Ultra-bright, efficient and stable perovskite light-emitting diodes.

Metal halide perovskites are attracting a lot of attention as next-generation light-emitting materials owing to their excellent emission properties, with narrow band emission1-4. However, perovskite light-emitting diodes (PeLEDs), irrespective of their material type (polycrystals or nanocrystals), have not realized high luminance, high efficiency and long lifetime simultaneously, as they are influenced by intrinsic limitations related to the trade-off of properties between charge transport and confinement in each type of perovskite material5-8. Here, we report an ultra-bright, efficient and stable PeLED made of core/shell perovskite nanocrystals with a size of approximately 10 nm, obtained using a simple in situ reaction of benzylphosphonic acid (BPA) additive with three-dimensional (3D) polycrystalline perovskite films, without separate synthesis processes. During the reaction, large 3D crystals are split into nanocrystals and the BPA surrounds the nanocrystals, achieving strong carrier confinement. The BPA shell passivates the undercoordinated lead atoms by forming covalent bonds, and thereby greatly reduces the trap density while maintaining good charge-transport properties for the 3D perovskites. We demonstrate simultaneously efficient, bright and stable PeLEDs that have a maximum brightness of approximately 470,000 cd m-2, maximum external quantum efficiency of 28.9% (average = 25.2 ± 1.6% over 40 devices), maximum current efficiency of 151 cd A-1 and half-lifetime of 520 h at 1,000 cd m-2 (estimated half-lifetime >30,000 h at 100 cd m-2). Our work sheds light on the possibility that PeLEDs can be commercialized in the future display industry.

An architecturally rational hemostat for rapid stopping of massive bleeding on anticoagulation therapy.

Hemostatic devices are critical for managing emergent severe bleeding. With the increased use of anticoagulant therapy, there is a need for next-generation hemostats. We rationalized that a hemostat with an architecture designed to increase contact with blood, and engineered from a material that activates a distinct and undrugged coagulation pathway can address the emerging need. Inspired by lung alveolar architecture, here, we describe the engineering of a next-generation single-phase chitosan hemostat with a tortuous spherical microporous design that enables rapid blood absorption and concentrated platelets and fibrin microthrombi in localized regions, a phenomenon less observed with other classical hemostats without structural optimization. The interaction between blood components and the porous hemostat was further amplified based on the charged surface of chitosan. Contrary to the dogma that chitosan does not directly affect physiological clotting mechanism, the hemostat induced coagulation via a direct activation of platelet Toll-like receptor 2. Our engineered porous hemostat effectively stopped the bleeding from murine liver wounds, swine liver and carotid artery injuries, and the human radial artery puncture site within a few minutes with significantly reduced blood loss, even under the anticoagulant treatment. The integration of engineering design principles with an understanding of the molecular mechanisms can lead to hemostats with improved functions to address emerging medical needs.

Ultrasmall 2D Sn-Doped MAPbBr3 Nanoplatelets Enable Bright Pure-Blue Emission.

Synthesis of perovskites that exhibit pure-blue emission with high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) in both nanocrystal solutions and nanocrystal-only films presents a significant challenge. In this work, a room-temperature method is developed to synthesize ultrasmall, monodispersed, Sn-doped methylammonium lead bromide (MAPb1- xSnxBr3) perovskite nanoplatelets (NPLs) in which the strong quantum confinement effect endows pure blue emission (460 nm) and a high quantum yield (87%). Post-treatment using n-hexylammonium bromide (HABr) repaired surface defects and thus substantially increased the stability and PLQY (80%) of the NPL films. Concurrently, high-precision patterned films (200-µm linewidth) are successfully fabricated by using cost-effective spray-coating technology. This research provides a novel perspective for the preparation of high PLQY, highly stable, and easily processable perovskite nanomaterials.

The association of structural chirality and liquid crystal anchoring in polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals.

Polymer stabilized cholesteric liquid crystals (PSCLCs) are electrically reconfigurable reflective elements. Prior studies have hypothesized and indirectly confirmed that the electro-optic response of these composites is associated with the electrically mediated distortion of the stabilizing polymer network. The proposed mechanism is based on the retention of structural chirality in the polymer stabilizing network, which upon deformation is spatially distorted, which accordingly affects the pitch of the surrounding low molar-mass liquid crystal host. Here, we utilize fluorescent confocal polarized microscopy to directly assess the electro-optic response of PSCLCs. By utilizing dual fluorescent probes, sequential imaging experiments confirm that the periodicity of the polymer stabilizing network matches that of the low molar-mass liquid crystal host. Further, we isolate distinct ion-polymer interactions that manifest in certain photopolymerization conditions.

