Three-Dimensional Hierarchical Seaweed-Derived Carbonaceous Network with Designed g-C3N4 Nanosheets: Preparation and Mechanism Insight for 4-Nitrophenol Photoreduction.

The development of g-C3N4-based photocatalysts with abundant active sites is of great significance for photocatalytic reactions. Herein, a smart and robust strategy was presented to fabricate three-dimensional (3D) g-C3N4 nanosheet-coated alginate-based hierarchical porous carbon (g-C3N4@HPC), including coating melamine on calcium alginate (CA) hydrogel beads, freeze-drying hydrogel beads as well as pyrolysis at high temperatures. The resulting photocatalyst possessed a significantly high surface area and a large amount of interconnected macropores compared with porous carbon without the melamine coating. The unique structural features could effectively inhibit the curling and agglomeration of g-C3N4 nanosheets, provide abundant photocatalytic active sites, and promote mass diffusion. Therefore, the g-C3N4@HPC composite exhibited remarkable photocatalytic activity and outstanding stability toward the photoreduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) to 4-aminophenol (4-AP) by NaBH4 under natural sunlight and simulated visible-light irradiation (λ > 420 nm) using a 300 W xenon lamp. Moreover, the mechanism toward the photocatalytic reaction was extensively studied by quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) experiments. The results showed that active hydrogen species were able to be achieved by following a dual-channel pathway in the NaBH4 system, which included photocatalytic reduction of H+ ions and photocatalytic oxidation of BH4- ions. This work not only opens up a new way to design efficient photocatalysts for various reactions but also provides a reference for an in-depth study of the photoreduction mechanism.

MiR-92b-3p regulates oxygen and glucose deprivation-reperfusion-mediated apoptosis and inflammation by targeting TRAF3 in PC12 cells.

NEW FINDINGS: What is the central question of this study? MiR-92b-3p was found to be reduced in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion: what are the functions of miR-92b-3p in oxygen and glucose deprivation-reperfusion (OGD/R)? What is the main finding and its importance? MiR-92b-3p abated apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation caused by OGD/R via targeting TRAF3, suggesting that miR-92b-3p may serve as a potential therapeutic target in ischaemic stroke treatment. ABSTRACT: Stroke is the most common cause of human neurological disability. MiR-92b-3p has been shown to be decreased in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion, but its effects in cerebral ischaemic insult are unknown. In this study, PC12 cells were exposed to oxygen and glucose deprivation-reperfusion (OGD/R) to establish cerebral ischaemic injury in vitro. Quantitative real time-PCR analysis demonstrated that OGD/R exposure led to down-regulation of miR-92b-3p and increased mRNA and protein levels of tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3). Gain of miR-92b-3p expression facilitated cell survival; attenuated lactate dehydrogenase leakage, cell apoptosis, caspase 3 activity and cleaved-caspase 3 (c-caspase 3) expression; and decreased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. Furthermore, miR-92b-3p repressed mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, reactive oxygen species production, cytochrome c protein expression, inflammatory cytokine production and the reduction of ATP content. MiR-92b-3p directly targeted the 3'-untranslated region of TRAF3 and decreased TRAF3 expression. Reinforced expression of TRAF3 partly abrogated the biological activity of miR-92b-3p during OGD/R. Hence, miR-92b-3p abated apoptosis, mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammatory responses induced by OGD/R by targeting TRAF3.

Sinopestalotiollides A-D, cytotoxic diphenyl ether derivatives from plant endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis palmarum.

Four new diphenyl ether derivatives, sinopestalotiollides A-D (1-4), one new natural α-pyrone product (11), as well as twelve known compounds (5-1 7), were obtained from the ethyl acetate extract of the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis palmarum isolated from the leaves of medicinal plant Sinomenium acutum (Thunb.) Rehd et Wils. The structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS and NMR spectrometry data. Bioassay experiments revealed that compounds 1-4 and 11 exhibited strong to weak cytotoxicities against three human tumor cell lines Hela, HCT116 and A549.

Glioma-derived thrombospondin-1 modulates cd14+ cell tolerogenic properties.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) plays a role in the immune tolerance, and is involved in the pathogenesis of glioma. This study aims to investigate the role of the glioma-derived TSP1 in the induction of the tumor immune tolerance. The results showed that the primary human glioma cells expressed high levels of TSP1. Glioma cells enhanced the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß in CD4⁺ CD16⁻ naïve monocytes (Mos). The TGF-ß⁺ Mos showed inhibitory effect on CD8⁺ T cell proliferation. We conclude that glioma cell-derived TSP1 facilitates the induction of TGF-ß in Mos. The TSP1 may be a potential therapeutic target of glioma.

