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Recently, there has been a lot of interest in silicon quantum dots (Sil-QDts) because of their special opto-electronic properties. These qualities include broad absorption spectra, strong photo-bleaching stability, and size-tunable photoluminescence, which can range from visible to near-infrared depending on its size. Because of their high biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and vast surface modification capacity, these nanoparticles have the potential to be used in a wide range of biological and biomedical applications, including sensing, bio-imaging, and photodynamic therapy. This paper presents a thorough analysis of current developments using Sil-QDts in sensor technology. Various types of sensors that use Sil-QDts are examined in detail, such as metal ion sensors, biosensors, food quality sensors, and pesticide and pollution detectors. This paper also addresses prospective applications and future possibilities of Sil-QDt-based sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanographenes have captivated scientific interest since the pioneering discovery of graphene. Recently, attention has shifted towards exploring chiral and nonplanar nanographenes, for their distinct optical, chiroptical, and electronic properties. Despite the growing acceptance of helicenes, the research on inducing helical chirality on π‐extended derivatives to boost chiroptical properties remains unattended. In our study, we introduce a new π‐extended [7]‐helicene resulting from the condensation of diamines with 3,6‐dibromophenanthrene‐9,10‐dione, complemented by two hexabenzocoronene arms in the periphery. Notably, the nanographene containing binaphtho‐[1,4]diazocine, compared to the corresponding phenazine, exhibits a remarkable average 2.5, 5, and 10‐fold enhancements in quantum yield, dissymmetry factor, and brightness, respectively, when measured in five different solvents. These improvements underscore the significance of the induced helical chirality by the antiaromatic binaphtho‐[1,4]diazocine in influencing the chiroptical properties of the helical nanographene. Our research represents a significant stride toward unlocking the potential of π‐extended helicenes and lays the groundwork for further exploration in designing and synthesizing new chiral nanomaterials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

X‐ray free electron laser (XFEL) microcrystallography and synchrotron single‐crystal crystallography are used to evaluate the role of organic substituent position on the optoelectronic properties of metal–organic chalcogenolates (MOChas). MOChas are crystalline 1D and 2D semiconducting hybrid materials that have varying optoelectronic properties depending on composition, topology, and structure. While MOChas have attracted much interest, small crystal sizes impede routine crystal structure determination. A series of constitutional isomers where the aryl thiol is functionalized by either methoxy or methyl ester are solved by small molecule serial femtosecond X‐ray crystallography (smSFX) and single crystal rotational crystallography. While all the methoxy examples have a low quantum yield (0‐1%), the methyl ester in the ortho position yields a high quantum yield of 22%. The proximity of the oxygen atoms to the silver inorganic core correlates to a considerable enhancement of quantum yield. Four crystal structures are solved at a resolution range of 0.8–1.0 Å revealing a collapse of the 2D topology for functional groups in the 2‐ and 3‐ positions, resulting in needle‐like crystals. Further analysis using density functional theory (DFT) and many‐body perturbation theory (MBPT) enables the exploration of complex excitonic phenomena within easily prepared material systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using light as an external stimulus to control (bio)chemical processes offers many distinct advantages. Most importantly, it allows for spatiotemporal control simply through operating the light source. Photocleavable protecting groups (PPGs) are a cornerstone class of compounds that are used to achieve photocontrol over (bio)chemical processes. PPGs are able to release a payload of interest upon light irradiation. The successful application of PPGs hinges on their efficiency of payload release, captured in the uncaging Quantum Yield (QY). Heterolytic PPGs efficiently release low pKa payloads, but their efficiency drops significantly for payloads with higher pKa values, such as alcohols. For this reason, alcohols are usually attached to PPGs via a carbonate linker. The self‐immolative nature of the carbonate linker results in concurrent release of CO2 with the alcohol payload upon irradiation. We introduce herein novel PPGs containing sulfites as self‐immolative linkers for photocaged alcohol payloads, for which we discovered that the release of the alcohol proceeds with higher uncaging QY than an identical payload released from a carbonate‐linked PPG. Furthermore, we demonstrate that uncaging of the sulfite‐linked PPGs results in the release of SO2 and show that the sulfite linker improves water solubility as compared to the carbonate‐based systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient and selective fluorescence sensors based on katiragum dialdehyde‐ amino acid Schiff's base is developed for fluorometric sensing to detect vanillin, Cu2+ ions and 4‐nitrophenol (4NP) in their aqueous solution. Two Schiff bases namely katiragum dialdehyde‐ arginine (KGDR) and katiragum dialdehyde‐ tryptophan (KGDT) are developed in the author's laboratory between which KGDR can detect vanillin with a detection limit of 60.29 nM whereas KGDT can detect both Cu2+ ion and 4NP with a detection limit of 72.6 nM and 97.83 nM respectively. KGDR and KGDT show significant quantum yields of 0.47 % and 0.25 % compared to a standard known substance fluorescein (0.97 %). The detection limit of vanillin, Cu2+ ions and 4NP are lower than other reported sensors. The developed Schiff base KGDR and KGDT show excellent recovery percentage and relative standard deviation (RSD) values in real sample analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultraviolet-emitting fluorescent carbon dots (U-CDs) were successfully synthesized via a simple one-step hydrothermal method using benzene-1,3,5-tricarboxylic acid as the carbon source and o-phenylenediamine (OPD) as the nitrogen source. The U-CDs had an average particle size of 6.53 nm and were rich in functional groups such as amino, hydroxyl, carboxyl, and carbonyl moieties. Their fluorescence excitation and emission wavelengths were observed at 325 and 365 nm, respectively, with an impressive photoluminescence