Enhancing Smart Building Surveillance Systems in Thin Walls: An Efficient Barrier Design.

This paper introduces an efficient barrier model for enhancing smart building surveillance in harsh environment with thin walls and structures. After the main research problem of minimizing the total number of wall-recognition surveillance barriers, we propose two distinct algorithms, Centralized Node Deployment and Adaptation Node Deployment, which are designed to address the challenge by strategic placement of surveillance nodes within the smart building. The Centralized Node Deployment aligns nodes along the thin walls, ensuring consistent communication coverage and effectively countering potential disruptions. Conversely, the Adaptation Node Deployment begins with random node placement, which adapts over time to ensure efficient communication across the building. The novelty of this work is in designing a novel barrier system to achieve energy efficiency and reinforced surveillance in a thin-wall environment. Instead of a real environment, we use an ad hoc server for simulations with various scenarios and parameters. Then, two different algorithms are executed through those simulation environments and settings. Also, with detailed discussions, we provide the performance analysis, which shows that both algorithms deliver similar performance metrics over extended periods, indicating their suitability for long-term operation in smart infrastructure.

Toward Accurate Thermal Modeling of Phase Change Material-Based Photonic Devices.

Reconfigurable or programmable photonic devices are rapidly growing and have become an integral part of many optical systems. The ability to selectively modulate electromagnetic waves through electrical stimuli is crucial in the advancement of a variety of applications from data communication and computing devices to environmental science and space explorations. Chalcogenide-based phase-change materials (PCMs) are one of the most promising material candidates for reconfigurable photonics due to their large optical contrast between their different solid-state structural phases. Although significant efforts have been devoted to accurate simulation of PCM-based devices, in this paper, three important aspects which have often evaded prior models yet having significant impacts on the thermal and phase transition behavior of these devices are highlighted: the enthalpy of fusion, the heat capacity change upon glass transition, as well as the thermal conductivity of liquid-phase PCMs. The important topic of switching energy scaling in PCM devices, which also helps explain why the three above-mentioned effects have long been overlooked in electronic PCM memories but only become important in photonics, is further investigated. These findings offer insight to facilitate accurate modeling of PCM-based photonic devices and can inform the development of more efficient reconfigurable optics.

Perovskites for Next-Generation Optical Sources.

Next-generation displays and lighting technologies require efficient optical sources that combine brightness, color purity, stability, substrate flexibility. Metal halide perovskites have potential use in a wide range of applications, for they possess excellent charge transport, bandgap tunability and, in the most promising recent optical source materials, intense and efficient luminescence. This review links metal halide perovskites' performance as efficient light emitters with their underlying materials electronic and photophysical attributes.

Organic Synapses for Neuromorphic Electronics: From Brain-Inspired Computing to Sensorimotor Nervetronics.

Living organisms have a long evolutionary history that has provided them with functions and structures that enable them to survive in their environment. The goal of biomimetic technology is to emulate these traits of living things. Research in bioinspired electronics develops electronic sensors and motor systems that mimic biological sensory organs and motor systems and that are intended to be used in bioinspired applications such as humanoid robots, exoskeletons, and other devices that combine a living body and an electronic device. To develop bioinspired robotic and electronic devices that are compatible with the living body at the neuronal level and that are operated by mechanisms similar to those in a living body, researchers must develop biomimetic electronic sensors, motor systems, brains, and nerves. Artificial organic synapses have emulated the brain's plasticity with much simpler structures and lower fabrication cost than neurons based on silicon circuits, and with smaller energy consumption than traditional von Neumann computing methods. Organic synapses are promising components of future neuromorphic systems. In this Account, we review recent research trends of neuromorphic systems based on organic synapses, then suggest research directions. We introduce the device structures and working mechanisms of reported organic synapses and the brain's plasticity, which are mainly imitated to demonstrate the learning and memory function of the organic synapses. We also introduce recent reports on sensory synapses and sensorimotor nervetronics that mimic biological sensory and motor nervous systems. Sensory nervetronics can be used to augment the sensory functions of the living body and to comprise the sensory systems of biomimetic robots. Organic synapses can also be used to control biological muscles and artificial muscles that have the same working mechanism as biological muscle. Motor nervetronics would impart life-like motion to bioinspired robots. Chemical approaches may provide insights to guide development of new organic materials, device structures, and working mechanisms to improve synaptic responses of organic neuromorphic systems. For example, organic synapses can be applied to electronic and robotic skins and bioimplantable medical devices that use mechanically stable, self-healing, and biocompatible organic materials. Biochemical approaches may expand the plasticity of the brain and nervous system. We expect that organic neuromorphic systems will be vital components in bioinspired robotic and electronic applications, including biocompatible neural prosthetics, exoskeletons, humanoid soft robots, and cybernetics devices that are integrated with biological and artificial organs.