Analyzing time-series microarray data reveals key genes in spinal cord injury.

Although many scholars have utilized high-throughput microarrays to delineate gene expression patterns after spinal cord injury (SCI), no study has evaluated gene changes in raphe magnus (RM) and somatomotor cortex (SMTC), two areas in brain primarily affected by SCI. In present study, we aimed to analyze the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of RM and SMTC between SCI model and sham injured control at 4, 24 h, 7, 14, 28 days, and 3 months using microarray dataset GSE2270 downloaded from gene expression omnibus and unpaired significance analysis of microarray method. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed for DEGs at crucial time points and significant biological functions were enriched using DAVID. The results indicated that more DEGs were identified at 14 days in RM and at 4 h/3 months in SMTC after SCI. In the PPI network for DEGs at 14 days in RM, interleukin 6, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog (FOS), tumor necrosis factor, and nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1 (glucocorticoid receptor) were the top 5 hub genes; In the PPI network for DEGs at 3 months in SMTC, the top 5 hub genes were ubiquitin B, Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (rho family, small GTP binding protein Rac1), FOS, Janus kinase 2 and vascular endothelial growth factor A. Hedgehog and Wnt signaling pathways were the top 2 significant pathways in RM. These hub DEGs and pathways may be underlying therapeutic targets for SCI.

Evaluating the predictive value of angiogenesis-related genes for prognosis and immunotherapy response in prostate adenocarcinoma using machine learning and experimental approaches.

Background: Angiogenesis, the process of forming new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, plays a crucial role in the development and advancement of cancer. Although blocking angiogenesis has shown success in treating different types of solid tumors, its relevance in prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) has not been thoroughly investigated. Method: This study utilized the WGCNA method to identify angiogenesis-related genes and assessed their diagnostic and prognostic value in patients with PRAD through cluster analysis. A diagnostic model was constructed using multiple machine learning techniques, while a prognostic model was developed employing the LASSO algorithm, underscoring the relevance of angiogenesis-related genes in PRAD. Further analysis identified MAP7D3 as the most significant prognostic gene among angiogenesis-related genes using multivariate Cox regression analysis and various machine learning algorithms. The study also investigated the correlation between MAP7D3 and immune infiltration as well as drug sensitivity in PRAD. Molecular docking analysis was conducted to assess the binding affinity of MAP7D3 to angiogenic drugs. Immunohistochemistry analysis of 60 PRAD tissue samples confirmed the expression and prognostic value of MAP7D3. Result: Overall, the study identified 10 key angiogenesis-related genes through WGCNA and demonstrated their potential prognostic and immune-related implications in PRAD patients. MAP7D3 is found to be closely associated with the prognosis of PRAD and its response to immunotherapy. Through molecular docking studies, it was revealed that MAP7D3 exhibits a high binding affinity to angiogenic drugs. Furthermore, experimental data confirmed the upregulation of MAP7D3 in PRAD, correlating with a poorer prognosis. Conclusion: Our study confirmed the important role of angiogenesis-related genes in PRAD and identified a new angiogenesis-related target MAP7D3.

Tunable afterglow for mechanical self-monitoring 3D printing structures.

Self-monitoring materials have promising applications in structural health monitoring. However, developing organic afterglow materials for self-monitoring is a highly intriguing yet challenging task. Herein, we design two organic molecules with a twisted donor-acceptor-acceptor' configuration and achieve dual-emissive afterglow with tunable lifetimes (86.1-287.7 ms) by doping into various matrices. Based on a photosensitive resin, a series of complex structures are prepared using 3D printing technology. They exhibit tunable afterglow lifetime and Young's Modulus by manipulating the photocuring time and humidity level. With sufficient photocuring or in dry conditions, a long-lived bright green afterglow without apparent deformation under external loading is realized. We demonstrate that the mechanical properties of complex 3D printing structures can be well monitored by controlling the photocuring time and humidity, and quantitively manifested by afterglow lifetimes. This work casts opportunities for constructing flexible 3D printing devices that can achieve sensing and real-time mechanical detection.

