Addition Of Solvent Research Articles

Triply Interlocked [2]catenanes: Rational Synthesis, Reversible Conversion Studies and Unprecedented Application in Photothermal Responsive Elastomer.

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

Impact of Surfactants on Cumulative Trypsin Activity in Bottom-Up Proteome Analysis.

Trypsin digestion plays a pivotal role in successful bottom-up peptide characterization and quantitation. While denaturants are often incorporated to enhance protein solubility, surfactants are recognized to inhibit enzyme activity. However, several reports have suggested that incorporating surfactants or other solvent additives may enhance digestion and MS detection. Here, we assess the impacts of ionic surfactants on cumulative trypsin activity and subsequently evaluate the total digestion efficiency of a proteome mixture by quantitative MS. Although low surfactant concentrations, such as 0.01% SDS or 0.2% SDC, significantly enhanced the initial trypsin activity (by 14 or 42%, respectively), time course assays revealed accelerated enzyme deactivation, evident by 10- or 40-fold reductions in trypsin activity half-life at these respective surfactant concentrations. Despite enhanced initial tryptic activity, quantitative MS analysis of a common liver proteome extract, digested with various surfactants (0.01 or 0.1% SDS, 0.5% SDC), consistently revealed decreased peptide counts and signal intensity, indicative of a lower digestion efficiency compared to a nonsurfactant control. Furthermore, including detergents for digestion did not improve the detection of membrane proteins, nor hydrophobic peptides. These results stress the importance of assessing cumulative enzyme activity when optimizing the digestion of a proteome mixture, particularly in the presence of denaturants.

The role of the cation and anion in aqueous liquid chromatography with sodium dodecyl sulphate and imidazolium-based ionic liquids as mobile phase reagents

BackgroundIn reversed-phase liquid chromatography, solute retention is primarily influenced by interactions between a nonpolar stationary phase and a moderately polar hydro-organic mobile phase, based on the solute lipophilicity. However, challenges regarding retention and peak tailing can arise due to ionic interactions between positively charged analytes and free silanols present on silica-based stationary phases. To address these challenges, incorporating surfactants and ionic liquids (ILs) into the mobile phase offers an effective solution. These additives synergistically enhance chromatographic performance through electrostatic and lipophilic interactions, which enable fine-tuning of selectivity and improved separation efficiency. ResultsThis study explores the chromatographic behaviour of several basic compounds in aqueous mixtures containing the anionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS), above its critical micellar concentration, combined with various 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) featuring chloride, tetrafluoroborate, and hexafluorophosphate anions, all without the addition of organic solvents. Specifically, this research investigates the influence of different anion types within the ILs and considers the impact of the IL cations. Analysis of solute peak profiles reveals narrow and symmetrical peaks. By introducing tetrafluoroborate and hexafluorophosphate IL anions into a mobile phase that contains an anionic surfactant, the study sheds light on the interactions occurring within the chromatographic column. This enhanced understanding of the combined effects of surfactants and ILs contributes to refining chromatographic methodologies. SignificanceThis research highlights the importance of carefully selecting the appropriate IL when incorporating it into a micellar mobile phase alongside SDS. This combination results in practical retention times that surpass the performance achieved with either the surfactant or IL alone in the mobile phase. The study particularly emphasises the impact of the IL anion, especially in the absence of SDS and organic solvents. This unveils interactions that are otherwise obscured in micellar and hydro-organic media, providing new insights into chromatographic dynamics.

Solid additive enables efficient and stable organic solar cells by stabilizing morphology of active layer

Additive strategy is an effective method for optimizing the morphology of active layer in organic solar cells (OSCs). However, common high boiling points solvent additives may compromise device stability. In this work, 1‑bromo-8-chloronaphthalene (BCN) was used as a solid additive to improve device performance. The introduction of BCN promotes the crystallinity, H-aggregation and fibrillation of L8-BO. The active layer film with additive BCN exhibits optimized phase separation and refined fiber network, thus enhancing the exciton dissociation and charge transport in the corresponding devices. Compared with control devices (without additives), the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of optimized devices (with 20 wt % BCN) based on D18:L8-BO was increased from 17.49 % to 18.20 %. The detailed process of device fabrication is in experimental section. Furthermore, devices processed by BCN preserved 96.6 % and 96.3 % of the initial PCE after aging for 60 min with maximum power point (MPP) tracking and aging of storage for 960 h, respectively. The universality of BCN was verified in different systems, which offers promising opportunities to regulate BHJ morphology toward highly efficient OSCs.

