive liposomes to treat MRSA‐infected diabetic wounds. Under 980 nm laser irradiation, Cur‐IRC@PCM provided PTT and controlled the precise release of curcumin, effectively synergizing to eradicate drug‐resistant bacteria and accelerate wound closure. The intelligent antibacterial nanoplatforms Cur‐IRC@PCM also exhibits excellent biocompatibility, rendering it a promising therapeutic tool in biomedical fields for combating drug‐resistant bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal is a significant solar energy conversion process on Earth, and photothermal‐responsive protocells are a potential model for prebiotic chemistry. Here, polydopamine microcapsules are fabricated via emulsion droplets‐templated interfacial polymerization and investigated their potential as synthetic protocell models for photothermal conversion and utilization. DNAzyme‐mediated dopamine peroxidation and polymerization occur at the water/oil interface of the emulsion droplets, facilitated by a biphasic microfluidic technique, leading to the formation of uniform polydopamine microcapsules, which retain structural integrity upon transfer into a continuous water phase. These microcapsules exhibit size‐dependent semi‐permeability and high photothermal capability due to their broad spectral absorbance. The photothermal‐mediated temperature rise within the microcapsules triggers DNA denaturation and rearrangement, and intermittent photothermal irradiation modulates reversible phase separation of DNA condensates, mimicking membrane‐less organelles. This work suggests that interfacial polymerization fabricated polydopamine capsules are a plausible photothermal protocell model that can demonstrate aspects of primitive abiotic cellularity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design of near‐infrared photosensitizers with high photodynamic and photothermal synergistic therapeutic properties is of great significance for tumor therapy. In this study, An‐cyclic‐BDP with excellent near‐infrared absorption (ε = 1.94 × 105 m−1 cm−1 at 804 nm) is prepared using a dual strategy of twisted π‐conjugated system induction (T‐π‐CSI) and spin‐orbit charge transfer (SOCT). Theoretical calculations, steady‐state and transient absorption spectra are used to investigate the intrinsic regulatory mechanisms between molecular structure and intersystem crossing (ISC) capacity. The results indicate that the application of the T‐π‐CSI and SOCT approach can be superimposed to increase ISC capacity and the triplet lifetime of An‐cyclic‐BDP (τ = 2961 ps). Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) results confirm that An‐cyclic‐BDP has the ability to generate hydroxyl radical (·OH) and singlet oxygen (1O2). Furthermore, the calculated 1O2 yield of An‐cyclic‐BDP is found to be 13%. The experimental results of the photothermal conversion indicates that An‐cyclic‐BDP exhibits a photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 48%. In vitro cell experiments demonstrate that An‐cyclic‐BDP‐NPs, constructed by encapsulating An‐cyclic‐BDP with DSPE‐mPEG2000, exhibit excellent biocompatibility and tumor cell‐killing ability. Therefore, the strong near‐IR absorption photosensitizer prepared in this study exhibits significant potential for application in the area of photodynamic and photothermal synergistic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small organic photothermal agents (PTAs) with absorption bands located in the second near‐infrared (NIR‐II, 1000–1700 nm) window are highly desirable for effectively combating deep‐seated tumors. However, the rarely reported NIR‐II absorbing PTAs still suffer from a low molar extinction coefficient (MEC, ϵ), inadequate chemostability and photostability, as well as the high light power density required during the therapeutic process. Herein, we developed a series of boron difluoride bridged azafulvene dimer acceptor‐integrated small organic PTAs. The B‐N coordination bonds in the π‐conjugated azafulvene dimer backbone endow it the strong electron‐withdrawing ability, facilitating the vigorous donor‐acceptor‐donor (D‐A‐D) structure PTAs with NIR‐II absorption. Notably, the PTA namely OTTBF shows high MEC (7.21×104 M−1 cm−1), ultrahigh chemo‐ and photo‐stability. After encapsulated into water‐dispersible nanoparticles, OTTBF NPs can achieve remarkable photothermal conversion effect under 1064 nm irradiation with a light density as low as 0.7 W cm−2, which is the lowest reported NIR‐II light power used in PTT process as we know. Furthermore, OTTBF NPs have been successfully applied for in vitro and in vivo deep‐seated cancer treatments under 1064 nm laser. This study provides an insight into the future exploration of versatile D‐A‐D structured NIR‐II absorption organic PTAs for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In optical materials, the development of absorbers for a wide spectrum is a focal point of research. A pivotal challenge lies in ensuring the stability and durability of optical absorbers, particularly at elevated temperatures. This study introduces a novel approach to creating absorbers with diverse colors, focusing on the synthesis and properties of black crystal wires. In contrast to black gold nanoparticle (Au