Multi-omics analysis and experimental validation of the value of monocyte-associated features in prostate cancer prognosis and immunotherapy.

Background: Monocytes play a critical role in tumor initiation and progression, with their impact on prostate adenocarcinoma (PRAD) not yet fully understood. This study aimed to identify key monocyte-related genes and elucidate their mechanisms in PRAD. Method: Utilizing the TCGA-PRAD dataset, immune cell infiltration levels were assessed using CIBERSORT, and their correlation with patient prognosis was analyzed. The WGCNA method pinpointed 14 crucial monocyte-related genes. A diagnostic model focused on monocytes was developed using a combination of machine learning algorithms, while a prognostic model was created using the LASSO algorithm, both of which were validated. Random forest and gradient boosting machine singled out CCNA2 as the most significant gene related to prognosis in monocytes, with its function further investigated through gene enrichment analysis. Mendelian randomization analysis of the association of HLA-DR high-expressing monocytes with PRAD. Molecular docking was employed to assess the binding affinity of CCNA2 with targeted drugs for PRAD, and experimental validation confirmed the expression and prognostic value of CCNA2 in PRAD. Result: Based on the identification of 14 monocyte-related genes by WGCNA, we developed a diagnostic model for PRAD using a combination of multiple machine learning algorithms. Additionally, we constructed a prognostic model using the LASSO algorithm, both of which demonstrated excellent predictive capabilities. Analysis with random forest and gradient boosting machine algorithms further supported the potential prognostic value of CCNA2 in PRAD. Gene enrichment analysis revealed the association of CCNA2 with the regulation of cell cycle and cellular senescence in PRAD. Mendelian randomization analysis confirmed that monocytes expressing high levels of HLA-DR may promote PRAD. Molecular docking results suggested a strong affinity of CCNA2 for drugs targeting PRAD. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry experiments validated the upregulation of CCNA2 expression in PRAD and its correlation with patient prognosis. Conclusion: Our findings offer new insights into monocyte heterogeneity and its role in PRAD. Furthermore, CCNA2 holds potential as a novel targeted drug for PRAD.

Construction of CuO/Cu-nanoflowers loaded on chitosan-derived porous carbon for high energy density supercapacitors.

Copper oxide (CuO) and copper (Cu) have been viewed as the prospective pseudocapacitive electrode materials for supercapacitors. Nevertheless, the poor electron transfer capacity, loading amount, and cycling stability limit their wide applications, which can be addressed by developing the CuO based heterojunction on conductive carbons. Here, a CuO/Cu@C comprising CuO/Cu nanoflowers and chitosan-derived N-doped porous carbon was compounded by simple mechanical mixing, freeze-drying, and carbonization. The composite heated at 700 °C exhibited a high specific capacitance of 2479F/g at 0.5 A/g and excellent cycling stability with capacitance retention of 82.43 % after 10 000 charge-discharge cycles. In addition, the asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC), i.e., CuO/Cu@C-700//AC assembled by CuO/Cu@C (as a positive electrode) and activated carbon (AC, as a negative electrode) displayed a great energy density of 76.87 W h kg-1 at 374.5 W kg-1 and kept as high as 25.83 W h kg-1 even at 14998 W kg-1. Our work provides a new pathway to preparing transition metal oxide-based electrode materials with distinguished electrochemical performances.

Tracking the dynamics of female germ cell development during peri-hatch periods using a gene-edited chicken model.

In hens, egg production depends on the development of germ cells in the ovary. Germ cells are established before birth, and their number gradually decreases during their lifespan. Therefore, it is essential to determine the time points of massive germ cell loss and the underlying mechanism. In this study, a gene-edited chicken with mCherry fluorescence specifically expressed in the germline was generated by the integration of the mCherry gene into the 3'-end of the DAZL locus, which facilitated the isolation of germ cells from the gonads of DAZL-mCherry embryos or chicks and quantification using flow cytometry based on the observation of red fluorescence. The results demonstrated the dynamics of germ cell development from embryos at 17 d of hatching (dh) to chickens at 7 d post-hatch (dph) and revealed a substantial loss of germ cells in the late embryonic stage (18 -19 dh) and post-hatch period (2 -3 dph). Additionally, the number of germ cells in DAZL × Guangxi Ma chicken was significantly higher than that in DAZL × Lohmann Pink chicken at 19 dh and 3 dph (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the numbers of germ cells positively correlated with the body weight in DAZL × Lohmann Pink chicken. In conclusion, our results showed the dynamics of germ cell development in chicken ovaries during peri-hatch periods and indicated the time point of substantial germ cell loss. The results provide evidence for further exploration of the underlying mechanism and serve as a reference for chicken breeding and management.