Theoretical study on the energy storage performance of Electrical double layer supercapacitors with choline amino acid ionic liquids electrolyte

Choline amino acid ionic liquids have attracted much attention in recent years due to their simple extraction process, rich sources, and easy degradation. Due to the high viscosity of such ionic liquids, the addition of organic solvents can adjust the transport performance of ionic liquids. Here, we explore the effects of different solvents (methanol, ethanol) and different temperatures on the diffusion properties and conductivity of ionic liquids through molecular dynamics simulations. The results showed that with the increase of temperature, the conductivity linearly increased. The addition of organic solvents can improve the conductivity of ionic liquids, and the addition of methanol solvent has a higher compatibility with choline amino acid ionic liquids. The conductivity after mixing methanol and choline glycine in a certain proportion is 5 times higher than before. In addition, this article investigated the performance of choline glycine ionic liquid electrolytes in Electrical Double Layers (EDLs) near planar graphene electrodes. The results indicate that similar double layer structures and double layer capacitors can be observed regardless of whether solvents are added.

SYNTHESIS OF SODIUM HETEROPOLY DECATUNGSTOEUROPATE(III) WITH PLATE-LIKE SURFACE MICROMORPHOLOGY

In order to develop an express procedure for the synthesis of the Eu(III)-containing heteropoly compound Na9[Eu(W5O18)2]·35H2O, a study of the interaction in an aqueous solution of the Na2WO4 – HNO3 – Eu(NO3)3 – H2O system acidified to an acidity of Z = ν(H+)/ν(WO42–) = 0.80 was carried. A procedure for obtaining a single-phase sample of Na9[Eu(W5O18)2]·35H2O is proposed, which is performed by a simple technique in a short time, which does not exceed 5 days from the addition of reactants to obtaining the target product with a yield of more than 90%. It was established that during salting out, the addition of an organic solvent (propan-2-one) results in the crystallization of Na9[Eu(W5O18)2]·35H2O normal salt with plate-like surface micromorphology. The set of oscillations characteristic for the heteropoly tungstate anion with the Peacock–Weakley type of structure, [Eu(W5O18)2]9–, was established by the methods of FT-IR spectroscopy and FT-Raman spectroscopy. By the method of FT-IR spectroscopy the absence of organic solvent molecules (propan-2-one) in the composition of the crystalline product was established. The revealed set of vibrations in the FT-IR and Raman spectra of the isolated salt (the most intense valence vibrations at 710, 797, 849, and 935 cm-1 in the FT-IR spectrum; intense bands in the region of 930–980 cm-1 in the Raman spectrum) is characteristic of the site group of the heteropoly anion [Ln(W5O18)2]9– (Ln = La–Lu) and is identical to the FT-IR and Raman spectra of salts, the crystal structure of which has been reliably established by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. By the method of scanning electron microscopy, it was shown that the grain size of Na9[Eu(W5O18)2]·35H2O powder is up to 500 nm. The single phase of the salt was confirmed by the uniform surface contrast in the backscattered electron imaging (BEI) mode and by the uniform distribution of Eu, Na, W, and O during the scanning of the surface in the characteristic X-ray radiation.

Synergistic effect of solvent addition and temperature treatment on conductivity enhancement of MWCNTs: PEDOT:PSS composite ink for electrodes in all printed solid-state micro-supercapacitors

All solid-state micro-supercapacitors (S-MSCs) are pivotal for modern wearables as they offer rapid energy storage and release, with seamless integration into small, lightweight wearables. Developing all printed S-MSCs is a cost-effective alternative to traditional S-MSCs and can potentially revolutionize wearable energy storage technologies. This manuscript presents an innovative, substrate-friendly approach to enhance the conductivity and electrochemical performance of screen-printed electrodes for S-MSCs using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs): PEDOT:PSS (poly(3,4-ethylene dioxythiophene): poly(styrene sulfonate)) composite ink. By incorporating various polar solvents into the ink formulation and optimizing printing and drying parameters, a four-fold increase in conductivity (5.5 × 103 S/m) was achieved. The synergy of polar solvent addition and temperature treatment on the dielectric screening, preferential solvation, and partial segregation of PSS were identified as the principal reason behind this enhancement. The optimally formulated ink was employed to create supercapacitor electrodes, demonstrating hybrid capacitive behavior with both liquid and gel electrolytes. An impressive 97.5 % decrease in charge transfer resistance (RCT) and a corresponding increase in areal capacitance and energy density were observed for these supercapacitors due to the segregation of PEDOT and PSS achieved by the synergistic effect. All printed S-MSCs were also fabricated with an impressive areal capacitance of 9.82 mF/cm2 @ 60 µA/cm2 and areal energy density of 1.964 µWh/cm2 at an areal power density of 63 µW/cm2. The fabricated S-MSCs exhibited impeccable capacitance retention of 99.7 % after 6,000 operation cycles and impressive stability upto 10,000 bending cycles, making them promising energy storage solutions for flexible and wearable devices.

