Simple Synthesis Research Articles

TVT‐Based New Building Block with Enhanced π‐Electron Delocalization for Efficient Non‐Fused Photovoltaic Acceptor

AbstractTo address the high‐cost issue that impedes the large‐scale fabrication and industrialization of organic solar cells (OSCs), it is crucial to design low‐cost photovoltaic materials with simplified synthesis procedures. In this study, a novel fully non‐fused acceptor, ATVT‐BO, featuring a triisopropylbenzene‐substituted (E)‐1,2‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)ethene (TVT) unit as the central core is designed and synthesized. A control acceptor, A4T‐BO, with the same alkyl chains but a bithiophene central core, is also synthesized for comparison. Theoretical calculations and practical measurements reveal that compared to A4T‐BO, the insertion of an ethylene bond in ATVT‐BO enhances the molecular planarity and reduces the aromaticity, leading to enhanced π‐electron delocalization and thus improved electron mobility and a red‐shifted optical absorption spectrum. The 3D molecular packing mode of ATVT‐BO, characterized by tight intermolecular interactions, also promotes efficient charge transport in OSCs. Consequently, when paired with the low‐cost polymer PTVT‐T, featuring an ester‐substituted TVT structure, as the photoactive layer, the PTVT‐T:ATVT‐BO‐based device achieves a remarkable power conversion efficiency of 14.8%, distinctly higher than that of PTVT‐T:A4T‐BO‐based cell. The result highlights the significant potential of TVT units in creating both low‐cost polymer donors and fully non‐fused acceptors, which opens up new possibilities for designing low‐cost photoactive materials in OSCs.

A Simple and Efficient One-Step Synthesis System for Flexible Production of Circular RNA in E. coli

A Simple and Efficient One-Step Synthesis System for Flexible Production of Circular RNA in E. coli

SQ31f is a potent non-tuberculous mycobacteria antibiotic by specifically targeting the mycobacterial F-ATP synthase.

Non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infection presents a growing global health problem and requires new antibiotics targeting enzymes that are essential for the pathogens under various metabolic conditions, with high target specificity, good solubility and with attractive combinatory potency. SQ31f was synthesized by a simplified synthesis protocol, and its effect on growth inhibition of fast- and slow-growing NTM and clinical isolates, whole-cell ATP depletion, ex vivo macrophages and its potency in combination with other antibiotics were evaluated. Molecular docking studies were employed to assess SQ31f's binding mode. We present- squaramide SQ31f as a novel anti-NTM inhibitor targeting the NTM F1FO-ATP synthase, essential for ATP formation, regulation of ATP homeostasis and proton motive force under multiple growth conditions. The potency of SQ31f in growth inhibition of fast- and slow-growing NTM and clinical isolates correlates with whole-cell ATP depletion, which is not caused by altered oxygen consumption. SQ31f's high aqueous solubility enables binding to the waterfilled cytosolic proton half channel in the subunits a-c interface of the FO domain. As presented for the fast-growing Mycobacterium abscessus, the compound is active against intracellular-residing M. abscessus. Importantly, SQ31f shows an additive effect of the anti-M. abscessus drugs clofazimine, rifabutin or amikacin, and an attractive potentiation of linezolid, clarithromycin, or the oral pair tebipenem and avibactam. SQ31f represents an attractive inhibitor to tackle the issues associated with NTM drug tolerance and toxicity. Its combinatory potency with anti-M. abscessus drugs holds potential for overcoming resistance, while also reducing intensive compound synthesis and associated costs.

Simple synthesis of K/P co-doped graphitic carbon nitride to enhance photocatalytic performance under simulated solar irradiation