quantum yield of approximately 20%. The U-CDs also exhibited excellent water solubility, salt resistance, and photobleaching resistance. By harnessing these unique properties, a bifunctional fluorescent probe was developed to detect Hg2+ concentration and temperature. The probe showed a strong linear response to Hg2+ in the range of 0–42 μmol/L and to temperature between 30 and 60 °C, demonstrating high sensitivity and a low detection limit. These characteristics make the probe ideal for analyzing real samples. This work not only expands the family of carbon dots but also introduces a simple and cost-effective method to synthesize multifunctional U-CDs, advancing their application in temperature and metal ion sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many organic dyes are fluorescent in solution. In the solid state, however, quenching processes often dominate, hampering material science applications such as light filters, light‐emitting devices, or coding tags. We show that the dimethylene‐cyclopropanide scaffold can be used to form two structurally different types of chromophores, which feature fluorescence quantum yields up to 0.66 in dimethyl sulfoxide and 0.53 in solids. The increased fluorescence in the solid state for compounds bearing malonate substituents instead of dicyanomethide ones is rationalized by the induced twist between the planes of the cyclopropanide core and a pyridine ligand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorescent molecules have enabled single-molecule detection of toxins, biomarkers, and pollutants under controlled conditions. Unfortunately, these fluorophores are typically organic molecules that degrade or become photobleached when applied to non-ideal systems. Noble metal nanoclusters, in particular gold nanoclusters (AuNCs), pose a solution to the problems of degradation and photobleaching. Despite the low fluorescence quantum yield of AuNCs without thiolated ligands, labeling these clusters with fluorescent ligands allows enhancement of the fluorescence intensity and manipulation of the emission wavelength. In this work, we explore the labeling of the bi-icosahedron Au25 (bi-Au25) nanocluster. The bi-Au25 nanocluster has unique stability and electrochemical properties making it an attractive, yet poorly studied, candidate for fluorescent labeling. In order to demonstrate its potential as a near-IR emitting nanocluster we synthesized and labeled the bi-Au25 with the novel fluorophore 6-(9-Anthryl)-5-hexyne-1-thiol, or simply anthracenethiol. Two common ligands used in the synthesis of bi-Au25 are hexanethiol and phenylethanethiol, and we spectroscopically verify the ability for the straight-chain alkane hexanethiol to block the labeling of bi-Au25, while the aromatic phenylethanethiol enables the labeling of the complex. These products are characterized with square wave voltammetry, UV-vis and fluorescence spectrophotometry, and NMR spectrometry. The fluorescently labeled bi-Au25 nanocluster demonstrates a 25x increase in NIR photoluminescence at ~ 810 nm when originally capped with phenylethanethiol, and not the long-chain alkanethiol. The quantum yield of this cluster has been improved from 0.0786% in the unlabeled cluster to 1.97% in the labeled product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper iodide organic‐inorganic hybrid materials have been favored by many researchers in the field of solid‐state lighting (SSL) due to their structural diversity and optical adjustability. In this paper, three isomeric copper iodide cluster hybrid materials, Cu4I6(L)2(1), Cu5I4.5Cl2.5(L)2(2) and Cu5I7(L)2) (3) (L=1‐(4‐methylpyrimidin‐2‐yl)‐1,4‐diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octan‐1‐ium), were achieved by adjusting the reaction conditions. The crystal color transit from green, yellow to orange and the internal quantum yield (IQY) increase from 57 %–88 %. All three complexes have good thermal stability, good solution processability, and high quantum yield. And origin and mechanism of luminescence of complexes were further studied. This study can provide ideas and theoretical basis for the regulation of cuprous iodide cluster luminescent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal kinetics of an aqueous mixture of thirteen antibiotics (i.e., ampicillin, cefuroxime, ciprofloxacin, flumequine, metronidazole, ofloxacin, oxytetracycline, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethazine, tetracycline, trimethoprim and tylosin) by batch UVC and UVC/H2O2 processes has been modeled in this work. First, molar absorption coefficients (ε), direct quantum yields (Φ) and the rate constants of the reaction of antibiotics with hydroxyl radical (kHO•) (model inputs) were determined for each antibiotic and compared with literature data. The values of these parameters range from 0.3 to 21.8 mM−1 cm−1 for ε, < 0.01 to 67.8 mmol·E−1 for Φ and 3.8 × 109 to 1.7 × 1010 M−1 s−1 for kHO•. Second, a regression model was developed to compute the rate constants of the reactions of the antibiotics with singlet oxygen (k1O₂) from experimental data obtained in batch UVC experiments treating a mixture of the antibiotics. k1O₂ values in the 1–50 × 106 M−1 s−1 range were obtained for the antibiotics studied. Finally, a semi-empirical kinetic model comprising a set of ordinary differential equations was solved to simulate the evolution of the residual concentration of antibiotics and hydrogen peroxide (model outputs) in a completely mixed batch photoreactor. Model predictions were reasonably consistent with the experimental data. The kinetic model developed might be combined with computational fluid dynamics to predict process performance and energy consumption in UVC and UVC/H2O2 applications at full scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lanthanide-doped β-Ca2SiO4 has been regarded as a promising material for use in light-emitting diode (LED) phosphors. Nevertheless, the performance of these luminescent materials activated by lanthanide ions depends strongly on the host matrix. The challenge lies in controlling the phase under ambient conditions in a material that exists in five polymorphic forms. Herein, we report the synthesis of β-Ca2SiO4 containing Ce and Eu ions via the Sol–Gel method. The pure and doped samples were characterized using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal (DT) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Rietveld–XRD analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), photoluminescence (PL), and defect calculations. XRD analyses show the predominant formation of the β-phase. Morphological analyses by SEM show smaller particle sizes in Ce- and Eu-doped β-Ca2SiO4 than