A Cellulose Reinforced Polyacrylamide/Polyvinyl Alcohol Dual Network Hydrogel for Flexible Sensors

AbstractIn this paper, polyacrylamide (PAM) was used as the main matrix material to form the first layer network structure, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as the secondary matrix material to form the second layer network structure. The hydrogels were prepared by free radical in‐situ polymerization and physical cross‐linking. This hydrogel was characterized not only by its semi‐interpenetrating network structure, in which cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) penetrate through the polyacrylamide network but also by the physically and chemically cross‐linked hybrid PAM/PVA double network. The structure and appearance of the hydrogels were characterized by scanning electron microscope and Fourier transform infrared spectrometer, and a series of tests were carried out to detect their mechanical properties, electrical properties and sensing properties. The results show that the hydrogel has good mechanical properties (the elongation at break can reach 600 % and the stress at break can reach 0.16 MPa), and the hydrogel also has good sensing and electrical properties. The addition of organic solvents makes the hydrogels have excellent antifreeze and water retention properties and also have excellent swelling properties. Therefore, the PAM/PVA/CNC dual network interpenetrating composite hydrogel has potential application value in the field of flexible sensors.

Development of Focused Ultrasound-Assisted Nanoplexes for RNA Delivery.

RNA-based therapeutics, including siRNA, have obtained recognition in recent years due to their potential to treat various chronic and rare diseases. However, there are still limitations to lipid-based drug delivery systems in the clinical use of RNA therapeutics due to the need for optimization in the design and the preparation process. In this study, we propose adaptive focused ultrasound (AFU) as a drug loading technique to protect RNA from degradation by encapsulating small RNA in nanoliposomes, which we term nanoplexes. The AFU method is non-invasive and isothermal, as nanoplexes are produced without direct contact with any external materials while maintaining precise temperature control according to the desired settings. The controllability of sample treatments can be effectively modulated, allowing for a wide range of ultrasound intensities to be applied. Importantly, the absence of co-solvents in the process eliminates the need for additional substances, thereby minimizing the potential for cross-contaminations. Since AFU is a non-invasive method, the entire process can be conducted under sterile conditions. A minimal volume (300 μL) is required for this process, and the treatment is speedy (10 min in this study). Our in vitro experiments with silencer CD44 siRNA, which performs as a model therapeutic drug in different mammalian cell lines, showed encouraging results (knockdown > 80%). To quantify gene silencing efficacy, we employed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Additionally, cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) techniques were employed to capture images of nanoplexes. These images revealed the presence of individual nanoparticles measuring approximately 100-200 nm in contrast with the random distribution of clustered complexes observed in ultrasound-untreated samples of liposome nanoparticles and siRNA. AFU holds great potential as a standardized liposome processing and loading method because its process is fast, sterile, and does not require additional solvents.

Elucidating different roles of solvent additives in organic photovoltaics under solar and indoor light emission environments

Incorporation of solvent additive in bulk heterojunction layer has been effective method for the optimization of film morphology and crystallinity, enabling high efficiency organic solar cells under standard 1 SUN illumination. However, the effects of the additives in low-intensity indoor light environment have not been investigated much so far. In this study, a new donor polymer (PBz-ET) having an efficient spectral matching with LED was synthesized and employed. Moreover, we elucidate the different roles of additives for organic solar cell operations depending on 1 SUN and low-intensity LED illuminations. Through systemic characterizations on morphology, crystallinity, and electrical properties, we found that the additive boosting nanoscale phase separation is compatible for the organic solar cells working in 1 SUN illumination while the additive being capable of increasing crystallinity is more adaptable to those used for indoor light environment. The results in this study suggest a rational selection rule of additives for designing organic solar cells in different light environments.