The doping or co-doping of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) with other elements is a useful modification technique that overcomes the disadvantages of the base material and enhances its photocatalytic performance. In this study, K and P were successfully incorporated into g-C3N4 using a one-step, single-precursor (K2HPO4) synthesis method. The incorporation of K and P was confirmed using energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry and wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. Oxytetracycline (OTC) degradation rates were compared with and without elemental doping and with variation in the precursor content. In contrast to the low OTC degradation rate exhibited by pristine g-C3N4 (29.52 ± 0.03%), incorporating K and P into g-C3N4 greatly improved OTC degradation, with the sample produced using 100 mg of the precursor K2HPO4 (KPCN-100) achieving the highest degradation rate (99.43 ± 0.53%). The effects of the co-dopants K and P on the optical, photoelectrochemical properties, and band position of g-C3N4 were also investigated. Scavenging and N2 purging tests confirmed that reactive species, including O2•- (87.25%) and 1O2 (56.53%), played an important role in the degradation of OTC. In addition, several experimental parameters, including the presence of co-existing ions and humic acid, the pH level, the initial OTC concentration, and the photocatalyst dosage, were varied to better understand the photodegradation mechanisms at work within the KPCN-100 system. The stability of KPCN-100 and the toxicity assessment of the OTC intermediate were also conducted to evaluate their potential for environmental applications. Overall, this study demonstrates a simple synthesis method for the elemental co-doping of g-C3N4, offering an effective photocatalytic strategy that can greatly enhance the efficiency of OTC degradation.

Cysteamine functionalized gold nanoparticles exhibit high efficiency delivery of genetic materials in embryonic stem cells majorly via clathrin mediated endocytosis

Efficient and safe gene delivery is vital for genetic manipulation of stem cells for regenerative medicine. Gold nanoparticles have been used for various biomedical applications in the past, and are currently being researched as transfection agents. In this study, we report a simple one-pot synthesis of positively charged gold nanoparticles functionalized with cysteamine. The nanoparticles exhibit no cytotoxicity and can bind to both plasmid DNA (pDNA) as well as small interference RNA (siRNA). We observed that a five fold lower concentration of pDNA was sufficient for achieving comparable overexpression as that of a commercial transfection agent. We also observed that about 70 % transient silencing of the target gene was achieved with only 25 nM siRNA delivered by our nano-vehicle. To better understand the fate of the nanoparticle, we attempted to identify its uptake mechanism. The results indicate that while all the mechanisms contribute to the uptake, the clathrin-dependent pathway plays a major role. This is the first study on understanding the mechanism of uptake of CA-AuNPs conjugated to pDNA by embryonic stem cells. This is also the first study, where a successful transfection using gold based nanoparticles has been achieved in ESCs at a concentration as low as 0.5 µg/ml for pDNA and 25ƞM siRNA.

Synthesis and enhanced adsorption for F− by three novel high entropy LDHs using TEA-assisted hydrothermal technology

Nowadays the design, preparation and application of high entropy LDHs (HE-LDHs) has already become research hotspots. In this paper, three types of high entropy ZnCoCrMgZr-LDHs (HE-LDHs-1, 2 and 3) were successfully prepared for the first time using TEA as alkali source by simple hydrothermal synthesis, and characterized by XRD, TG, SEM, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, BET and zeta potential. The effect of triethanolamine (TEA) on the formation of high entropy LDHs and their adsorption behaviour for F− were investigated. Research showed that high content of TEA can maintain and provide more hydroxyl groups required for the formation of LDHs, while the introduction of high valence Zr4+ breaks the regular arrangement of LDHs themselves. Three types of high entropy LDHs have excellent adsorption performance for F− with the maximum adsorption capacities of 113.78 mg/g, 142.12 mg/g and 128.24 mg/g, respectively. They also have strong resistance to anionic interference. The adsorption process is the transition from physical adsorption to chemical adsorption in the F− adsorption process from HE-LDHs-1 to 3. The adsorption isotherm models of LDHs-1 exhibit high R2 values which shown that their F− adsorption behaviour is the result of the combined effect of physical and chemical adsorption. The adsorption behaviour of LDHs-2 and 3 is more in line with the quasi second-order kinetic model and Langmuir model, indicating that the F− adsorption process is a single-layer adsorption based on chemical reaction-controlled kinetics. The lower temperatures are more conducive to the process for all three adsorbents adsorption process generates heat. FLDHs can still re-adsorb the dye CR after four cycles of adsorbing fluoride ions. HE-LDHs exhibit high adsorption, selectivity, and good reuse performance for fluoride ions, making them promising for wastewater treatment applications.