NP) precipitates, which change color within hours under similar conditions, the method involves strategically trapping Au NPs within defects during the growth of single crystals. This results in black crystal wires that not only exhibit broadband absorption but also maintain exceptional stability even under prolonged exposure to high temperatures. The method also involves the controlled synthesis of colorless and red crystal wires. As a proof of concept, these stable black Au crystal wires demonstrate superior performance in photothermal conversion applications. The methodology, derived from the crystal growth process, presents a defect template that offers a novel approach to material design. Furthermore, these unique crystals, available in various colors, hold significant promise for a range of unexplored applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar‐driven interfacial evaporation is an emerging desalination technology that can potentially relieve the freshwater scarcity issue. To obtain high and continuous evaporation rates for all‐weather, chemically engineered structural materials have been widely explored for simultaneous photothermal and electrothermal conversion. However, many previously reported fabrication processes involve poor integration and considerable energy loss. Herein, a scalable photo‐electro‐thermal textile is proposed to enable high efficiency, long‐term salt rejection, and solar‐driven desalination. Specifically, the photo‐electro‐thermal yarns with a core (commercial electric wire)‐shell (polypyrrole‐decorated Tencel) structure realize the integration of electrothermal and photothermal conversion. The wrapping eccentricity of 1.53 mm and pitch of 3 T cm−1 for the electric wire are rationally regulated to achieve a high surface temperature of over 52 °C at a 3 V DC input. As a result, exceptional and stable evaporation rates of 5.57 kg m−2 h−1 (pure water) and 4.89 kg m−2 h−1 (3.5 wt.% brine) under 1 kW m−2·radiation with a 3 V input voltage are realized. Practical application shows that the textiles can achieve high water collection of over 46 kg m−2 d−1 over the whole day of operation. The constructed photo‐electro‐thermal textile‐based evaporator provides an effective method for commercial and scalable photo‐electro‐thermal conversion to achieve high‐performance and salt‐resistant solar‐driven desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanospheres have limited enzymatic activity that hinders further application in catalytic therapy, but they have an "oxidation switch" to enhance their catalytic activity by increasing oxygen vacancies. In this study, according to the defect-engineering strategy, we developed PtCuOX/CeO2-X nanozymes as highly efficient SOD/CAT mimics by introducing bimetallic copper (Cu) and platinum (Pt) into CeO2 nanospheres to enhance the oxygen vacancies, in an attempt to combine near-infrared (NIR) irradiation to regulate microenvironment for osteoarthritis (OA) therapy. As expected, the Cu and Pt increased the Ce3+/Ce4+ ratio of CeO2 to significantly enhance the oxygen vacancies, and simultaneously CeO2 (111) facilitated the uniform dispersion of Cu and Pt. The strong metal-carrier interaction synergy endowed the PtCuOX/CeO2-X nanozymes with highly efficient SOD/CAT-like activity by the decreased formation energy of oxygen vacancy, promoted electron transfer, the increased adsorption energy of intermediates, and the decreased reaction activation energy. Besides, the nanozymes have excellent photothermal conversion efficiency (55.41%). Further, the PtCuOX/CeO2-X antioxidant system effectively scavenged intracellular ROS and RNS, protected mitochondrial function, and inhibited the inflammatory factors, thus reducing chondrocyte apoptosis. In vivo, experiments demonstrated the biosafety of PtCuOX/CeO2-X and its potent effect on OA suppression. In particular, NIR radiation further enhanced the effects. Mechanistically, PtCuOX/CeO2-X nanozymes reduced ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac-1) and p-p65 protein expression, as well as ROS levels to remodel the inflammatory microenvironment by inhibiting the ROS/Rac-1/nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling pathway. This study introduces new clinical concepts and perspectives that can be applied to inflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal immunotherapy represents an effective approach for eliminating both local and metastatic tumors through priming of the tumor‐specific immune response. Cytosolic delivery of double‐stranded DNA via pH‐responsive vehicles is recently verified to activate the cyclic guanosine monophosphate–adenosine monophosphate (GMP‐AMP) synthase‐stimulator of interferon genes (cGAS‐STING) pathway, which is robust in activating both innate and adaptive antitumor immunity. Herein, multifunctional phototheranostics with excellent photothermal conversion capacity, second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) fluorescence, and cGAS‐STING activating capacity are prepared by encapsulating fish testis DNA and conjugated boron dipyrromethene tetramers with poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) and poly(ethylene glycol)‐b‐poly(lactic‐co‐glycolic acid) via a