pure samples. This result suggests that Ce3+ is more efficient at stabilizing the β-Ca2SiO4 polymorph. The PL emission of the β-Ca2SiO4:Eu, excited at 393 nm, provides evidence about the existence of two nonequivalent sites, with one of them evolving to a high symmetry site and the other one remaining in a low symmetry. PL results are corroborated by defect calculations in which it is evident that both Eu3+ and Ce3+ ions prefer to be incorporated into the two Ca2 sites compensated by a Ca1 vacancy, including a probable change in the coordination number of the Eu3+ ion. The abrupt distortion of one of the Eu3+ sites is accompanied by the high 5D0 → 7F4 transition. Also, we present XANES and XPS analyses combined with defect calculations for Eu2+ and Ce4+ ions to discuss the likely coexistence of valency states in the host matrix. Lastly, the results offer insights into improving the performance of phosphor-converted white LEDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although various effective machine‐learning attempts have been made to investigate the photoluminescence properties of graphene quantum dots (GQDs) or carbon dots, the physical correlation behind their mathematical models has not been reasonably elucidated. In this work, the correlation mechanism between the precursor structure and quantum yield of GQDs prepared by a "bottom‐up" method is sufficiently studied. Three decisive factors affecting the quantum yield of GQDs during the two‐component reaction system preparation are revealed, namely structure factor (F1), temperature factor (F2), and concentration factor (F3). The symmetry of precursors in the formation of sp2–sp3 hybrid carbon nanostructures is considered the key factor in the modulation of fluorescence quantum yield in GQDs. Notably, in contrast to previous work, it is first demonstrated that the normal modes of molecular vibration are the core mechanism by which the structural properties of the precursors act on the fluorescence quantum yield of GQDs. The conclusion further proved conducive in obtaining GQDs with a higher absolute quantum yield up to 83.33%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the effect of a dye on the photoluminescence (PL) properties of metal complexes, a series of gold(I) complexes were synthesized, containing a 7‐amino‐4‐methylcoumarin luminophore. The complexes are comprised of a coumarin moiety featuring different ancillary ligands, specifically N‐heterocyclic carbenes, triphenylphosphine, and diphenyl‐2‐pyridylphosphine. The synthesized gold(I) complexes are luminescent both in solution and the solid state at room temperature and 77 K. Complexes of different nuclearity, i.e., mono‐, di‐ and trinuclear compounds were synthesized. A clear trend between the nuclearity and the quantum yields can be seen. The coumarin dye not only improves the PL properties, but also enhances the luminescence of trinuclear clusters, which are otherwise known to be weak emitters in solution. The optical absorption properties were investigated in detail by quantum chemical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small organic molecules absorbing and emitting in the shortwave infrared (SWIR, 1000–2000 nm) region are desirable for biological imaging applications due to low auto‐fluorescence, reduce photon scattering, and good tissue penetration depth of photons which allows for in vivo imaging with high resolution and sensitivity. Si‐substituted xanthene‐based fluorophores with indolizine donors have demonstrated some of the longest wavelengths of absorption and emission from organic dyes. This work seeks to compare an indolizine heterocyclic nitrogen with dimethyl aniline nitrogen donors on otherwise identical Si‐substituted xanthene fluorophores via optical spectroscopy, computational chemistry and electrochemistry. Three donors are compared including an indolizine donor, a ubiquitous dimethyl aniline donor, and a vinyl dimethyl aniline group that keeps the number of π‐bonds consistent with indolizine. Significantly higher quantum yields and molar absorptivity are observed in these studies for a dimethylamine‐based donor relative to a simple indolizine donor absorbing and emitting at similar wavelengths (~1312 nm emission). Substantially longer wavelengths are obtainable by appending aniline‐based groups to the indolizine donor (~1700 nm) indicating longer wavelengths can be accessed with indolizine donors while stronger emitters can be accessed with anilines in place of indolizine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study aims to synthesize a novel donor–acceptor dye based on phenothiazine as a donor (D) and nonconjugated spacer was devised and synthesized by condensing of 2,2'-(1H-indene-1,3(2H)-diylidene) dimalononitrile with aldehyde and the practical synthesis methodology as given in Scheme 1. Design/methodology/approach: The prepared phenothiazine dye was systematically experimentally and theoretically examined and characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H,13C NMR), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (IR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent density functional theory DT-DFT calculations were implemented to determine the electronic properties of the new dye Findings: The UV-Vis absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy of the synthesized dye was investigated in a variety of solvents with varying polarities to demonstrate positive solvatochromism correlated with intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The probe's quantum yields (Фf) are experimentally measured in ethanol, and the Stokes shifts are found to be in the 4846–9430 cm−1 range. Originality/value: The findings depicted that the novel (D-π-A) chromophores may act as a significant factor in the organic optoelectronics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used a simple hydrothermal approach to create nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (TWNCNDs) from termite wings. The TWNCNDs have high fluorescence (FL) quality with a quantum yield of 11.8%. In order to detect Cu2+ ions in aqueous circumstances selectively and sensitively, we made use of TWNCNDs by making use of the unusual optical features that they possessed. To evaluated the limit of detection (LOD) for TWNCNDs in the presence of metal ions by using the Stern-Volmer equation. The LOD for Cu2+ ions was 0.1 μM, and the detection range was from 0 to 0.5 μM. We demonstrated their adaptability and potential for practical industrial usage beyond their applications in analytical chemistry by using the strong blue emission features of the synthesized TWNCNDs as effective fluorescent ink as marking agents and TWNCNDs/PVA