Galla chinensis residue-derived carbon dots for sensitive detection of doxorubicin hydrochloride and cell imaging

As an antibiotic, the imbalance of the concentration of doxycycline hydrochloride (DOX) can cause many harms, so real-time detection of the DOX content is crucial. In this study, Galla chinensis residue (GCR) was used as a carbon source, m-phenylenediamine was used as an N-doping agent, and blue-green fluorescent carbon dots (N-GCRCDs) were prepared by a simple hydrothermal synthesis method, with a high quantum yield of 27.31 %. Under optimized conditions, a specific fluorescent probe was established to detect DOX. The addition of DOX resulted in a significant decrease in fluorescence intensity, with a detection range of 5.7–114.9 μM and the detection limit was 1.38 μM. Finally, the feasibility of this method was validated in human urine and the experimental results exhibited a DOX recovery rate of 97.45–104.41 % and an RSD of 0.91–2.64 %. The quenching mechanism was mainly attributed to the inner filter effect and static quenching. Furthermore, the potential application of N-GCRCDs in cells was studied and biocompatibility was evaluated using HepG2 cells, which showed low toxicity at concentrations of 0–50 μg/mL and successful application for HepG2 cell imaging. This study provides reference for resource utilization of GCR and quantitative detection of antibiotics.

A very simple synthesis of defect-rich PdAg nanosponges for highly selective hydrogenation of furfural

Furfuryl alcohol (FA) is an important chemical and has extensive applications in varied fields. To realize the highly selective hydrogenation of furfural (FF) to produce FA, the key is the preparation of the catalysts with excellent performance. Herein, a very simple wet chemical method is developed for the one-step preparation of PdAg nanosponges (NSs). Specifically, with Pd(OAc)2 and AgNO3 as precursors, and ethylene glycol (EG) as both solvent and reducing agent, PdAg NSs can be grown and assembled at mild temperature of 40 °C. Throughout the reaction, no any surfactants and additional reducing agents are applied. The as-prepared PdAg NSs possess 3D self-supported alloy structures, “clean” surface, abundant pores, high specific surface area and rich defects. In the FF hydrogenation reaction at 60 °C under 1.5 MPa H2 pressure in the mixed solvent of ethanol and water (1 : 4 in volume ratio), the self-supported PdAg-1 NSs (1 : 1 in Pd/Ag molar ratio) exhibit superior catalytic performance than other PdAg NSs, pure Pd sample and commercial Pd/C (10%). With PdAg-1 NSs as catalyst in the absence of support, 100% FF can be converted and the selectivity toward FA is as high as 97.1% at 36.0 h of reaction. After 4 cycles, PdAg-1 NSs still maintain the high catalytic activity in FF hydrogenation and high selectivity toward FA, which may originate from the 3D self-supported structures, high specific surface area, “clean” surface, rich defects and electronic synergistic effect between Pd and Ag. This simple fabrication of PdAg NSs introduces new ideas for the synthesis of other nanostructured bi- and multi-metallic catalysts for highly selective FF hydrogenation to FA and other advanced applications.

Investigation of Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Properties of Berberine Nanomicelles: In vitro and In vivo Studies.

In the present study, neuroprotective effects of berberine (BBR) and berberine nanomicelle (BBR-NM) against lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced stress oxidative were investigated, and compared by evaluating their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in PC12 cells, and rat brains. A fast, green, and simple synthesis method was used to prepare BBR-NMs. The prepared BBR-NMs were then characterized using dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In vitro experiments were carried out on the LPS-treated PC12 cell lines to investigate the anti-cytotoxic and antioxidant properties of BBR-NM and BBR. The results showed that BBR-NMs with a diameter of ~100 nm had higher protective effects against ROS production and cytotoxicity induced by LPS in PC12 cells in comparison with free BBR. Moreover, in vivo experiments indicated that the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), increased in the brain of LPS-treated rats administrated with BBR-NM at the optimum dose of 100 mg.kg-1. BBR-NM administration also resulted in decreased concentration of lipid peroxidation (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as Serum interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Overall, BBR-NM demonstrated higher neuroprotective effects than free BBR, making it a promising treatment for improving many diseases caused by oxidative stress and inflammation.

Novel quinoline-based chemosensor as specific fluorescence sensing of copper ions in cancer cells and for organelle-specific imaging application