CaCO3‐assisted double emulsion method. The obtained phototheranostics (coined DB4CaP NPs) after intravenous administration gradually accumulate in tumor regions, as shown by NIR‐II fluorescence imaging. Together with local 915 nm laser exposure, primary tumors in mice treated with DB4CaP NPs could be effectively eradicated, with a complete response of 83.3%. Furthermore, such DB4CaP NPs could synergize with anti‐programmed cell death protein 1 immunotherapy to suppress the growth of distant unirradiated and rechallenged tumors through activating the antitumor immune response. This study highlights a promising strategy for eradicating tumors, particularly invisible and unresectable micronodules, through NIR‐II fluorescence imaging‐guided photothermal immunotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A conjugated polymer, P4TTD-DPP, based on tetra-fused isoindigo-alt-diketopyrrolopyrrole, has been synthesized as a photothermal therapeutic nanotransducer within the near-infrared-II (NIR-II) window. P4TTD-DPP exhibits a notable mass extinction coefficient of 62.8 L g−1 cm−1 at 1064 nm. Additionally, P4TTD-DPP nanoparticles demonstrate remarkable photothermal conversion efficiency of 91.5% at 1064 nm and exhibit excellent anticancer efficacy under photothermal conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The utilization of graphene aerogel encapsulated phase change materials (PCMs) presents a promising strategy to achieve solar‐thermal energy conversion and storage. However, the self‐stacking effect and inherent lattice defects in graphene aerogel significantly restrict its overall performance in the encapsulation of PCMs. Herein, interfacially self‐assembled amino‐attapulgite/graphene hybrid aerogels (GNA) are prepared via inspired by the mortise‐tenon structure. Thanks to the structural regulation of the graphene aerogel by the amino‐attapulgite nanofibers, the hybrid aerogels establish a continuous heat transfer pathway inside and ensure stable encapsulation of PCMs. The solar‐driven shape‐stabilized composite PCMs (LA/GNAb) based on GNAb impregnated with lauric acid (LA), which achieves coordinated enhancement of the effective encapsulation rate for LA (93.1%), thermal conductivity (1.164 W m−1 K−1), and photothermal conversion capability (90.5%). Drawing upon the photothermal conversion and thermal storage properties of LA/GNAb, this study demonstrates its advanced applications in solar‐driven desalination and solar‐thermoelectric generation. The evaporator and generator with integrated LA/GNAb show a high evaporation rate of 2.13 kg m−2 h−1 and a stable power density of 1.57 W m−2 under 1‐sun irradiation, respectively, which can sustain additional operating time even under the dark. This work provides new insight into the design of multifunctional solar‐driven thermal interfacial materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The construction of lightweight yet robust, durable magnetic transition metal carbides and/or nitride (MXene) aerogels is highly desired for assembling high‐performance, multifunctional architectures. However, the fabrication and application of magnetic MXene aerogels is severely restricted by their inferior mechanical strength and poor water/oxygen resistance. Here, sustainable cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) are employed for assisting in the physical and chemical dual cross‐linking to strongly bind the MXenes and MOF‐derived magnetic nanoparticles. The dual‐crosslinked magnetic MXene aerogels (D‐MMAs) achieve a density as low as 12 mg cm−3, and acquire a significantly improved mechanical strength of up to 1311% over physically crosslinked ones, as well as remarkably improved hydrophobicity, and oxidation stability. Furthermore, the multifunctional integration of efficient and tunable electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption, remarkable photothermal conversion, thermal insulation, prominent oil‐water separation, thin/thick oil and dye absorption capability, and the remote magnetic controllability is accomplished. Notably, the D‐MMA performs a maximum absorption intensity of −63.9 dB, and accomplishes a specific reflection loss of −1105 dB mm−1, comparable to the best MXene‐based EMW absorbers ever reported. Given its facile, scalable, and sustainable manufacturing approach, the multifunctional D‐MMAs hold great application prospects in various fields of next‐generation electronics, special equipment protection, defense, and aerospace. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper utilized the hydrothermal method and freeze-drying technology to prepare the macroscopic aerogel structure and powder structure of MOF-808/RGO. Through comparative analysis of aspects such as photocatalytic CO 2 reduction performance, electron transfer efficiency, macroscopic structure, and microstructure, it has been discovered that aerogel structure can provide favorable conditions for mass transfer of CO 2 and water molecules, and light propagation. The introduction of RGO successfully captures electrons and the reduction reaction occurs on the surface of the material. [Display omitted] • Macroscopic aerogel and powder structures of the MOF-808/RGO composite photocatalysts were fabricated separately and used for comparison. • The photocatalytic performance of the MOF-808/RGO macroscopic aerogels in reducing CO 2 to CO was approximately 16 times that of MOF-808 and 12 times that of RGO. • The aerogel structure provides an abundance of pore structures within the material. • The presence of the aerogel structure successfully enhanced the photothermal and photoelectric conversion efficiencies of the composite photocatalysts. Three-dimensional (3D) macroscopic aerogels have emerged as a critical component in the realm of photocatalysis. Maximizing the integration of materials can result in enhanced efficiency and selectivity in photocatalytic processes. In this investigation, we fabricated MOF-808/reduced graphene oxide (RGO) 3D macroscopic aerogel composite materials employing the techniques of hydrothermal synthesis and freeze-drying. The results revealed that the macroscopic aerogel material exhibited the highest performance in CO 2 reduction to CO, particularly when the concentration of RGO was maintained at 5 mg mL−1. In addition, we synthesized powder materials of MR-5 composite photocatalysts and conducted a comparative analysis in terms of photocatalytic CO 2 reduction performance and electron transfer efficiency. The results show that the macroscopic aerogel material boasts a high specific surface area, an abundant internal pore structure, and increased active sites. These attributes collectively enhance light energy utilization, and electron transfer rates, thereby, improving photothermal and photoelectric conversion efficiencies. Furthermore, we conducted in-situ FT-IR measurements and found that the M/R-5 aerogel exhibited the best CO 2 adsorption capacity under a CO 2 flow rate of 10 mL min−1. The density functional theory results demonstrate the correlation between the formation pathway of the product and the charge transfer pathway. This study provides useful ideas for realizing photocatalytic CO 2 reduction of macroscopic aerogel materials in gas–solid reaction mode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polylysine-modified near-infrared (NIR)-emitting CDs assemblies (plys-CDs) were synthesized through post-solvothermal reaction of NIR-emitting CDs with polylysine. The obtained plys-CDs not only inherit the superior photothermal conversion efficiency of up to 54.9 %, but also exhibit significantly enhanced NIR fluorescence emission. Due to the increased particle size of about 40 ± 8 nm, plys-CDs exhibit enhanced the efficacy of tumor accumulation via intravenous injection, leading to improved performance in tumor photothermal therapy. [Display omitted] A key challenge to enhance the therapeutic outcome of photothermal therapy (PTT) is to improve the efficiency of passive targeted accumulation of photothermal agents at tumor sites. Carbon dots (CDs) are an ideal choice for application as photothermal agents because of their advantages such as adjustable fluorescence, high photothermal conversion efficiency, and excellent biocompatibility. Here, we synthesized polylysine-modified near-infrared (NIR)-emitting CDs assemblies (plys-CDs) through post-solvothermal reaction of NIR-emitting CDs with polylysine. The encapsulated structure of plys-CDs was confirmed by determining morphological, chemical, and luminescent properties. The particle size of CDs increased to approximately 40 ± 8 nm after polylysine modification and was within the size range appropriate for achieving superior enhanced permeability and retention effect. Plys-CDs maintained a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 54.9 %, coupled with increased tumor site accumulation, leading to a high efficacy in tumor PTT. Thus, plys-CDs have a great potential for application in photothermal ablation therapy of tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) have emerged as a versatile and multifunctional platform applied in bioimaging, disease treatment, electrocatalysis, and water purification. The synthesis of MPNs with mesoporous frameworks and ultra-small diameters (<200 nm), crucial for post-modification, cargo loading, and mass transport, remains a formidable challenge. Inspired by mussel chemistry, mesoporous metal-phenolic nanospheres (MMPNs) are facilely prepared by direct deposition of the metal-polyphenol complex on the interface of oil nano-droplets composed of block copolymers/1,3,5-trimethylbenzene followed by a spontaneous template-removal process. Due to the penetrable and stable networks, the oil nano-droplets gradually leak from the networks driven by shear stress during the stirring process. As a result, MMPNs are obtained without additional template removal procedures such as solvent extraction or high-temperature calcination. The materials have a large pore size (∼12.1 nm), uniform spherical morphology with a small particle size (∼99 nm), and a large specific surface area (49.8 m2 g−1). Due to the abundant phenolic hydroxyl groups, the MMPNs show excellent antioxidative property. The MMPNs also have excellent photothermal property, whose photothermal conversion efficiency was 40.9 %. Moreover, the phenolic hydroxyl groups can reduce Ag+ in situ to prepare Ag nanoparticles loaded MMPNs composites, which have excellent