polymeric films in a range of commercial anti-counterfeiting applications. Highlights: A simple hydrothermal approach to create nitrogen-doped carbon nanodots (TWNCNDs) from termite wings. The TWNCNDs have high fluorescence (FL) quality with a quantum yield of 11.8%. The LOD for Cu2+ ions was 0.1 μM, and the detection range was from 0 to 0.5 μM. TWNCNDs/PVA polymeric films in a range of commercial anti-counterfeiting applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoluminescent carbon dots were synthesized by hydrothermal treatment from agricultural waste. Considering that the composition of the dots’ surface depends on the precursor source and that this composition influences the optical properties, this study focused on analyzing the effect of synthesis parameters on the formation of functional groups, on the core structure, on the morphology, and their influence on the absorption, excitation, emission, and quantum performance properties. It was obtained that by increasing the synthesis temperature, functional groups C = O, C = N, and CO were formed in the carbon dots obtained from the three precursors, and an additional group C = C in dots obtained from plantain peels, which are the only one that showed a degradation of the cellulose band. The absorption response indicated the formation of graphitic nuclei with oxygenated groups responsible for the red shift of the absorption maximum moving from 266 to 283 nm. The Raman response indicates that there are graphitic domains in the nucleus, where the defects band has a high intensity for the three precursors. The higher quantum yield value presented by the plantain dots is due to the surface, not the graphitic core. The spherical shape and size of around 2 nm were observed by TEM.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPRs) have been utilized to immobilize heavy metals, limiting their translocation in metal contaminated settings. However, studies on the mechanisms and interactions that elucidate how PGPRs mediate Nickel (Ni) tolerance in plants are rare. Thus, in this study we investigated how two pre-characterized heavy metal tolerant isolates of Morganella morganii (ABT9 and ABT3) improve Ni stress tolerance in Arabidopsis while enhancing its growth and yield. Arabidopsis seedlings were grown for five weeks in control/Ni contaminated (control, 1.5 mM and 2.5 mM) potted soil, in the presence or absence of PGPRs. Plant growth characteristics, quantum yield, and antioxidative enzymatic activities were analyzed to assess the influence of PGPRs on plant physiology. Oxidative stress tolerance was quantified by measuring MDA accumulation in Arabidopsis plants. As expected, Ni stress substantially reduced plant growth (shoot and root fresh weight by 53.25% and 58.77%, dry weight by 49.80% and 57.41% and length by 47.16% and 64.63% over control), chlorophyll content and quantum yield (by 40.21% and 54.37% over control). It also increased MDA content by 84.28% at higher (2.5 mM) Ni concentrations. In contrast, inoculation with M. morganii led to significant improvements in leaf chlorophyll, quantum yield, and Arabidopsis biomass production. The mitigation of adverse effects of Ni stress on biomass observed in M. morganii-inoculated plants was attributed to the enhancement of antioxidative enzyme activities compared to Ni-treated plants. This upregulation of the antioxidative defense mechanism mitigated Ni-induced oxidative stress, leading to improved performance of the photosynthetic machinery, which, in turn, enhanced chlorophyll content and quantum yield. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of these tolerance-inducing processes will help to complete the picture of PGPRs-mediated defense signaling. Thus, it suggests that M. morganii PGPRs candidate can potentially be utilized for plant growth promotion by reducing oxidative stress via upregulating antioxidant defense systems in Ni-contaminated soils and reducing Ni metal uptake.

BACKGROUND: The development of new scintillation materials based on fluorescent nanocrystals with a perovskite structure of CsPbBr3 composition and CdSe/ZnS quantum dots is a pressing topic that is being pursued by numerous scientific groups [1–4]. Both of these materials have a high potential for application in this role due to their excellent fluorophore properties, with a quantum yield of luminescence of approximately 100%. Additionally, they possess high values of the effective atomic Zeff number. The photoelectric cross section is dependent on Zeff as (Zeff)5, while the magnitude of X-ray absorption is dependent on Zeff as (Zeff)4/(AE3), where A is the atomic mass of the substance absorbing the γ-quantum and E is the energy of the X-ray photon [5]. AIM: The aim of the study was to develop a technique for fabricating scintillators based on quantum dots and polymer matrices with a high degree of transparency, high temporal stability of luminescence quantum yield, and short luminescence decay times (time of illumination or average lifetime of the substance in the excited state) for gamma-ray registration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A HAMAMAMATSU R7400U-6 photomultiplier tube was employed to register scintillation signals. A 137Cs source with a γ-quantum energy of 661.7 keV was used as a source of ionizing radiation. RESULTS: At irradiation with γ-quanta of 137Cs isotope samples based on poly(para-methylstyrene) matrix cross-linked with divinylbenzene molecules (10% wt%), activated with naphthalene (10%, primary acceptor), anthracene (1%) and quantum dots/perovskite nanocrystals (0, 1–1.0%, re-emitter), the energy spectrum showed effective Compton scattering of gamma-quanta in matter on atoms included in quantum dots/perovskite nanocrystals. The study revealed that samples devoid of inorganic elements, including quantum dots and perovskite nanocrystals, do not exhibit the Compton effect for gamma-quanta. Furthermore, the paramethylstyrene matrix serves to safeguard perovskite nanocrystals from external influences. The photoluminescence quantum yield of bulk composite materials based on perovskite nanocrystals of the CsPbBr3 composition and poly(paramethylstyrene) remains constant over an extended period, with minimal fluctuations within the margin of error. CONCLUSIONS: Experimental evidence has demonstrated that quantum dots and perovskite nanocrystals encapsulated in various polymer matrices exhibit scintillator properties when subjected to ionizing radiation. The fabricated samples of perovskite nanocrystals/quantum dots and various polymers have been identified as the most promising candidates for use as scintillation material for the registration of X-ray and gamma radiation.