Organic solvent-assisted ethylenediamine pretreatment to improve the high-value utilization efficiency of corn stalk

In order to achieve the goal of carbon neutrality, it is an important way and a great challenge to realize the full-component conversion of lignocellulosic biomass via bio-refinery. In this study, the pretreatment method of organic solvent-assisted ethylenediamine was used to separate cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin in corn stalk. The effects of different organic solvents on the separation ability were studied, and the separated products were transformed into high-value products. Specifically, the structures of solid residue, regenerated hemicellulose, and regenerated lignin were analyzed and applied to pyrolysis saccharification (at 500℃ for 30 min), information anti-counterfeiting, and selective detection of Fe3+ respectively. The results showed that the lignin removal ratio of 1-butyl-3-lethylimidazolyl chloride/ethylenediamine (IL/EDA) system could reach 96.05 % under the pretreatment condition of 200℃ for 2 h, and the yield of Levoglucosan obtained from pyrolysis bio-oil reached 169.70 mg·g−1 with high selectivity. Moreover, IL/EDA pretreatment increased the nitrogen content of lignin and hemicellulose, enhanced the fluorescence intensity, and effectively realized selective detection and information encryption. Furthermore, Density functional theory (DFT) calculation proved that the addition of organic solvents was beneficial to the reaction between lignin and ethylenediamine (EDA). The Fukui function was used to explore the reaction site between EDA and lignin. In addition, the mass balance of the pretreatment process was also described. This study realized the high-value application of all components of lignocellulose and provided a new process for the efficient utilization of green carbon resources.

Catalysed Aryl Amine Syntheses via Azides: From Azidation of Aryl Halides to Azide Reduction and Direct Amination

AbstractThis review summarises and discusses aryl amine and azide syntheses from aryl halides employing azides. The majority of the reported reactions proceed with copper catalysis or mediation. Often, an aryl azide is formed in the first step, which is then reduced in situ to an aryl amine in a second step. The occurrence of the second step, the reduction, depends on the chosen reaction conditions and the substrates. The formation of only aryl azides through Cu‐mediated C−N bond formations is discussed, followed by mediated and catalytic aryl azide reduction employing different catalytic systems, and azidation with in situ azide reduction to amines, viz. azidation‐amination strategies. The azidation‐amination allows for the synthesis of complex heterocycles in multi‐step one‐pot procedures, of which several are summarised here. Examples of the application of azidation‐amination for synthesising important aryl amines employed in or as biologically active compounds, catalysis and materials science are also summarised. Finally, conducted control reactions have been collected and discussed in combination with mechanistic proposals. This literature survey allows us to pinpoint design criteria for the azide reduction to valuable amines, which includes the choice of reaction conditions such as solvent system and additives, involved metal and promising substrates.

A Collection of Dispersion Induction DI, Electrostatic ES, and Hydrogen Bonding α1 and β1 Parameters for 380 Solvents and What They Say on Solvent Effects on Rates, Equilibria, and Spectra.

The solvent parameters DI, ES, α1, and β1 are intended for the description of solute-solvent intermolecular forces, i.e., dispersion-induction, electrostatic, hydrogen-bond donation, and hydrogen-bond acceptance, respectively. An up-to-date collection of these parameters is presented for 380 solvents including green solvents, ionic liquids, and deep eutectic solvents. Their determination for additional solvents requires three commercial indicators, betaine dye B(30), 4-F-phenol, and 4-F-anisole (as well as the refractive index). The chemical significance of these parameters is outlined. Their use in the linear solvation energy relationship P = P° + di DI + e ES + a α1 + b β1 for 62 physicochemical properties P (reaction rates, equilibrium constants, and IR, UV, and NMR spectra) yields determination coefficients generally greater than 0.90 and regression coefficients whose sign and relative magnitude provide consistent information on the intermolecular forces acting on these properties.

Design and evaluation of curcumin-loaded poloxamer hydrogels as injectable depot formulations

Poloxamer hydrogels are of interest as injectable depot delivery systems. However, their use for delivering hydrophobic drugs, such as curcumin, is limited due to poor loading capacity. Here, we evaluated the influence of incorporating hydrophobic medium chain triglycerides (MCT) or amphiphilic polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG400) on the physicochemical properties, drug loading, and in vitro compatibility of a curcumin-loaded poloxamer hydrogel.Poloxamer 407 and 188 hydrogel formulations (16:6 w/w) were prepared and MCT and PEG400 (saturated with curcumin) were added to these systems, either alone or in combination, up to a 10 % w/w additive solvent load. Formulation viscoelasticity, gelation behaviour, injectability, morphology and release profiles were assessed. The cytocompatibility of the formulations was also assessed on dermal fibroblasts (HDFn).Both additives increased curcumin loading into the formulation. Addition of MCT to the hydrogel significantly increased its gelation speed, while PEG400 had a less profound impact. Both additive solvents increased the force required to inject the formulation. PEG400 containing systems were single phase, whereas MCT addition created emulsion systems. All formulations released ∼20–30 % of their loaded curcumin in a sustained fashion over 24 h. The modified hydrogel systems showed good biocompatibility on cells when administering up to ∼100–150 µM curcumin into the culture.This study addresses a key limitation in loading hydrophobic drugs into hydrogels and provides a strategy to enhance drug loading and performance of hydrogels by integrating additives such as MCT and PEG400 into the systems.