Using CO2 as an Oxidant in the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Peat Moss from the North Polar Region.

As global warming and climate change become perceived as significant, the release of greenhouse gases (GHGs) stored in the earth's polar regions is considered a matter of concern. Here, we focused on exploiting GHGs to address potential global warming challenges in the north polar regions. In particular, we used CO2 as a soft oxidant to recover energy as syngas (CO and H2) and to produce biochars from pyrolysis of peat moss. CO2 expedited homogeneous reaction with volatile matters from peat moss pyrolysis, and the mechanistic CO2 role resulted in the conversion of CO2 and peat moss to CO at ≥530 °C. Steel slag waste was then used as an ex situ catalyst to increase reaction kinetics, addressing the issue of the role of CO2 being limited to ≥530 °C, with the result where substantial H2 and CO formation was achieved at a milder temperature. The porosity of biochars, a solid peat moss pyrolysis product, was modified in the presence of CO2, with a significant improvement in CO2 adsorption capacity compared to those achieved by N2 pyrolysis. Therefore, CO2 has the potential to serve as an initial feedstock in sustainable biomass-to-energy applications and biochar production, mitigating atmospheric carbon concentrations.

Lognormality in Turbulence Energy Spectra.

The maximum entropy principle states that the energy distribution will tend toward a state of maximum entropy under the physical constraints, such as the zero energy at the boundaries and a fixed total energy content. For the turbulence energy spectra, a distribution function that maximizes entropy with these physical constraints is a lognormal function due to its asymmetrical descent to zero energy at the boundary lengths scales. This distribution function agrees quite well with the experimental data over a wide range of energy and length scales. For turbulent flows, this approach is effective since the energy and length scales are determined primarily by the Reynolds number. The total turbulence kinetic energy will set the height of the distribution, while the ratio of length scales will determine the width. This makes it possible to reconstruct the power spectra using the Reynolds number as a parameter.

Metal halide perovskite light emitters.

Twenty years after layer-type metal halide perovskites were successfully developed, 3D metal halide perovskites (shortly, perovskites) were recently rediscovered and are attracting multidisciplinary interest from physicists, chemists, and material engineers. Perovskites have a crystal structure composed of five atoms per unit cell (ABX3) with cation A positioned at a corner, metal cation B at the center, and halide anion X at the center of six planes and unique optoelectronic properties determined by the crystal structure. Because of very narrow spectra (full width at half-maximum ≤20 nm), which are insensitive to the crystallite/grain/particle dimension and wide wavelength range (400 nm ≤ λ ≤ 780 nm), perovskites are expected to be promising high-color purity light emitters that overcome inherent problems of conventional organic and inorganic quantum dot emitters. Within the last 2 y, perovskites have already demonstrated their great potential in light-emitting diodes by showing high electroluminescence efficiency comparable to those of organic and quantum dot light-emitting diodes. This article reviews the progress of perovskite emitters in two directions of bulk perovskite polycrystalline films and perovskite nanoparticles, describes current challenges, and suggests future research directions for researchers to encourage them to collaborate and to make a synergetic effect in this rapidly emerging multidisciplinary field.

Ultrapure Green Light-Emitting Diodes Using Two-Dimensional Formamidinium Perovskites: Achieving Recommendation 2020 Color Coordinates.

