Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nicolo Baggi, Anne Leaustic, Sihem Groni, Elodie Anxolabehere-Mallart, Regis Guillot, Remi Metivier, Francois Maurel, Pei Yu
Summary: Terthiazoles with redox-active substituents, such as N-methyl pyridinium group and ferrocene, have been synthesized, allowing for both photo- and electro-chromic behaviors. The introduction of N-methyl pyridinium substituents proved effective in inducing ring-closure and ring-opening reactions of terthiazole. Additionally, the inclusion of a second redox-active unit like ferrocene improved the redox switchability of the switch.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tsutomu Ishi-i, Honoka Tanaka, Rihoko Kichise, Christopher Davin, Takaaki Matsuda, Naoya Aizawa, In Seob Park, Takuma Yasuda, Taisuke Matsumoto
Summary: This study reports the regulation of mechanochromic fluorescence (MCF) using a donor-acceptor structure, resulting in a three-color fluorescence change to two different types of two-color changes. The electronic effect of the introduced functional groups selectively regulates two crystal polymorphs, allowing for the successful manipulation of MCF.
CHEMISTRY-AN ASIAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Vitaly A. Podshibyakin, Evgenii N. Shepelenko, Leonid D. Popov, Tatyana M. Valova, Anton O. Ayt, Lyudmila G. Kuzmina, Anton V. Lisovin, Oleg N. Burov, Mikhail E. Kletskii, Alexander D. Dubonosov, Vladimir A. Bren
Summary: Bifunctional hybrids containing photochromic indolyl(thienyl) diarylethenes and an ionochromic rhodamine moiety connected by a dimethylene spacer were synthesized. These hybrids exhibit absorption at 450-455 nm and fluorescence at 560 nm in toluene. UV light triggers ring-closed non-fluorescent diarylethene formation, which can be reversed under visible light or in the dark. In the presence of H+ cation, a naked eye effect is observed with the opening of the rhodamine-spirolactam ring and a pink-crimson coloration at 561 nm accompanied by intense long-wavelength emission at 586 nm. This process is reversible by exposure to triethylamine, as confirmed by NMR experiments. The light-induced isomerizations and proton-induced transformations were explained using computational methods. Reversible switching of fluorescent properties can be achieved by light irradiation and proton.
JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY A-CHEMISTRY
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lambert Sicard, Frederic Lafolet, Martial Boggio-Pasqua, Christophe Bucher, Guy Royal, Saioa Cobo
Summary: The optical and redox properties of a methyl pyridinium-appended 1,2-dithienylethene photochromic derivative were extensively studied. Based on spectro-electrochemical and theoretical data, a complex multi-step photo/redox mechanism was proposed for the closed isomer. The generated compounds were found to be unstable over time due to chemical reactions associated with the redox processes, leading to the isolation and characterization of a new dithienylethene derivative incorporating a seven-membered ring.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Tony Ho-Ching Fung, Maggie Ng, Nathan Man-Wai Wu, Vivian Wing-Wah Yam
Summary: A series of cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes with a dithienylethene-containing N^C and an ancillary O^O ligand have been synthesized and characterized. These complexes exhibit photochromism that can be triggered by photoexcitation and their photophysical and photochromic properties can be tuned by varying the ligands. Moreover, the complexes demonstrate fatigue resistance and thermal irreversibility, making them promising candidates for various applications.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Bernard Mravec, Anna Marini, Matteo Tommasini, Juraj Filo, Marek Cigan, Mariachiara Mantero, Silvano Tosi, Maurizio Canepa, Andrea Bianco
Summary: Photochromic hydrazones are of interest in the field of photochromic systems due to their P-type character. Studies have shown the presence of two distinct rotamers with different energy in their structure, with higher selectivity observed in the Z form based on IR and Raman spectra analysis. The experimental results are in good agreement with theoretical predictions, especially in the case of the Raman spectrum.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xuanhang Wang, Guocui Pan, Haoxuan Ren, Jiashu Li, Bin Xu, Wenjing Tian
Summary: The study demonstrates successful realization of reversible switching between fluorescence and phosphorescence through light control, using the effective strategy of integrating o-BFT with dibenzofuran and dithienylbenzothiophene. The dual emission of fluorescence and RTP in o-BFT can be controlled through alternate UV and visible light irradiations. The study suggests the domination of photo-controlled triplet-to-singlet Forster resonance energy transfer in triplet inactivation, preserving the initial fluorescence for photoreversible fluorescence-RTP switching.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Xiao-Nan Li, Li Li, Zhi-Hui Wang, Gui-Hong Wu, Si-Qi Liu, Hong Zhang