The present paper aims to open discussion on the information content, physical mechanism(s), and measuring protocols to determine the partitioning of the absorbed light energy in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. Revisiting these questions is incited by recent findings discovering that PSII, in addition to its open and closed state, assumes a light-adapted charge-separated state and that chlorophyll a fluorescence induction (ChlF), besides the photochemical activity of PSII, reflects the structural dynamics of its reaction center complex. Thus, the photochemical quantum yield of PSII cannot be determined from the conventional ChlF-based protocol. Consequently, the codependent quantity - the quantum yield of the so-called nonregulatory constitutive nonphotochemical quenching (npq) - loses its physical meaning. Processes beyond photochemistry and regulatory npq should be identified and characterized by multifaceted studies, including ChlF. Such investigations may shed light on the putative roles of dissipation and other energy-consuming events in the stress physiology of photosynthetic machinery.

The dependence of photochemistry on excitation wavelength is not a recently observed phenomenon; nonetheless, it has, surprisingly enough, been largely ignored in the field. The reasons for this situation are not fully understood but might be related to a provisional extension of Kasha’s rule to photochemistry, or perhaps to a difficulty to justify the kind of short time-scales implied in such photochemistry, that challenges the usually held view giving predominance to fast internal conversion and vibrational relaxation. Regardless of the reasons, it is still a matter of fact that a complete and satisfactory interpretation for experimentally proven wavelength-dependent photochemistry is not yet available and the community endeavor to build a holistic understanding and a comprehensive view of the phenomenon. The present review is a non-exhaustive overview of the published data in the field, reporting on some of the most prominent features, issues, and interpretations.

The paper reports the results of study of composition, emission, and optical properties of polycrystalline W and Mo samples implanted with Ba+ ions and coated with submonolayer Ba atoms by applying Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary electron emission coefficient s technique, as well as the photoelectron quantum yield Y. The experimental part was carried out by using the instrumentation and under vacuum Р ≈ 10-6 Pa. It is shown that during the implantation of Ba ions in the surface layers of refractory metals, a mechanical mixture of the W + Ba and Mo-Ba types is formed. It has been established that the values of the coefficient of secondary electron emission s and the quantum yield of photoelectrons Y at the same value of the work function еφ in the case of implantation of Ba+ ions are much larger than in the case of deposition of atoms. The obtained experimental results are substantiated by theoretical calculations.

Abstract Cigarette butts (CBs) have become the most ubiquitous form of anthropogenic litter globally. CBs contain various hazardous chemicals that persist in the environment for longer period. These substances are susceptible to leaching into the environment through waterways. The recent study was aimed to evaluate the effects of disposed CBs on the growth and development of Azolla pinnata, an aquatic plant. It was found that after a span of 6 days, the root length, surface area, number of fronds, and photosynthetic efficacy of plant were considerably diminished on the exposure of CBs (concentrations 0 to 40). The exposure of CBs led to a decrease in the FM, FV/F0, and φP0, in contrast, the φD0 increased in response to CBs concentration. Moreover, ABS/CSm, TR0/CSm, and ET0/CSm displayed a negative correlation with CB-induced chemical stress. The performance indices were also decreased (p-value ≤ 0.05) at the highest concentration of CBs. LD50 and LD90 represent the lethal dose, obtained value for LD50 is 20.30 CBs and LD90 is 35.26 CBs through probit analysis. Our results demonstrate that the CBs cause irreversible damage of photosynthetic machinery in plants and also reflect the efficacy of chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis and JIP test for assessing the toxicity of CBs in plants.