Solution-processable, robust and sustainable cooler via nano-structured engineering.

Passive daytime radiative cooling (PDRC) materials simultaneously featuring aesthetic and safety distinctions demonstrate versatile applications beyond cooling buildings, while the integrated advantages of high strength, morphological reconfigurability, and sustainability remain challenging for the conventional PDRC materials. Herein, we designed a robust, custom-shaped and eco-friendly cooler via a scalable solution-processable strategy, involving the nano-scale assembly of nano cellulose (NC) and inorganic nanoparticle (e.g., ZrO2, SiO2, BaSO4, and hydroxyapatite). The robust cooler shows an interesting "brick-and-mortar" structure, where the NC constructs interwoven framework (as brick structure) and the inorganic nanoparticle uniformly locates in the skeleton (as mortar structure), collectively contributing to high mechanical strength (>80 MPa) and flexibility. In addition, the structural and chemical distinctions enable our cooler to show a high solar reflectance (>96 %) and mid-infrared emissivity (>0.9), demonstrating a sub-ambient average temperature drop of 8.8 °C in long-term outdoor environments. The high-performance cooler with robustness, scalability and environmental friendliness, serves as a competitive participant toward the advanced PDRC materials in our low-carbon society.

Realizing Photoswitchable Mechanoluminescence in Organic Crystals Based on Photochromism.

Organic mechanoluminescent (ML) materials possessing photophysical properties that are sensitive to multiple external stimuli have shown great potential in many fields, including optic and sensing. Particularly, the photoswitchable ML property for these materials is fundamental to their applications but remains a formidable challenge. Herein, photoswitchable ML is successfully realized by endowing reversible photochromic properties to an ML molecule, namely 2-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl) fluoropyridine (o-TPF). o-TPF shows both high-contrast photochromism with a distinct color change from white to purplish red, as well as bright blue ML (λML  = 453 nm). The ML property can be repeatedly switched between ON and OFF states under alternate UV and visible light irradiation. Impressively, the photoswitchable ML is of high stability and repeatability. The ML can be reversibly switched on and off by conducting alternate UV and visible light irradiation in cycles under ambient conditions. Experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that the change of dipole moment of o-TPF during the photochromic process is responsible for the photoswitchable ML. These results outline a fundamental strategy to achieve for the control of organic ML and pave the way to the development of expanded smart luminescent materials and their applications.

G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 mediated estrogenic neuroprotection against spinal cord injury.

OBJECTIVE: What underlies the protection of estrogen against spinal cord injury remains largely unclear. Here, we investigated the expression pattern of a new estrogen receptor, G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 in the spinal cord and its role in estrogenic protection against spinal cord injury. DESIGN AND SETTINGS: Department of Neurosurgery and Key Laboratory of Neurotrauma, Southwest Hospital. SUBJECTS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats. INTERVENTIONS: The animals subjected to spinal cord injury were divided into six groups and given vehicle solution, 17ß-estradiol, or G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 agonist G-1 at 15 mins and 24 hrs postinjury, or given nuclear estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 at 1 hr before spinal cord injury followed by 17ß-estradiol administration at 15 mins and 24 hrs postinjury, or given G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 specific antisense or random control oligonucleotide at 4 days before spinal cord injury followed by 17ß-estradiol administration at 15 mins and 24 hrs postinjury. MEASUREMENTS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to spinal cord injury using a weight-drop injury approach. Immunohistochemical assays were used to observe the distribution and cell-type expression pattern of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1. The terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling-staining assay and behavior tests were employed to assess the role of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 in mediating estrogenic protection against spinal cord injury. MAIN RESULTS: We show that G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 is mainly distributed in the ventral horn and white matter of the spinal cord, which is totally different from nuclear estrogen receptors. We also show that G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 is specifically expressed by neurons, oligodendrocytes, and microglial cells, but not astrocytes. Furthermore, estrogen treatment prevents spinal cord injury-induced apoptotic cell death and enhances functional recovery after spinal cord injury, which can be mimicked by the specific G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 agonist G-1 and inhibited by specific knockdown of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 expression, but not pure nuclear ER antagonist ICI 182,780. Finally, we show that estrogen or G-1 up-regulates the protein expression level of G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 to intensify estrogenic effects during spinal cord injury. CONCLUSIONS: These results reveal that G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 may mediate estrogenic neuroprotection against spinal cord injury, and underline the promising potential of estrogen with its new target G-protein coupled estrogen receptor 1 for the treatment of spinal cord injury patients.