inhibition performance of drug-resistant bacteria biofilm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic black materials possessing hydrophilicity are scarce but can be of great importance in areas such as solar water evaporation and solar steam generation. Herein, for the first time, transition‐metal selenite hydrates (specifically, Earth‐abundant metals Ni and Co) not only possess high solar absorbance (>96 %) in the solar spectral range (UV–vis–NIR) but also excellent hydrophilicity, which plays a key role in water transport in the solar steam generation. The hydrophilic behavior in selenite hydrates originates from trapped "water of hydration" inside its crystal lattice, which can easily form hydrogen bonds with other water molecules, facilitating water transport. Owing to the abovementioned properties, the studied selenite hydrates are tested for solar water evaporation, showing excellent water evaporation rates of 1.83 and 2.34 kg m−2 h−1 for nickel selenite hydrate and cobalt selenite hydrate, exceeding the theoretical limit of 1.47 kg m−2 h−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of semiconducting polymers (SPs) with simultaneous second near‐infrared (NIR‐II) absorption and multimodal phototheranostic functions is highly desired in the field of oncotherapy. Aggregation‐induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have been acknowledged to possess unique potential in integrating multiple diagnostic and therapeutic modalities into one organic molecule. Nevertheless, SPs are hard to achieve AIE activity due to their extended π‐conjugated skeletons as well as the large and planar configuration of commonly‐used electrophilic acceptor moieties. Herein, an ingenious acceptor dimerization‐based acceptor distortion strategy is proposed in current work by taking advantage of the sterically encumbered acceptors with large and planar structure for the successful construction of AIE‐active SPs. Through further finely adjusting the molecular donor–acceptor interaction strength, one of the obtained AIE‐active SPs named SP3 bearing the highest intramolecular charge transfer effect presented desired NIR‐II absorption and aggregation‐induced NIR‐II fluorescence emission, good reactive oxygen species production ability, as well as superior photothermal conversion performance. Accordingly, SP3 is selected to fabricate into nanoparticles and successfully applied in the NIR‐II laser‐triggered fluorescence‐photoacoustic imaging‐guided photodynamic‐photothermal therapy of tumors. This study represents the first NIR‐II excitable AIE‐active SP, and offers a new perspective on designing advanced multimodal phototheranostic polymers for efficient treatment of malignant tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photothermal conversion in plasmonic nanohelices is studied, unveiling how helical nanostructures made from metals with a notable interband activity ‐such as cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni)‐ exhibit a remarkable temperature rise ΔT up to ≈1000 K under illumination. Such outstanding ΔT values exclusively occur at wavelengths close to their localized plasmon resonances (ΔT is significantly lower off resonance), and therefore the photothermal conversion of these nanoparticles is spectrally selective. The exceptional and spectrally selective temperature rise is demonstrated at near infrared (NIR) wavelengths, which prompts the use of Co and Ni helical nanoparticles in a wide range of photothermal applications including solar energy conversion, seawater desalination, catalysis, or nanomedicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advancing photothermal therapy hinges on developing PTAs with robust in vivo delivery and therapeutic efficacy. However, effective molecular design approaches for high‐performance PTAs remain lacking. Herein a strategic design of dimeric heptamethine cyanine (Cy7) molecules is presented, covalently linked via ortho/meta/para‐phenyldithiol. These designs facilitate spontaneous nanoparticle assembly in water, attributed to efficient intermolecular aggregation, enhancing in vivo delivery. Additionally, aggregation between intramolecular Cy7 units promotes superior photothermal conversion efficiency (PCE) up to 74.1% for meta‐dimer. Remarkably, the para‐dimer variant not only achieves a high PCE of 61.1% but also exhibits the most effective pharmacokinetic profile, leading to unparalleled anticancer efficacy in vivo. This dual aggregation strategy, leveraging both inter‐ and intramolecular dynamics, equips dimeric Cy7 with superior self‐delivery and photothermal efficacy, offering a promising approach for the next generation of photothermal therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conducting polymers (CPs) encompass various cutting‐edge fields owing to their combination of polymer and conducting properties. However, the mismatch between the polymer growth process and the carrier mobility design leads to poor material and device consistency, and insufficient long‐term device stability, thus hindering the practical application of CPs. Although 2D construction has been explored to address these challenges, it typically leads to materials instability and lacks