This work used an aqueous-phase method to prepare Sm-doped CdTe nanocrystals (NCs). The successful doping of Sm into the CdTe lattice was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), as well as UV–Visible (UV–Vis) absorption and emission spectroscopies. The CdTe and CdTe:Sm NCs are monodispersed as uniform spherical nanocrystals with cubic structures. The particle diameters are ∼4.2, ∼3.3, and ∼2.6 nm for CdTe, CdTe:Sm(5%) and CdTe:Sm(10%) NCs, respectively. Compared with pure CdTe, the CdTe:Sm(5%) NCs exhibit a blueshift of 9–23 nm in their absorption bands and a blueshift of 8–17 nm in their emission bands. With increasing concentration of Sm3+, the quantum yield (QY) of the CdTe:Sm NCs increases initially and then decreases. The CdTe:Sm NCs have longer fluorescence lifetimes than CdTe, probably due to the introduction of trap states. Due to charge compensation, the CdTe:Sm NCs have much stronger emission peaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Near-white emission phosphors of the Bi3+/Sm3+ co-doped double-perovskite Ca 2 YTaO 6 were successfully prepared via a simple solid-state reaction. The crystal structures and lattice parameters as functions of doping ion type and its content were analyzed. Note that all the prepared samples have the monoclinic structure with the space group of P 21/n (14). Their lattice parameters were enlarged with the increment of doping ion content since the Y3+ ion with the smaller radius was substituted by the Bi3+ and Sm3+ ions. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of single Bi3+-doped and Bi3+/Sm3+ co-doped Ca 2 YTaO 6 phosphors were fully investigated in terms of PL emission spectrum, emission intensity, energy transfer mechanism, chromaticity coordinate, decay curve, thermal stability, and internal quantum yield. Interestingly, the Ca 2 YTaO 6 :0.015Bi3+/0.07Sm3+ phosphor exhibited a high quantum yield (70.71%). Furthermore, the relative sensitivity based on the dual-emission centers (Bi3+ and Sm3+) was also analyzed. It is demonstrated that high-efficiency near-white Ca 2 YTaO 6 :Bi3+/Sm3+ phosphor with good sensing properties is expected to be a candidate in the field of optical thermometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: This study investigates photoreceptor's role in the adaption of photosynthetic apparatus to high light (HL) intensity by examining the response of tomato wild type (WT) (Solanum lycopersicum L. cv. Moneymaker) and tomato mutants (phyA, phyB1, phyB2, cry1) plants to HL. Our results showed a photoreceptor‐dependent effect of HL on the maximum quantum yield of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) with phyB1 exhibiting a decrease, while phyB2 exhibiting an increase in Fv/Fm. HL resulted in an increase in the efficient quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII) and a decrease in the non‐photochemical quantum yields (ΦNPQ and ΦN0) solely in phyA. Under HL, phyA showed a significant decrease in the energy‐dependent quenching component of NPQ (qE), while phyB2 mutants showed an increase in the state transition (qT) component. Furthermore, ΔΔFv/Fm revealed that PHYB1 compensates for the deficit of PHYA in phyA mutants. PHYA signaling likely emerges as the dominant effector of PHYB1 and PHYB2 signaling within the HL‐induced signaling network. In addition, PHYB1 compensates for the role of CRY1 in regulating Fv/Fm in cry1 mutants. Overall, the results of this research provide valuable insights into the unique role of each photoreceptor and their interplay in balancing photon energy and photoprotection under HL condition. Significance Statement: Our research explores the role of photoreceptors in plant response to high light (HL). This is crucial as it reveals the complex regulatory mechanisms involved in plant adaptation to environmental stress. By identifying the precise contributions of photoreceptors, our study expands our understanding of plant photobiology and provides insights for optimizing the conversion of photon energy to photochemical energy under HL conditions. This work lays the foundation for developing strategies to enhance plant resilience in HL condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dependence of photochemistry on excitation wavelength is not a recently observed phenomenon; nonetheless, it has, surprisingly enough, been largely ignored in the field. The reasons for this situation are not fully understood but might be related to a provisional extension of Kasha's rule to photochemistry, or perhaps to a difficulty to justify the kind of short time-scales implied in such photochemistry, that challenges the usually held view giving predominance to fast internal conversion and vibrational relaxation. Regardless of the reasons, it is still a matter of fact that a complete and satisfactory interpretation for experimentally proven wavelength-dependent photochemistry is not yet available and the community endeavor to build a holistic understanding and a comprehensive view of the phenomenon. The present review is a non-exhaustive overview of the published data in the field, reporting on some of the most prominent features, issues, and interpretations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble organic luminophores based on 3-(1,3-benzothiazol-2-yl)-4-hydroxybenzenesulfonic acid were studied both experimentally and by density functional theory for the first time. Because of peculiarities in chemical structure, one of them has a large Stokes shift, which results from excited state intramolecular proton transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strigolactones (SLs) have potential to be used in sustainable agriculture to mitigate various stresses that plants have to deal with. The natural SLs, as well as the synthetic analogs, are difficult to obtain in sufficient amounts for practical applications. At the same time, fluorescent SLs would be useful for the mechanistic understanding of their effects based on bio-imaging or spectroscopic techniques. In this study, new fluorescent SL mimics containing a substituted 1,8-naphthalimide ring system connected through an ether link to a bioactive furan-2-one moiety were prepared. The structural, spectroscopic, and biological activity of the new SL mimics on phytopathogens were investigated and compared with previously synthetized fluorescent SL mimics. The chemical group at the C-6 position of the naphthalimide ring influences the fluorescence parameters. All SL mimics showed effects similar to GR24 on phytopathogens, indicating their suitability for practical applications. The pattern of the biological activity depended on the fungal species, SL mimic and concentration, and hyphal order. This dependence is probably related to the specificity of each fungal receptor–SL mimic interaction, which will have to be analyzed in-depth. Based on the biological properties and spectroscopic particularities, one SL mimic could be a good candidate for microscopic and spectroscopic investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively manage crop production in a greenhouse, it is essential to understand the natural light environment and physiological responses of the plants to light. This study