Incorporation of canola meal as a sustainable natural filler in PLA foams

The canola oil industry generates significant waste as canola meal (CM) which has limited scope and applications. This study demonstrates the possibility of valorization of CM as a sustainable natural filler in a biodegradable polymer composite of Poly(lactic acid) (PLA). Generally, interfacial bonding between natural fibers and the polymer matrix in the composite is weak and non-uniform. One possible solution is to derivatize natural fibre to introduce interfacial bond strength and compatibility with the PLA polymer matrix. Here, CM was succinylated in a reactive extrusion process using succinic anhydride at 30 wt% to get 14% derivatization with 0.02 g of -COOH density per g of CM. The CM or succinylated CM at 5 and 15 wt% was co-extruded with amorphous PLA to get composite fibers. CM-PLA and succinylated CM-PLA biocomposites were foamed using a mild and green microcellular foaming process, with CO2 as an impregnating agent without any addition of organic solvents. The properties of the foams were analyzed using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), shrinkage, and imaging. The addition of CM or succinylated CM as a natural filler did not significantly change the glass transition temperature, melting point, percent crystallization, stiffness, and thermal stability of PLA foams. This suggests succinylation (modification) of CM is not a mandatory step for improving interphase compatibility with the amorphous PLA. The new PLA-CM foams can be a good alternative in the packaging industry replacing the existing petroleum-based polymer foams.Graphical

Research Progress on the Application of MOF and MOF‐Based Materials in Nitrogen Reduction

AbstractElectrocatalytic and photocatalytic nitrogen fixation have become new ways to achieve green nitrogen reduction because of their environmentally friendly and cost‐effective characteristics. At present, there has been an increasing curiosity about using metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis. However, electrocatalytic and photocatalytic ammonia production is still not practical for practical applications. Having a thorough understanding of nitrogen fixation is necessary for the advancement of practical applications and the development of highly efficient catalysts in the future. The catalytic nitrogen fixation activity of MOF itself is limited. By adjusting the exposure of active sites through low‐temperature calcination and solvent addition, the photogenerated carrier recombination is inhibited, and the adsorption and activation of N2 are enhanced, improving its performance in nitrogen fixation applications. This review examines the reported photocatalysts, electrocatalysts, and photoelectrocatalysts based on MOFs and their associated materials. The underlying mechanism for photocatalysis and electrocatalysis is elucidated. Additionally, an inclusive survey of MOFs and related materials as catalysts for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is presented, with representative examples discussed. Finally, the research progress of MOF‐based catalytic nitrogen fixation materials is summarized and prospected.

Photoacoustic processing of decellularized extracellular matrix for biofabricating living constructs

The diverse biomolecular landscape of tissue-specific decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) biomaterials provides a multiplicity of bioinstructive cues to target cells, rendering them highly valuable for various biomedical applications. However, the isolation of dECM biomaterials entails cumbersome xenogeneic enzymatic digestions and also additional inactivation procedures. Such, increases processing time, increments costs and introduces residues of non-naturally present proteins in dECM formulations that remain present even after inactivation. To overcome these limitations, herein we report an innovative conjugation of light and ultrasound-mediated dECM biomaterial processing for fabricating dECM biomaterials. Such approach gathers on ultrasound waves to facilitate dECM-in-liquid processing and visible light photocrosslinking of tyrosine residues naturally present in dECM biomaterials. This dual step methodology unlocked the in-air production of cell laden dECM hydrogels or programmable dECM hydrogel spherical-like beads by using superhydrophobic surfaces. These in-air produced units do not require any additional solvents and successfully supported both fibroblasts and breast cancer cells viability upon encapsulation or surface seeding. In addition, the optimized photoacoustic methodology also enabled a rapid formulation of dECM biomaterial inks with suitable features for biofabricating volumetrically defined living constructs through embedded 3D bioprinting. The biofabricated dECM hydrogel constructs supported cell adhesion, spreading and viability for 7 days. Overall, the implemented photoacoustic processing methodology of dECM biomaterials offers a rapid and universal strategy for upgrading their processing from virtually any tissue. Statement of significanceLeveraging decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) as cell instructive biomaterials has potential to open new avenues for tissue engineering and in vitro disease modelling. The processing of dECM remains however, lengthy, costly and introduces non-naturally present proteins in the final biomaterials formulations. In this regard, here we report an innovative light and ultrasound two-step methodology that enables rapid dECM-in-liquid processing and downstream photocrosslinking of dECM hydrogel beads and 3D bioprinted constructs. Such photoacoustic based processing constitutes a universally applicable method for processing any type of tissue-derived dECM biomaterials.