Summary: Two novel isomeric Cd-viologen coordination polymers with the same empirical formula but different structures have been successfully assembled and characterized. One exhibits a 3D structure, while the other exhibits a 1D channel structure. The photochromic behaviors of the two compounds are different due to different electron transfer pathways.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dan Zhang, Shengke Yang, Chunyan Yang, Yangyang Chen, Ruixin Hu, Yali Xie, Yanhua Wang, Wenke Wang
Summary: Dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays a crucial role in the environmental behavior of antibiotics. This study investigated the interactions between two antibiotics and representative DOM components using multispectral techniques and DFT calculations. The results showed strong binding interactions between certain DOM components and coexistence antibiotics, providing important insights into the behavior of antibiotics in the environment.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shunni Dong, Qiguang Zang, Zhao-Yu Ma, Meiqi Tang, Zhi-Kang Xu, Jingjing Nie, Binyang Du, Jing Zhi Sun, Ben Zhong Tang
Summary: The proposal of the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) effect has shed light on the practical application of luminescent materials. Researchers have developed AIE-active luminescence microgels (TPEC MGs) with photo-induced color-changing behavior. The aqueous suspensions of TPEC MGs exhibit a significant AIE effect following the enhancement of quantum yield, and further increase in fluorescence intensity and blue-shift occur at elevated temperatures.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Hang Peng, Jun-Chao Qi, Wei-Qiang Liao
Summary: This work reports an organic ferroelectric material that achieves polarization switching through optical control. The material demonstrates photoinduced structural isomerization and temperature-induced phase transition, exhibiting reversible polarization switching under light irradiation. This finding is significant for the development of molecular ferroelectric materials with optical control of polarization switching and potential applications.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shangjun Chen, Lijun Chen, Yunsong Cai, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: In this study, photoswitchable fluorescent supramolecular metallacycles with high fatigue-resistance were constructed by coordination-driven self-assembly using bithienylethene with dipyridyl units as a coordination donor and a fluorescent di-platinum(II) as a coordination acceptor. The reversible transformation between ring-open and ring-closed forms, along with the exceptional photostability of the metallacycles, suggests their potential promising applications in optical switching, image storage, and super-resolution microscopy.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Beatriz G. del Rio, Brandon Phan, Rampi Ramprasad
Summary: In this study, a machine learning model is proposed to emulate the essence of density functional theory (DFT) by mapping the atomic structure to the electronic charge density and predicting other properties. This model bypasses the computational cost of solving the central Kohn-Sham equation and maintains chemical accuracy.
NPJ COMPUTATIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Elarbi Chatir, Martial Boggio-Pasqua, Frederique Loiseau, Christian Philouze, Guy Royal, Saioa Cobo
Summary: The functionalization of a phenanthrene unit with methylthiophene units has led to the development of compounds with photochromic behavior, which could potentially pave the way for a new generation of organic field-effect transistors.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Lisa Moni, Franziska Merkt-Tasch, Bernhard Mayer, Sergio Mulone, Thomas J. J. Mueller, Renata Riva
Summary: A new library of uncommon furo[2,3-c]isoquinoline scaffold has been synthesized using Ugi multicomponent reaction and complex one-pot Pd-mediated double cyclization. This approach has successfully introduced substituents with electron donor properties directly linked to the scaffold in positions 1 and/or 8. The influence of an aromatic ring as a spacer and the substitution of the phenyl substituent in position 1 with a thiophene on the photophysical properties has been investigated, and a significant switch to green emitters has been observed for an amino donor substituent.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhirong Zhu, Qi Wang, Xiaoyan Chen, Quan Wang, Chengxu Yan, Xiaolei Zhao, Weijun Zhao, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: In this study, an enzyme-activated aggregation-induced-emission (AIE) probe for high-contrast fluorescence diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (PC) was developed by monitoring the specific overexpressed enzyme Cathepsin E (CTSE). The probe successfully achieved intraoperative diagnosis and tracking of PC in living animal models, addressing accuracy and penetration issues simultaneously. This strategy can expand the database of biocompatible AIE-active probes, especially for establishing intraoperative pathological fluorescent diagnosis.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chen-Yu Shi, Qi Zhang, Bang-Sen Wang, Dan-Dan He, He Tian, Da-Hui Qu