Pt Modified Sb2Te3 Alloy Ensuring High-Performance Phase Change Memory.

Phase change memory (PCM), due to the advantages in capacity and endurance, has the opportunity to become the next generation of general-purpose memory. However, operation speed and data retention are still bottlenecks for PCM development. The most direct way to solve this problem is to find a material with high speed and good thermal stability. In this paper, platinum doping is proposed to improve performance. The 10-year data retention temperature of the doped material is up to 104 °C; the device achieves an operation speed of 6 ns and more than 3 × 105 operation cycles. An excellent performance was derived from the reduced grain size (10 nm) and the smaller density change rate (4.76%), which are less than those of Ge2Sb2Te5 (GST) and Sb2Te3. Hence, platinum doping is an effective approach to improve the performance of PCM and provide both good thermal stability and high operation speed.

Engineered Janus cellulose membrane with the asymmetric-pore structure for the superhigh-water flux desalination.

Membranes are the dominant material for seawater desalination and clean-water harvesting, which are commonly composed of synthetic polymers, showing low hydrophilicity and environmental hazard. Herein, we developed a low-cost, intrinsically green, superhigh-water flux Janus cellulose membrane (CEM) via a facile cellulase etching strategy. Coating cellulase on the single surface of cellulose membrane (such as top surface), triggers effective etching on its top section rather than bottom section, which architects an asymmetric-pore structure of the Janus CEM including porous top-and dense bottom-layer. Such distinction endows the Janus CEM with an unprecedented high-water flux of 135.75 LMH and a low salt-water ratio of 0.29 g·L-1 for 1 M NaCl solution, which is 17-time higher and 62-time lower than that of the pristine CEM. Our Janus CEM enables a promising participant for the advanced membrane materials toward versatile separation engineering.

Molecularly engineered CMC-caged PNIPAM for broadband light management in energy-saving window.

Dynamic transparent-opaque transition behavior endows the stimuli-chromic materials with the solar modulation capability. However, these materials commonly involve the high manufacturing cost and complexity, the additional consumption of electric energy for solar modulation, or the weak effectiveness of light management. Herein, we develop a low-cost yet broadband light management sodium carboxymethyl cellulose-caging-poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) thermochromic composite (i.e., CMC/PNIPAM), where the nanoscale-skeleton CMC molecules well cage the PNIPAM molecules, which enables the homogeneous dispersion and sufficient distribution of the PNIPAM nanogels in the system. The CMC/PNIPAM features the excellent solar-modulation capability (including optical transmittance modulation of 68.17% and infrared transmittance modulation of 48.50%) and a low phase temperature of 30 °C, as well as the long-term stability of dynamic transparent-opaque transition. Such merits of the broadband light management, low cost, simply fabrication as well as scaling up, make the CMC/PNIPAM function as a promising candidate for the energy-saving buildings and construction.

Dietary Lasia spinosa Thw. improves reproductive performance of aged roosters.

The application of artificial insemination is particularly, owing to which breeder animals are considered an important resource in breeding farms. However, the reproductive performance of roosters typically declines with age, and the economic loss experienced by breeders is attributable to this shortened reproductive lifespan. Lasia spinosa Thw. (LST) reportedly improved reproductive capacity in male rodents. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of LST on the reproductive performance of aged roosters. Male Guangxi Partridge chicken (mean weight, 3032.41 ± 34.48 g; age, 500 days; n = 72) randomly received the following three dietary treatments: LST0 group (a basal diet), LST2 group (a basal diet with 2% LST powder), and LST4 group (a basal diet with 4% LST powder). Computer-aided sperm analysis revealed that dietary LST supplementation significantly improved semen volume, sperm motility, and concentration. Furthermore, the most potent effects were observed in the treatment group with the administration of 2% LST, which significantly improved the weight of the testes. Hematoxylin-eosin staining revealed the increase in diameter of the seminiferous tubule and height of the seminiferous tubule epithelium possibly caused as a result of LST treatment. A significant increase in fructose and glucose concentrations were observed in the testis and seminal plasma; in addition, a significant increase was observed in the α-glycosidase levels in the testis and spermatozoa. However, the monoaldehyde levels in the spermatozoa appeared to decline significantly. Additionally, the fertility rate increased significantly following 2% LST supplementation. RNA-seq analysis revealed that 34 and 16 unigenes were upregulated and downregulated, respectively, in testicular tissues from roosters that received dietary supplementation of 2% LST. The assigned functions of the unigenes revealed that LST primarily influenced the mechanisms underlying catalytic activity and cellular processes. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis suggested that spermatogenesis-related pathways were significantly enriched, including ABC transporters, ribosome biogenesis in eukaryotes, and VEGF, cAMP, and ErbB signaling pathways.