Efficient base- and ligand-free palladium catalysed O-arylation of phenols in choline chloride:triethanolamine as a reusable deep eutectic solvent.

In this paper, we present a novel and sustainable approach using choline chloride:triethanolamine as a green, efficient and reusable deep eutectic solvent (DES) for Pd-catalysed O-arylation reactions with Pd/BaSO4 (10%). By using the unique properties of DESs, we successfully achieved C-O bond formation without the need for additional solvents, bases and ligands. This solvent/catalyst system ([ChCl][TEA]2) functioned as a dual catalyst and solvent system, enabling fast and environmentally friendly C-O bond formation from phenol derivatives and electron-deficient aryl halides, leading to remarkable yields under mild reaction conditions. To identify and characterize this DES, we employed differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, refractive index, viscosity, the potential of hydrogen (pH) and conductivity measurements. One of the remarkable advantages of this DES system is its exceptional stability. This solvent/catalyst system exhibited high stability throughout the reaction cycles, showing no significant loss of activity. As a result, this DES and catalyst (Pd/BaSO4 (10%)) can be easily recycled and re-used for up to three consecutive cycles, making it an economically and environmentally attractive option for organic reactions. Our approach offers several key benefits, including simple catalyst preparation, quick reaction times and excellent production efficiency.

High-Intensity Circular Dichroism of Head-To-Tail Regioregular Poly(1,4-Phenylene)s in the Aggregated State.

Circular dichroism (CD) studies on poly(1,4-phenylene)s bearing a chiral side chain in the aggregated conditions were carried out. Little CD was observed in a solution form, while addition of a poor solvent into the polyphenylene solution induced aggregation and a strong CD was observed, accordingly. Applying the controlled degree of polymerization (DP) of poly(1,4-phenylene) in the use of bidentate diphosphine Chiraphos as a ligand for the nickel catalyst, the relationship of DP with CD strength was studied to reveal to show the highest CD at the DP=84 (gabs=ca. 2×10-2). It was also found that the related aggregation was observed in good solvent 1,2-dichloroethane upon standing the solution at 4 °C for 3-23 days to observe gabs=ca. 10-1. Studies on the substituent effect of poly(1,4-phenylene) suggested that CD behaviors were dependent on the type of non-chiral substituent on the aromatic ring as well as the side-chain chirality.

Highly Efficient and Stable Organic Solar Cells Enabled by a Commercialized Simple Thieno[3,2-b]thiophene Additive.

Delicately manipulating nanomorphology is recognized as a vital and effective approach to enhancing the performance and stability of organic solar cells (OSCs). However, the complete removal of solvent additives with high boiling points is typically necessary to maintain the operational stability of the device. In this study, two commercially available organic intermediates, namely thieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TT) and 3,6-dibromothieno[3,2-b]thiophene (TTB) are introduced, as solid additives in OSCs. The theoretical simulations and experimental results indicate that TT and TTB may exhibit stronger intermolecular interactions with the acceptor Y6 and donor PM6, respectively. This suggests that the solid additives (SAs)can selectively intercalate between Y6 and PM6 molecules, thereby improving the packing order and crystallinity. As a result, the TT-treated PM6:Y6 system exhibits a favorable morphology, improved charge carrier mobility, and minimal charge recombination loss. These characteristics contribute to an impressive efficiency of 17.75%. Furthermore, the system demonstrates exceptional thermal stability (T80>2800h at 65°C) and outstanding photostability. The universal applicability of TT treatment is confirmed in OSCs employing D18:L8-BO, achieving a significantly higher PCE of 18.3%. These findings underscore the importance of using appropriate solid additives to optimize the blend morphology of OSCs, thereby improving photovoltaic performance and thermal stability.