Pure green light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are essential for realizing an ultrawide color gamut in next-generation displays, as is defined by the recommendation (Rec.) 2020 standard. However, because the human eye is more sensitive to the green spectral region, it is not yet possible to achieve an ultrapure green electroluminescence (EL) with a sufficiently narrow bandwidth that covers >95% of the Rec. 2020 standard in the CIE 1931 color space. Here, we demonstrate efficient, ultrapure green EL based on the colloidal two-dimensional (2D) formamidinium lead bromide (FAPbBr3) hybrid perovskites. Through the dielectric quantum well (DQW) engineering, the quantum-confined 2D FAPbBr3 perovskites exhibit a high exciton binding energy of 162 meV, resulting in a high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) of ∼92% in the spin-coated films. Our optimized LED devices show a maximum current efficiency (ηCE) of 13.02 cd A-1 and the CIE 1931 color coordinates of (0.168, 0.773). The color gamut covers 97% and 99% of the Rec. 2020 standard in the CIE 1931 and the CIE 1976 color space, respectively, representing the "greenest" LEDs ever reported. Moreover, the device shows only a ∼10% roll-off in ηCE (11.3 cd A-1) at 1000 cd m-2. We further demonstrate large-area (3 cm2) and ultraflexible (bending radius of 2 mm) LEDs based on 2D perovskites.

Patients with primary membranous nephropathy are at high risk of cardiovascular events.

Here we conducted a retrospective study to examine the risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs) relative to that of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in patients with primary membranous nephropathy, in a discovery cohort of 404 patients. The cumulative incidence of CVEs was estimated in the setting of the competing risk of ESRD with risk factors for CVEs assessed by multivariable survival analysis. The observed cumulative incidences of CVEs were 4.4%, 5.4%, 8.2%, and 8.8% at 1, 2, 3, and 5 years respectively in the primary membranous nephropathy cohort. In the first 2 years after diagnosis, the risk for CVEs was similar to that of ESRD in the entire cohort, but exceeded it among patients with preserved renal function. Accounting for traditional risk factors and renal function, the severity of nephrosis at the time of the event (hazard ratio 2.1, 95% confidence interval 1.1 to 4.3) was a significant independent risk factor of CVEs. The incidence and risk factors of CVEs were affirmed in an external validation cohort of 557 patients with primary membranous nephropathy. Thus early in the course of disease, patients with primary membranous nephropathy have an increased risk of CVEs commensurate to, or exceeding that of ESRD. Hence, reduction of CVEs should be considered as a therapeutic outcome measure and focus of intervention in primary membranous nephropathy.

Versatile p-Type Chemical Doping to Achieve Ideal Flexible Graphene Electrodes.

We report effective solution-processed chemical p-type doping of graphene using trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (CF3 SO3 H, TFMS), that can provide essential requirements to approach an ideal flexible graphene anode for practical applications: i) high optical transmittance, ii) low sheet resistance (70 % decrease), iii) high work function (0.83 eV increase), iv) smooth surface, and iv) air-stability at the same time. The TFMS-doped graphene formed nearly ohmic contact with a conventional organic hole transporting layer, and a green phosphorescent organic light-emitting diode with the TFMS-doped graphene anode showed lower operating voltage, and higher device efficiencies (104.1 cd A(-1) , 80.7 lm W(-1) ) than those with conventional ITO (84.8 cd A(-1) , 73.8 lm W(-1) ).

Real-Time Analysis of Cellular Response to Small-Molecule Drugs within a Microfluidic Dielectrophoresis Device.

Quantitative detection of the biological properties of living cells is essential for a wide range of purposes, from the understanding of cellular characteristics to the development of novel drugs in nanomedicine. Here, we demonstrate that analysis of cell biological properties within a microfluidic dielectrophoresis device enables quantitative detection of cellular biological properties and simultaneously allows large-scale measurement in a noise-robust and probeless manner. Applying this technique, the static and dynamic biological responses of live B16F10 melanoma cells to the small-molecule drugs such as N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and [(dihydronindenyl)oxy]alkanoic acid (DIOA) were quantitatively and statistically examined by investigating changes in movement of the cells. Measurement was achieved using subtle variations in dielectrophoresis (DEP) properties of the cells, which were attributed to activation or deactivation of K(+)/Cl(-) cotransporter channels on the cell membrane by the small-molecule drugs, in a microfluidic device. On the basis of quantitative analysis data, we also provide the first report of the shift of the complex permittivity of a cell induced by the small-molecule drugs. In addition, we demonstrate interesting quantifiable parameters including the drug effectiveness coefficient, antagonistic interaction coefficient, kinetic rate, and full width at half-maximum, which corresponded to changes in biological properties of B16F10 cells over time when NEM and DIOA were introduced alone or in combination. Those demonstrated parameters represent very useful tools for evaluating the effect of small-molecule drugs on the biological properties of cells.