investigated the dynamics of photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFD) and light quality within the canopies of greenhouse-grown eggplant (Solanum melongena) and the photosynthetic capacities of leaves at different locations within the canopies. The light environment was quantified at 0.2-m intervals within (intracanopy) and adjacent to (extra-canopy) the crop canopy on both sunny and cloudy days within a commercial greenhouse located in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. Our results indicated a linear decline in extra-canopy PPFD on both sunny and cloudy days, but an exponential decrease in intra-canopy PPFD. The intra-canopy PPFD decreased by 91% and 76% between 0 m and 0.4 m from the canopy apex on sunny and cloudy days, respectively. The lower canopy (0.6–1.2 m) light spectrum consisted largely of far-red light, equal amounts of red light and green light, with a lower percentage of blue light. Parameters derived from leaf-level light response curves indicated that the light-saturated net carbon exchange rate, light saturation point, and light compensation point decreased as the distance from canopy apex increased, whereas quantum yield was unaffected. Thus, leaves in the lower canopy were less efficient at using high PPFD, but they displayed no deterioration of photosynthetic machinery. Based solely on photosynthetic capabilities, leaves between 0 and 1.0 m from the canopy apex should not be removed to decrease the total plant sink strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon dots (CDs) have emerged as versatile fluorescent nanomaterials for diverse applications. The synthesis of CDs from natural products offers a sustainable alternative to chemical methods. This study presents the preparation of green fluorescent CDs (G‐CDs) using seafood mushrooms as the carbon source and 5‐amino‐2‐methylphenol as the nitrogen source through a hydrothermal approach. The G‐CDs exhibit maximum excitation/emission peaks at 467/519 nm and a high quantum yield of up to 17.2% in ethanol. Additionally, the G‐CDs demonstrate excellent photostability, salt tolerance, and chemical stability. The excitation‐independent emissions suggest the presence of unique surface‐state luminescent centers. The application of the G‐CDs as an anti‐counterfeiting fluorescent ink is demonstrated. This work highlights the promise of converting natural food sources into high‐performance CDs, expanding their utility across various domains including biomedicine, sensing, and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cigarette butts (CBs) have become the most ubiquitous form of anthropogenic litter globally. CBs contain various hazardous chemicals that persist in the environment for longer period. These substances are susceptible to leaching into the environment through waterways. The recent study was aimed to evaluate the effects of disposed CBs on the growth and development of Azolla pinnata, an aquatic plant. It was found that after a span of 6 days, the root length, surface area, number of fronds, and photosynthetic efficacy of plant were considerably diminished on the exposure of CBs (concentrations 0 to 40). The exposure of CBs led to a decrease in the FM, FV/F0, and φP0, in contrast, the φD0 increased in response to CBs concentration. Moreover, ABS/CSm, TR0/CSm, and ET0/CSm displayed a negative correlation with CB-induced chemical stress. The performance indices were also decreased (p-value ≤ 0.05) at the highest concentration of CBs. LD50 and LD90 represent the lethal dose, obtained value for LD50 is 20.30 CBs and LD90 is 35.26 CBs through probit analysis. Our results demonstrate that the CBs cause irreversible damage of photosynthetic machinery in plants and also reflect the efficacy of chlorophyll a fluorescence analysis and JIP test for assessing the toxicity of CBs in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Luminescent solids exhibit unique optical and electronic properties, and it is important to develop a simple experimental procedure to reduce the mass of weakly emissive hybrid inorganic–organic solids. The instant mixing of (1‐cyano‐2‐[α‐terthiophen‐2‐yl]‐vinyl)carboxylic acid (3TCC) and a metal–organic framework (MOF‐177; ZnO4(BTB)2; BTB = 1,3,5‐benzenetribenzoate) in an organic solvent, followed by evaporation of the solvent, produces solids with distinct photoluminescence (PL) properties, turning over the PL quantum yields (PLQY) of the generated 3TCC@MOF‐177 solids by 2‐ to 40‐fold compared to the 3TCC solution is demonstrated. The new solids are characterized by various methods and optical measurements. Contrarily to the trend in the photophysical results of 3TCC solutions, the anisotropic rotational times of 3TCC@MOF‐177 solids inversely correlate with the corresponding PLQY values depending on the protic solvent used in the initial preparation step in the following order: methanol>ethanol>butanol. This behavior is attributed to the complexation of 3TCC dye with metal clusters within the pores of MOF‐177 and hydrogen bonding of the CN group in the dye with the OH group in the linkers. These factors interplay with the kinetics of dye twisting. These observations reflect the potential of new solid luminescent architectures with remarkable PLQY that can be easily manufactured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a rapid microwave-assisted hydrothermal method under mild conditions is investigated for the preparation of the Eu3+:YPO4 (5 mol % Eu) luminescent material, which belongs to a large family of phosphates that, when doped with lanthanide ions, acquire specific luminescence properties used primarily as phosphors for modern light sources and as optical markers. Crystalline Eu3+:YPO4 nanopowders are obtained in very short times (as little as 5 min) compared to conventional methods without the need for additional calcination treatment. Moreover, varying the reaction time (up to 30 min) and temperature (up to 240 °C) results in different nanocrystal morphologies and sizes, which can be tuned by controlling the reaction parameters, thus potentially tuning the optical properties of the nanoparticles. The resulting nanopowders exhibit intense emission at an excitation wavelength of 396 nm, and their optical properties, studied by measuring both excitation and emission spectra, luminescence lifetimes, and quantum yields, are comparable to those obtained by conventional heating. These results suggest that the MW-assisted hydrothermal process optimized in this work is a powerful strategy to produce single-phase Eu3+:YPO4 (5 mol % Eu) luminescent nanopowders with a low degree of hydration, monodisperse tuned morphology and narrow particle size distribution in much shorter times than previously reported (5–30 min). So we have developed a faster and more energy-efficient way of producing these materials, which could potentially be used for security purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of quantum yield (QY) is an important process for a phosphor. This is often accomplished by the comparison of the low‐temperature lifetime with the room temperature (RT) lifetime. It is shown that this procedure provides a considerable underestimation of QY in