This work reports a simple synthesis of a quinoline-based organic molecule, (E)-N′-((6-methoxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydroquinolin-3-yl)methylene) picolinohydrazide (PHMQ), and its ability to distinguish Cu2+ ion. Through the use of spectroscopic and photometric titration techniques, PHMQ’s selectivity toward various cations and anions was examined. In just two minutes, PHMQ showed fast detection of Cu2+ ions, and clear spectral fluctuations proposed persistent PHMQ-Cu2+ complex formation. The calculated emission quenching constant (1.46 × 105 L/mol) and binding constant (1.25 × 104 L/mol) values suggested that strong emission quenching occurs between the PHMQ and Cu2+ ions. A linear reduction in fluorescence response was noted for Cu2+ ions concentrations between 2–26 μM, with a detection limit of 43.4 nM. Job’s plot, ESI-mass, NMR titration experiments, and density functional theory (DFT) simulations established a 1:1 stoichiometry for the PHMQ-Cu2+ complex. Additionally, PHMQ was efficaciously utilized to quantify Cu2+ ions in drinking and tap water samples and HeLa cells, illustrating durable cellular penetrability and a fluorescence ’Turn-Off’ response to Cu2+ ions. This sensor also established usefulness in mitochondrial-targeted imaging. For the detection of Cu2+ ions in biological and environmental environments, PHMQ is a promising detector due to its high sensitivity, selectivity, and quick response.

Synthesis of Hemiindigo Derivatives via a Gold‐Catalyzed Intramolecular Cyclization Strategy

AbstractWe described a gold‐catalyzed synthesis of Z‐hemiindigo frameworks from ortho‐propynol phenyl azides via the β‐hydroxy‐α‐imino gold carbene intermediates. The intermediates are trapped by water or acetone and then subsequently undergo enol tautomerization and dehydration, or release of acetone. The reaction has the advantage of being able to be carried out under mild conditions and in a gram‐scale. Importantly, this method enables a simple and efficient synthesis of the special hemiindigo derivatives for the development of environmentally sensitive photoswitches in biological systems.

Application of Polydopamine-Based Magnetic Solid-Phase Extraction for Highly Sensitive Determination of Aristolochic Acid I from Traditional Chinese Medicine Samples.

A low cost-effective and simple synthesis method combining magnetic solid-phase extraction (MSPE) and high-pressure liquid chromatography was developed for the analysis of aristolochic acids I (AAI) in traditional Chinese medicine samples. A novel polydopamine (PDA) modified magnetic nanoparticles with one single carbon layer (Fe3O4@1C NPs) via one-pot hydrothermal approach was prepared and then successfully employed to extract AAI for the first time. Dopamine (DA) can form a PDA layer on Fe3O4@1C NPs surface through self-polymerization to form Fe3O4@1C@PDA. As a surface modifier of DA, PDA offered more adsorption sites to AAI due to π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interactions. The parameters of MSPE were optimized by univariate and multivariate methods (Box-Behnken design) in detail. High degree of linearity was obtained in the range of 0.05-200.0μg/mL. The limits of detection (S/N = 3) and quantification (S/N = 10) were 0.08 and 0.25μg/mL, respectively. The recoveries of AAI in spiked Xiaoqinglong mixture samples were in the range of 86.7 to 108.5% with the relative standard deviation of less than 5.2%. Thus, a fast, convenient, sensitive and eco-friendly method was successfully proposed and became a promising approach for the determination of AAI in herbal plants or its preparation in the manufacturing procedure.

Enhanced Ornidazole Degradation via Peroxymonosulfate Activation Using Nano CoFe2O4‐Decorated Halloysite Nanotubes: A High‐Efficiency and Stable Catalyst Approach

AbstractThis study proposes a novel, cost‐effective nano CoFe2O4‐decorated halloysite nanotubes (CoFe2O4/HNT) catalyst, which effectively degrades the antibiotic ornidazole (ONZ) through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation. By using a simple and economical preparation method, ultra‐low amounts of CoFe2O4 are uniformly loaded onto HNTs, significantly improving the activity and stability of the catalyst. The experimental results show that the CoFe2O4/HNT+PMS system can almost completely degrade ONZ within 1 h, with good pH adaptability and resistance to anion interference. The simple synthesis process and low cost of CoFe2O4/HNT make it highly practical for large‐scale applications. Mechanism studies have shown that the synergistic effect between Co and Fe greatly improves the activation efficiency of PMS, generating reactive oxygen species (such as 1O2) that play a key role in ONZ degradation. This work not only elucidates the activation mechanism, but also provides insightful information for advanced oxidation processes (AOP). The results indicate the practicality and importance of CoFe2O4/HNT catalyst in treating harmful pollutants in water, supporting effective and sustainable water purification technologies. In addition, the study emphasizes the elasticity and adaptability of this innovative catalyst system in managing various pollutants, indicating its broad potential for environmental applications.