methods for large‐scale synthesis, making it unsuitable for many application scenarios. Here a universal biomineralization‐like strategy relying on the joint impaction of hydrogen‐bond and gravity for large‐scale fabrication of 2D CPs is developed. As‐fabricated meter‐scale Polypyrrole films exhibit high orderliness and can be assembled into multilayers, allowing for adjustable thickness and transparency. Notably, these films demonstrate exceptional photothermal properties and remarkable long‐term stability, as their surface temperature can reach 140 °C when irradiated with an 808 nm laser at 0.7 W cm−2, with almost no attenuation after 170 days. Furthermore, under sunlight, the temperature can reach nearly 100 °C, showcasing significant potential in smart building and energy management applications. Importantly, this strategy can be extended to the 2D design of numerous light organic compounds, thus opening up possibilities for their practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of nanomaterials is crucial to upgrading of modern industry. MXene nanosheets have attracted significant attention due to their superb resistance to permeation, diverse surface chemical properties, impressive mechanical properties, and metal‐like electrical and thermal conductivity, etc., providing unique advantages in various technical fields. When MXene nanosheets are combined with polymers to form functional coatings, their applications span multiple fields, including anticorrosion, wear resistance, flame‐retardancy, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding, and de‐icing. This review, in conjunction with MXene's barrier property, lubricity, thermal stability, conductivity, and photothermal conversion property, discusses in detail the various applications of MXene‐based polymer coatings. Additionally, it examines the dispersion and interaction of MXene within polymer coatings and the role of functionalized MXene in polymers. Finally, based on the current research status and emerging needs, the development challenges and future research opportunities of MXene‐based polymer coatings in a targeted manner are discussed. This review aims to summarize the existing research results and put forward an objective and fair point of view, providing a constructive reference for upgrading modern nanofunctional polymer coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) nanostructures, with superhigh exposure of the under-coordinated metal atoms relative to large-sized quasi-spherical particles or bulk counterparts, have shown enormous potential to enhance various heterogeneous catalytic reactions. The creation of in-plane holes and rational assembling of ultrathin 2D nanosheets into 3D hierarchical architectures can prevent the restacking issue of nanosheets, thereby providing more active sites by hampering atomic diffusion, nearby nanosheet aggregation, and thermodynamic structural reform. Herein, we report the stepwise construction of ultrathin CuAuAg nanosheet-assembled 3D nanoflowers (NFs). The synthesis involves the conversion of Au@CuxO mesoporous nanospheres into CuAg NFs, followed by a controlled galvanic replacement reaction with chloroauric acid to create holes and manipulate the atomic ratio between Cu, Au, and Ag. With strong broad-spectrum light absorption across the UV–vis region, the current CuAuAg NFs exhibited satisfactory photothermal conversion under Xe lamp irradiation. When serving as HER electrocatalysts, the Cu10.5Au58.4Ag31.1 NFs displayed the optimized performance in terms of overpotential and activity, surpassing the Cu71.4Ag28.6 NFs and Au NCs, which is supported by DFT simulations, showcasing the multimetallic coupling advantage for HER. This study presents a viable route to construct trimetallic 3D hierarchical nanostructures and validates their application in photothermal conversion and electrocatalytic HER, guiding the design of high-performance photosensitizers and electrocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commencing with the breakdown of the diabetic osteoimmune microenvironment, multiple pathogenic factors, including hyperglycemia, inflammation, hypoxia, and deleterious cytokines, are conjointly involved in the progression of diabetic periodontal bone regeneration. Based on the challenge of periodontal bone regeneration treatment and the absence of real‐time feedback of blood oxygen fluctuation in diabetes mellitus, a novel self‐adaptive hyperthermia supramolecular cascade nano‐reactor ACFDG is constructed via one‐step supramolecular self‐assembly strategy to address multiple factors in diabetic periodontal bone regeneration. Hyperthermia supramolecular ACFDG possesses high photothermal conversion efficiency (32.1%), and it can effectively inhibit the vicious cycle of ROS‐inflammatory cascade through catalytic cascade reactions, up‐regulate the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs) under near‐infrared (NIR) irradiation, which promotes periodontal bone regeneration. Remarkably, ACFDG can provide real‐time non‐invasive diagnosis of blood oxygen changes during periodontal bone regeneration through photoacoustic (PA) imaging, thus can timely monitor periodontal hypoxia status. In conclusion, this