certain cases. Additionally, the use of the europium ion as an indicator of changes in site symmetry with temperature has severe limitations. This work reveals that a decrease in measured lifetime with increasing temperature of a system cannot always be associated with a descent in site symmetry and may be due to increasing radiative rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (1L‐TMDs) exhibits distinct light emissions in the visible range, making them suitable for 2D optoelectronic applications. Photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) is a key factor for practical applications of 1L‐TMDs. However, the methods for PLQY measurements of 1L‐TMDs suffer from limitations due to the small sample size and typically low PLQY, which require a complex measurement setup. In this study, machine learning (ML) models are developed to predict the PLQY of monolayer tungsten disulfide (1L‐WS2) using data extracted from 1208 PL spectra and corresponding measurement conditions as the ML training and testing data set. The ML model shows a high accuracy with R2 value of 0.744 and a mean absolute percentage error of 44% in the prediction of widely ranged PLQYs of 1L‐WS2 from 0.07% to 38%. This data‐driven prediction not only enables the convenient PLQY estimation of 1L‐TMDs, but also helps in identifying key parameters influencing PLQYs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantum yield illustrates the efficiency that a fluorophore converts the excitation light into fluorescence emission. The quantum yield of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can be altered via precursors, fabrication conditions, chemical doping, and surface modifications. In this study, CQDs were first fabricated from whole-meal bread using a chemical-free hydrothermal route, and a low quantum yield (0.81%) was obtained. The combination of whole-meal bread, soybean flour, and lemon juice generated CQDs with almost four folds of enhancement in quantum yield. Detailed characterization suggested that these CQDs were subjected to more complete hydrothermal reactions and had zwitterionic surfaces. The CQDs could selectively detect Cr (VI) ions with a limit of detection (LOD) of 8 ppm. This study shows that the enhancement of the quantum yield of CQDs does not need chemicals, and it is achievable with food precursors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect exhibits a significant influence on the development of luminescent materials and has made remarkable progress over the past decades. The advancement of high-performance AIE materials requires fast and accurate predictions of their photophysical properties, which is impeded by the inherent limitations of quantum chemical calculations. In this work, we present an accurate machine learning approach for the fast predictions of quantum yields and wavelengths to screen out AIE molecules. A database of about 563 organic luminescent molecules with quantum yields and wavelengths in the monomeric/aggregated states was established. Individual/combined molecular fingerprints were selected and compared elaborately to attain appropriate molecular descriptors. Different machine learning algorithms combined with favorable molecular fingerprints were further screened to achieve more accurate prediction models. The simulation results indicate that combined molecular fingerprints yield more accurate predictions in the aggregated states, and random forest and gradient boosting regression algorithms show the best predictions in quantum yields and wavelengths, respectively. Given the successful applications of machine learning in quantum yields and wavelengths, it is reasonable to anticipate that machine learning can serve as a complementary strategy to traditional experimental/theoretical methods in the investigation of aggregation-induced luminescent molecules to facilitate the discovery of luminescent materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to open discussion on the information content, physical mechanism(s), and measuring protocols to determine the partitioning of the absorbed light energy in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. Revisiting these questions is incited by recent findings discovering that PSII, in addition to its open and closed state, assumes a light-adapted charge-separated state and that chlorophyll a fluorescence induction (ChlF), besides the photochemical activity of PSII, reflects the structural dynamics of its reaction center complex. Thus, the photochemical quantum yield of PSII cannot be determined from the conventional ChlF-based protocol. Consequently, the codependent quantity – the quantum yield of the so-called nonregulatory constitutive nonphotochemical quenching (npq) – loses its physical meaning. Processes beyond photochemistry and regulatory npq should be identified and characterized by multifaceted studies, including ChlF. Such investigations may shed light on the putative roles of dissipation and other energyconsuming events in the stress physiology of photosynthetic machinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper reports the results of study of composition, emission, and optical properties of polycrystalline W and Mo samples implanted with Ba+ ions and coated with submonolayer Ba atoms by applying Auger electron spectroscopy, secondary electron emission coefficient σ technique, as well as the photoelectron quantum yield Y. The experimental part was carried out by using the instrumentation and under vacuum Р ≈ 10-6 Pa. It is shown that during the implantation of Ba ions in the surface layers of refractory metals, a mechanical mixture of the W + Ba and Mo-Ba types is formed. It has been established that the values of the coefficient of secondary electron emission σ and the quantum yield of photoelectrons Y at the same value of the work function еφ in the case of implantation of Ba+ ions are much larger than in the case of deposition of atoms. The obtained experimental results are substantiated by theoretical calculations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The measurement of quantum yield (QY) is an important process for a phosphor. This is often accomplished by the comparison of the low‐temperature lifetime with the room temperature (RT) lifetime. It is shown that this procedure provides a considerable underestimation of QY in certain cases. Additionally, the use of the europium ion as an indicator of changes in site symmetry with temperature has severe limitations. This work reveals that a decrease in measured lifetime with increasing temperature of a system cannot always be associated with a descent in site symmetry and may be due to increasing radiative rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper examines the effect of introducing a chlorine atom into the coordination sphere of a rare earth ion for two novel Eu3+ organometallic compounds. Using spectral and time-resolved measurements, we show that the introduction of a chlorine atom provides a way to achieve a significant increase (from 27 to 36%) in the luminescence efficiency of the studied compounds due to coordination symmetry breaking in the complexes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]