Construction of an Innovative Nanogel and Its Applications for Achieving Chemo-Immunotherapy of Tumors.

Malignant tumors, also known as cancers, are a global public health problem. Nanogels are promising carriers for the delivery of anticancer medicines. Therefore, based on the unique microenvironment of tumor cells and the advantages of nanogels, a simple and economical one-pot synthesis method was designed to construct natural polysaccharide-based redox-responsive nanogels (LDD NGs). The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect enriched LDD NGs in tumor cells, which then rapidly collapsed and released the natural antitumor drug diosgenin (DG) and the natural polysaccharide lentinan (LNT) via the depletion of a high level of reduced glutathione (GSH) in tumor cells, resulting in a synergistic therapeutic effect of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. In vivo antitumor experiments showed that LDD NGs could inhibit the proliferation and metastasis of the A549 lung cancer cells. Further studies indicated that LDD NGs could increase the production of ROS and induce apoptosis of A549 cells. In addition, LNT released from LDD NGs could promote the proliferation of dendritic cells, increase the production of NO, and upregulate the expressions of the costimulatory molecules CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC-II. The construction of LDD NGs was a novel drug synthesis approach that could provide fresh ideas for the development of polysaccharide-based redox-responsive drug delivery systems.

RNA Interference Applied to Crustacean Aquaculture

RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool that can be used to specifically knock-down gene expression using double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) effector molecules. This approach can be used in aquaculture as an investigation instrument and to improve the immune responses against viral pathogens, among other applications. Although this method was first described in shrimp in the mid-2000s, at present, no practical approach has been developed for the use of dsRNA in shrimp farms, as the limiting factor for farm-scale usage in the aquaculture sector is the lack of cost-effective and simple dsRNA synthesis and administration procedures. Despite these limitations, different RNAi-based approaches have been successfully tested at the laboratory level, with a particular focus on shrimp. The use of RNAi technology is particularly attractive for the shrimp industry because crustaceans do not have an adaptive immune system, making traditional vaccination methods unfeasible. This review summarizes recent studies and the state-of-the-art on the mechanism of action, design, use, and administration methods of dsRNA, as applied to shrimp. In addition, potential constraints that may hinder the deployment of RNAi-based methods in the crustacean aquaculture sector are considered.

Boosting Electrocatalytic Performance of Sulfide Oxidation on Polyoxomolybdates with Synergistic Effects of CNT‐Doped Aerogel Foams

AbstractThe meticulous design of highly efficient indirect electrocatalysts with value‐added conversion properties remains a substantial challenge within the realm of organic catalysis. While polyoxometalates (POMs) serve as crucial active centers in catalytic modeling systems for chemical materials, their exploration in electrocatalytic organic molecular transformations is hindered by kinetic barriers. Therefore, an efficient protocol is established for the synthesis of electrocatalysts utilizing polyoxomolybdates (CuMo6) immobilized on aerogel foams (CMC). The electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic activities of the electrocatalyst (CuMo6/CNT@CMC) can be readily enhanced by adjusting the microenvironment between the CuMo6 and CMC using carbon nanotubes (CNT). Controlled experiments demonstrate that the CuMo6/CNT@CMC electrocatalyst for the oxidation of sulfide achieves an impressive Faradaic Efficiency (FE) exceeding 95% under ambient conditions, while the working potential is markedly lower than that of reported heterogeneous electrocatalysts. Combined experimental and theoretical analyses suggest that the modulated electronic synergistic interaction between the Cu‐assisted Mo sites and CNT within foam favors the appropriate binding of PhCH3S+• intermediates, thereby promoting the selective oxidation of sulfides. This study paves the way for the utilization of polyoxometalate‐based materials with simple synthesis methods for various electrocatalytic applications.

Ultralight Cellulose-Derived Carbon Nanofibers from Freeze-Drying Emulsion Towards Superior Microwave Absorption