multifunctional supramolecular nano‐reactor combined with PA imaging for real‐time efficacy monitoring provides important insights into the biological mechanisms of diabetic periodontal bone regeneration and potential clinical theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triply interlocked [2]catenane complexes featuring two identical, mechanically interlocked units are extraordinarily rare chemical compounds, whose properties and applications remain open to detailed studies. Herein, we introduce the rational design of a new ligand precursor, L1, suitable for the synthesis of six triply interlocked [2]catenanes by coordination‐driven self‐assembly. The interlocked compounds can be reversibly converted into the corresponding simple triangular prism metallacage by addition of H2O or DMF solvents to their CH3OH solutions, thereby demonstrating the importance of π⋅⋅⋅π stacking and hydrogen bonding interactions in the formation of triply interlocked [2]catenanes. Moreover, extensive studies have been conducted to assess the remarkable photothermal conversion performance. Complex 6 a, exhibiting outstanding photothermal conversion performance (conversion efficiency in solution : 31.82 %), is used to prepare novel photoresponsive elastomer in combination with thermally activated liquid crystal elastomer. The resultant material displays robust response to near‐infrared (NIR) laser and the capability of completely reforming the shape and reversible actuation, paving the way for the application of half‐sandwich organometallic units in photo‐responsive smart materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultra‐broadband photodetectors based on semimetal crystals have recently become popular because of their gapless band structures. In particular, semimetal crystals have large carrier mobility or high Seebeck coefficient; this almost eliminates the possibility of using semimetal crystals as photodetectors. In addition, a larger temperature gradient can cause photocurrent generation based on the photothermoelectric effect. Surprisingly, the TaTe2 crystal has a huge absorption coefficient (≈104 cm−1), a minimal specific heat (≈0.172 J g−1 K−1), and a low thermal conductivity (0.3 W m−1 K−1), which is beneficial for generating a high photothermal conversion efficiency of 30.2%, despite its small Seebeck coefficient, and achieving a large temperature gradient occurs for the heat generated by external illumination. Herein, the possibility of photoresponse based on the TaTe2 detector is explored, which has a low carrier mobility (≈10 cm2 V−1 s−1) and a small Seebeck coefficient (≈7.1 µV K−1). The self‐powered TaTe2 photodetector can also provide a competitive photoresponse range from 355 to 2715 nm and exhibit a maximum responsivity of 1.1 mA W−1 with a detectivity of 4.7 × 108 Jones at 455 nm. This study provides a new design scheme and operating mechanism for semimetal photodetectors and enriches semimetal crystal photodetectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticle-based photothermal therapy (PTT) has emerged as a promising approach in tumor treatment due to its high selectivity and low invasiveness. However, the penetration of near-infrared light (NIR) is limited, leading it fails to induce damage to the deep-seated tumor cells within the tumor tissue. Additionally, inefficient uptake of photothermal nanoparticles by tumor cells results in suboptimal outcomes for PTT. In this study, we utilized the adhesive properties of photothermal material, polydopamine (PDA), which can successfully load the photosensitizer indocyanine green (ICG) and chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (DOX) to achieve photothermal and chemotherapy synergy treatment (PDA/DOX&ICG), aiming to compensate the defects of single tumor treatment. To extending the blood circulation time of PDA/DOX&ICG nanoparticles, evading clearance by the body immune system and achieving targeted delivery to tumor tissues, a protective envelopment was created using erythrocyte membranes modified with folate acid (FA-EM). After reaching the tumor tissue, the obtained FA-EM@PDA/DOX&ICG nanoparticles can specific bind with folate acid receptors on the surface of tumor cells, which can improve the uptake behavior of FA-EM@PDA/DOX&ICG nanoparticles by tumor cells, and leading to the release of loaded DOX and ICG in response to the unique tumor microenvironment. ICG, as a typical photosensitizer, significantly enhances the photothermal conversion performance of FA-EM@PDA/DOX&ICG nanoparticles, thus inducing tumor cells damage. In vitro and in vivo experimental results demonstrated that the coordinated NIR treatment with FA-EM@PDA/DOX&ICG not only effectively inhibits tumor growth, but also exhibits superior biocompatibility, effectively mitigating DOX-induced tissue damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold-based nanoparticles for surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) imaging show great potential for precise tumor detection and photothermal therapy (PTT). However, the metabolizability of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) raises big concerns. Herein, we designed a core-shelled nanostructure of copper sulfide (CuS)-coated Au NPs