2-Hydroxybenzophenone Derivatives: ESIPT Fluorophores Based on Switchable Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonds and Excitation Energy-Dependent Emission.

In this work, a new series of 2-hydroxybenzophenone (BPOH) derivatives, BPOH-TPA, BPOH-PhCz, and BPOH-SF substituting with different electron-donating groups are designed and synthesized. Dual-emission spectra are observed in solutions indicating their excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) character. In solid states, all compounds exhibit a broad emission spectrum when excited at low excitation energy, deriving from the enol-type form stabilized by intramolecular hydrogen bonds. Compound BPOH-TPA shows a clear excitation wavelength dependence. However, such behavior is absent in BPOH-PhCz and BPOH-SF, as the rigid and weaker donor moieties may restrict this process. Furthermore, by increasing the excitation energy, dual emission with a high-energy band ranging from 550 to 582 nm and a low-energy band ranging from 625 to 638 nm is obtained in all three molecules. The photophysical studies and single-crystal analyses are performed to further illustrate the excitation-dependent emission. Higher excitation energies can promote more excitons to keto forms via ESIPT, giving a stronger redshifted emission. BPOH-TPA with a stronger donor strength exhibits an obvious color change gradually from yellow to orange-red with the increasing excitation power from 1 to 15 mW/cm2. This study provides a novel example of ESIPT materials with tunable emission colors.

Recent Development of Photodeformable Crystals: From Materials to Mechanisms.

Photodeformable materials are a class of molecules that can convert photon energy into mechanical energy, which have attracted tremendous attention in the last few decades. Owing to their unique photoinduced deformable properties, including fast light-response and diverse mechanical behaviors, photodeformable materials have exhibited great potential in many practical applications such as actuators, photoswitches, artificial muscles, and bioimaging. In this review, we sort out the current state of photodeformable crystals and classify them into six categories by molecular structures: diarylethenes, azobenzenes, anthracenes, olefins, triarylethylenes, and other systems. Three distinct light-responsive mechanisms, photocyclization, trans-cis isomerization, and photodimerization, are revealed to play significant roles in the molecular photodeformation. Their corresponding photodeformable behaviors such as twisting, bending, hopping, bursting, and curling, as well as the potential applications, are also discussed. Furthermore, the challenges and prospective development directions of photodeformable crystals are highlighted.

Wide-range lifetime-tunable and responsive ultralong organic phosphorescent multi-host/guest system.

The rational lifetime-tuning strategy of ultralong organic phosphorescence is extraordinarily important but seldom reported. Herein, a series of multi-host/guest ultralong organic phosphorescence materials with dynamic lifetime-tuning properties were reported. By doping a non-room-temperature phosphorescence emitter into various solid host matrices with continuously reduced triplet energy levels, a wide-range lifetime (from 3.9 ms gradually to 376.9 ms) phosphorescence with unchangeable afterglow colors were realized. Further studies revealed that the host matrices were employed to afford rigid environment and proper energy levels to generate and stabilize the long-live triplet excitons. Meanwhile, these multi-host/guest ultralong organic phosphorescence materials also exhibited excitation-dependent phosphorescence and temperature-controlled afterglow on/off switching properties, according to the virtue of various photophysical and thermal properties of the host matrices. This work provides a guiding strategy to realize lifetime-tuning ultralong organic phosphorescence with lifetime-order encoding characteristic towards widespread applications in time-resolved information displaying, higher-level security protection, and dynamic multi-dimensional anti-counterfeiting.