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) are usually prepared by the carbonization of cellulose aerogels obtained from freeze-drying. However, cellulose with low concentration (below 1 wt%) is required to maintain the good porosity of the aerogels due to the strong hydrogen bonding between the cellulose molecules. In order to address this problem, here, ultralight cellulose-derived CNFs have been fabricated by freeze-drying cyclohexane (CHE)/cellulose nanofiber emulsions and carbonization. Field emission scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy are used to characterize the resulting CNFs. It is found that the CNFs consist of three-dimensional carbon networks, whose microstructure is easily adjusted by changing the CHE ratio (from 0 to 25 vol%) in the emulsions. The CNFs with high porosity are attributed to the fact that CHE as the oil phase can effectively weaken the hydrogen bonding and reduce the aggregation of the cellulose nanofibers. Carbon lattice defects and residual oxygen-containing functional groups are regarded as polarization centers, leading to the enhancement of dielectric loss. The conductive carbon networks also improve the conductive loss. All these factors improve the microwave absorption performance of the CNFs. So, the produced CNFs exhibit a superior electromagnetic wave performance with a minimum reflection loss of −42.18 dB and effective absorption bandwidth up to 4.9 GHz at 2 mm with a filling ratio of 2 wt%. This work provides a simple, low-cost, and sustainable synthesis route for CNFs used for ultralight high-performance microwave absorption materials.

Achieving High Stability and Capacity in Micron-Sized Conversion-Type Iron Fluoride Li-Metal Batteries.

Iron fluoride, a conversion-type cathode material with high energy density and low-cost iron, holds promise for Li-ion batteries but faces challenges in synthesis, conductivity, and cycling stability. This study addresses these issues by synthesizing micron-sized iron-fluoride using a simple solid-state synthesis. Despite a large particle size, a high capacity of 571mAhg-1 is achieved, which is attributed to the unique surface and internal pores within the iron-fluoride particles, which provided a large surface area. This is the first study to demonstrate the feasibility of using large iron fluoride particles to enhance the energy density of the electrode and achieve an iron fluoride full cell with high capacity. Also, the cause of the capacity fading is investigated. Electrode delamination from the current collector, which is the main cause of capacity fading in early cycles, is resolved using a carbon-coated aluminum (C/Al) current collector. Moreover,iron (Fe) dissolution and the deposition of dissolved Fe on the Li metal also contributed significantly to the degradation. Localized high-concentration electrolytes (LHCEs)suppress iron dissolution and Li dendrite growth, resulting in long-cycle stability for 300 cycles. This study provides insights into the further development of conversion-type metal fluorides across various compositions.

Lanthanide Functionalized Carbon Quantum Dots for White Light Emission, pH Sensing, and Co (II) Detection.

Carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with fluorescence emission have been widely studied for versatile applications, but facile tunability of the spectral properties of CQDs by doping remains to be further explored. Herein, employing lanthanide ion Eu3+ as a dopant and activator, a simple and efficient synthesis route for pure CQDs and Eu-CQDs was demonstrated using N, N-dimethylformamide, oleic acid, and oleylamine as precursors for carbon sources. In comparison, with the popular citric acid precursor, the as-prepared CQDs and Eu-CQDs exhibited an obviously smaller particle size (1.72 ± 0.29 nm) and a more uniform distribution. Through systematic optimization of Eu3+ doping for the Eu-CQD system, colorful light emissions in the visible range were first realized under excitation of ultraviolet (UV) ∼360 nm for promising application of UV-triggered light-emitting diodes. Most interestingly, this Eu-CQD solution with UV-excited colorful light emissions was utilized as a visual pH sensor, experimentally featuring good repeatabilities and stabilities (pH values switching between 7 and 14). Besides, the Eu-CQD solution exhibited highly sensitive detection characteristics for Co (II) ions. Due to the spectral overlapping, the quenching efficiency is as high as 96.3%, and the detection limit is obtained as 0.139 μM, which is much lower than the maximum concentration of Co (II) in the drinking water permitted by WHO. All of these relevant results significantly demonstrate the great potential of lanthanide doping in the multifunctionalization of CQDs for certain emerging applications like lighting, sensing, and detection.

Effect of Peripheral Functionalization of Pt(II) Porphyrin(2.1.2.1) on Singlet Oxygen Generation.

Four structurally bent porphyrin(2.1.2.1) Pt(II) complexes have been obtained and verified well. Main absorbance of Pt(II) porphyrin(2.1.2.1) displayed a significant red-shift compared to that of porphyrin(1.1.1.1) Pt(II) molecules. 1O2 study indicated that electron-withdrawing group and intramolecular charge transfer effect synergistically endowed Pt(II) porphyrin(2.1.2.1) with good singlet oxygen-sensitizing capacity under blue LED light irradiation. This work presents a simple synthesis way to develop a new series of efficient porphyrinoid singlet oxygen photosensitizers for PDT through molecular engineering.