with surface pegylation (PEG-Au@CuS NSs). The excreted Au in the gallbladders at 1 h and 4 h in mice injected with PEG-Au@CuS NSs was 8.2- and 19.1-fold of that with the pegylated Au NPs (PEG-AuNPs) of the same Au particle size, respectively. By loading the Raman reporter 3,3′-Diethylthiatricarbocyanine iodide (DTTC) in the core–shell junction of PEG-Au@CuS NSs, the PEG-Au-DTTC@CuS NSs exhibited the Raman signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 4.01 after 24 h of intravenous (IV) injection in the mice bearing an orthotopic CT26-Luc colon tumor. By contrast, the DTTC-coated PEG-AuNPs (PEG-Au-DTTC NPs) achieved an S/N ratio of 2.71. Moreover, PEG-Au-DTTC@CuS NSs exhibited an increased photothermal conversion effect compared with PEG-Au-DTTC NPs excited with an 808-nm laser. PEG-Au-DTTC@CuS NSs enabled intraoperative SERS image-guided photothermal therapy for a complete cure of the colon tumor-bearing mice. Our data demonstrated that the PEG-Au-DTTC@CuS NSs are promising intraoperative Raman image-guided theranostic nanoplatform with enhanced hepatobiliary excretion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer remains a highly lethal disease globally. The approach centered on REDOX-targeted mitochondrial therapy for cancer has displayed notable benefits. Plant polyphenols exhibit strong REDOX and anticancer properties, particularly by affecting mitochondrial function, yet their structural instability and low bioavailability hinder their utility. To overcome this challenge, researchers have utilized the inherent physical and chemical characteristics of polyphenols and their derivatives to develop innovative nanomedicines for targeting mitochondria. This review examines the construction strategies and anticancer properties of various types of polyphenol-based biological nanomedicine for regulating mitochondria in recent years, such as polyphenol self-assembly, metal–phenol network, polyphenol–protein, polyphenol–hydrogel, polyphenol–chitosan, and polyphenol–liposome. These polyphenolic nanomedicines incorporate enhanced features such as improved solubility, efficient photothermal conversion capability, regulation of mitochondrial homeostasis, and ion adsorption through diverse construction strategies. The focus is on how these polyphenol nanomedicines promote ROS production and their mechanism of targeting mitochondria to inhibit cancer. Furthermore, it delves into the benefits and applications of polyphenolic nanomedicine in cancer treatments, as well as the challenges for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photothermal therapy (PTT), as a tumor optical treatment strategy, has the characteristics of being minimally invasive, precise and safe in the treatment of tumors. However, the efficacy of photothermal treatment is usually affected by the photothermal conversion efficiency of the material and the expression of heat shock protein in tumor cells. Ti3C2, a kind of MXene, is a novel two-dimensional material with excellent photothermal conversion efficiency and multiple unique characteristics, making it a promising candidate for multimodal tumor therapy. Therefore, inhibiting the synthesis of heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) in the process of photothermal therapy can reduce the heat resistance of tumor cells, thereby improving the effect of photothermal therapy. In this study, we highlight the potential of utilizing hyaluronic acid (HA) modified Ti3C2 (Ti3C2@HA) as a carrier for delivering anti-sense oligonucleotides of HSP90 to inhibit HSP90 expression and enhance PPT efficacy. Under laser irradiation, the designed MXene-based nanocomposite (Ti3C2@ASO@HA) significantly inhibited the growth and effectively suppressed the migration of tumor cells. In addition, decreased expression of HSP90 is confirmed by western blotting. The results of this investigation provide a promising strategy for enhancing the photothermal therapy effects of tumor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy, as a clean and renewable energy source, holds significant promise for addressing water shortages. Utilizing solar energy for water evaporation is seen as an effective solution in this regard. While many existing interfacial photothermal water evaporation systems rely on nanoparticles or graphene as photothermal or support materials, this study introduced polydopamine (PDA) as a photothermal material due to its environmental friendliness and excellent photon absorption characteristics that closely match the solar spectrum. Polystyrene (PS) was also introduced as a support material for its porous structure and density similar to water, enabling it to float on water. The resulting PS-PDA composite porous structure solar evaporator exhibited a photothermal conversion efficiency comparable to nanoparticles (over 75%), yet with lower production costs and minimal environmental impact. This innovative approach offers a scalable solution for water-scarce regions, providing a cost-effective and efficient means to address water scarcity. The use of PDA and PS in this context highlights the potential for utilizing common materials in novel ways to meet pressing environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]