Organic nanowire fabrication and device applications.

Organic nanowires (ONWs) are flexible, stretchable, and have good electrical properties, and therefore have great potential for use in next-generation textile and wearable electronics. Analysis of trends in ONWs supports their great potential for various stretchable and flexible electronic applications such as flexible displays and flexible photovoltaics. Numerous methods can be used to prepare ONWs, but the practical industrial application of ONWs has not been achieved because of the lack of reliable techniques for controlling and patterning of individual nanowires. Therefore, an "individually controllable" technique to fabricate ONWs is essential for practical device applications. In this paper, three types of fabrication methods of ONWs are reviewed: non-alignment methods, massive-alignment methods, and individual-alignment methods. Recent research on electronic and photonic device applications of ONWs is then reviewed. Finally, suggestions for future research are put forward.

Spatial mapping of refractive index based on a plasmonic tapered channel waveguide.

A tapered plasmonic channel waveguide can be used for index sensing by spatial mapping of the scattering field intensity. A numerical simulation shows that this waveguide reflects the plasmonic channel waveguide mode at various points as the refractive index of an analyte changes, and a strong outgoing scattering wave appears at the reflection point. One can measure the index change by detecting variations in the scattering point. In the case of a unit index change, the scattering point moved 2670 nm, which can be observed by an imaging system. Detection limit of the index change is estimated as 0.12. However, the limit can be further reduced by increasing the tapered length or decreasing the tapered angle of the structure.

Temperature-dependent nanomorphology-performance relations in binary iridium complex blend films for organic light emitting diodes.

Understanding the mechanism responsible for the temperature-dependent performances of emitting layers is essential for developing advanced phosphorescent organic light emitting diodes. We described the morphological evolution occurring in PVK:Ir(ppy)3 binary blend films, with respect to thermal annealing up to 300 °C, by coupling atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. In particular, in situ temperature-dependent experimental characterization was performed to directly determine the overall sequence of morphological evolution occurring in the films. The device thermally annealed at 200 °C exhibits a noticeable enhancement in the performances, compared to the devices in the as-processed state and to the devices annealed at 300 °C. Our approaches reveal that the Ir(ppy)3 molecules, with a needle-like structure in the as-processed state, were aggregated, and thus diffused into PVK without a morphological change at the temperature regime between 150 °C and 200 °C. Moreover, both network-like and droplet patterns existed in the devices annealed at 300 °C, which was beyond the glass temperature of PVK, leading to a profound increase in the surface roughness. The observed pattern formation is discussed in terms of viscoelastic phase separation. Based on our experimental findings, we propose that the performances of the devices are significantly controlled by the diffusion of dopant molecules and the morphological evolution of the host materials in binary blend systems.

Reconfigurable interactions and three-dimensional patterning of colloidal particles and defects in lamellar soft media.

Colloidal systems find important applications ranging from fabrication of photonic crystals to direct probing of phenomena typically encountered in atomic crystals and glasses. New applications--such as nanoantennas, plasmonic sensors, and nanocircuits--pose a challenge of achieving sparse colloidal assemblies with tunable interparticle separations that can be controlled at will. We demonstrate reconfigurable multiscale interactions and assembly of colloids mediated by defects in cholesteric liquid crystals that are probed by means of laser manipulation and three-dimensional imaging. We find that colloids attract via distance-independent elastic interactions when pinned to the ends of cholesteric oily streaks, line defects at which one or more layers are interrupted. However, dislocations and oily streaks can also be optically manipulated to induce kinks, allowing one to lock them into the desired configurations that are stabilized by elastic energy barriers for structural transformation of the particle-connecting defects. Under the influence of elastic energy landscape due to these defects, sublamellar-sized colloids self-assemble into structures mimicking the cores of dislocations and oily streaks. Interactions between these defect-embedded colloids can be varied from attractive to repulsive by optically introducing dislocation kinks. The reconfigurable nature of defect-particle interactions allows for patterning of defects by manipulation of colloids and, in turn, patterning of particles by these defects, thus achieving desired colloidal configurations on scales ranging from the size of defect core to the sample size. This defect-colloidal sculpturing may be extended to other lamellar media, providing the means for optically guided self-assembly of mesoscopic composites with predesigned properties.