Summary: Controlling dynamic molecular self-assembly offers solutions for rational material design. In this study, the combination of disulfide-mediated ring-opening polymerization and H-bonding self-assembly resulted in the assembly of small molecules into layered ionic networks with tunable architectural properties and controllable functions as ion-transport membranes. The resulting membranes exhibited high efficiency in ion transportation due to the formation of interlayer water channels.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guogang Liu, Yujian Liu, Chengxi Zhao, Yan Li, Zhaohui Wang, He Tian
Summary: In this study, a molecular carbon C-204 featuring 12-fold [5]helicenes around four cores was successfully constructed, and one pair of enantiomers with D-3 symmetry was obtained. The results suggest that choosing PDIs as building blocks can realize the stereoselectivity and chirality of molecular carbons.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chen-Yu Shi, Dan-Dan He, Bang-Sen Wang, Qi Zhang, He Tian, Da-Hui Qu
Summary: This study reports a supramolecular poly(disulfides) network with tunable clusteroluminescence, which exhibits mechanical adaptivity and robustness due to the reticular H-bonds. Efficient clusteroluminescence and phosphorescence at 77 K are achieved through slow backbone disulfide exchange and fast side-chain metal coordination, enabling orthogonally tunable luminescence. Further exploration on reprocessability and chemical closed-loop recycling of dynamic networks is feasible for sustainable materials. The synergistic strategy of dynamic chemistry provides a novel pathway and potential opportunities for smart emissive materials.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Chenxu Yan, Jianfeng Dai, Yongkang Yao, Wei Fu, He Tian, Wei-Hong Zhu, Zhiqian Guo
Summary: QM-FN-SO3 is a near-infrared aggregation-induced-emission-active fluorescent probe that can cross the blood-brain barrier and sensitively visualize A beta plaques in living mice. It has several advantages compared to other A beta plaque fluorescent probes, such as long emission wavelength, large Stokes shift, ultrahigh sensitivity, good BBB penetrability, and miscibility in aqueous biological media.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yining Tao, Chenxu Yan, Yue Wu, Dan Li, Juan Li, Yuchen Xie, Yingsheng Cheng, Yisheng Xu, Kai Yang, Wei-Hong Zhu, Zhiqian Guo
Summary: A novel PDT-based nanotheranostic was developed for in vivo tracking and evaluation of photodynamic therapy. This dual-modal nanotheranostic integrates magnetic resonance imaging and chemiluminescence signals, providing detailed dose distribution and real-time evaluation of ROS generation. It overcomes the unpredictable challenges in PDT for oral tumor treatment.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yuwei Wang, Jinghan Liao, Yanting Lyu, Qianqian Guo, Zhirong Zhu, Xupeng Wu, Jiahong Yu, Qi Wang, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: Aggregation induced emission (AIE) photosensitizers have gained significant attention in photodynamic therapy (PDT) due to their excellent performance. However, the therapeutic effect of AIE photosensitizers is often influenced by the biological microenvironment as it is challenging to generate both type I and type II reactive oxygen species (ROS) simultaneously. In this study, a novel electron-rich anion-pi(+) AIEgen Pys-QM-TT is introduced, which can efficiently produce type I and type II ROS and enable near-infrared fluorescence imaging concurrently. The rational design of the AIE photosensitizer incorporates a strong electron-donating triphenylamine unit, a pi-bridge thiophene, and an electron-withdrawing pyridinium salt unit to enhance D-pi-A behavior, thus improving intramolecular charge transfer and extending the wavelength. Moreover, the strong D-pi-A effect is believed to minimize increment ES-T and promote intersystem crossing processes, significantly enhancing ROS generation. Furthermore, the negatively charged anion in the pyridinium salt group provides an electron-rich environment, enabling efficient electron transfer for type I ROS generation. Consequently, Pys-QM-TT demonstrates the simultaneous production of type I and type II ROS with minimal dependence on the environmental conditions, effectively inhibiting bacterial infections, and ablating tumor tissue through the promotion of tumor cell apoptosis, inhibition of tumor cell proliferation, and anti-angiogenesis.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huanxin Guo, Xiaoyu Wang, Chengjie Li, Honglong Hu, Huidong Zhang, Lijun Zhang, Wei-Hong Zhu, Yongzhen Wu
Summary: A supramolecular strategy involving surface anion complexation with Calix[4]pyrrole (C[4]P) is reported for enhancing the stability of perovskite solar cells. The C[4]P-stabilized perovskite films demonstrated increased light and thermal stability, and showed preservation of their morphology even after ageing at high temperatures and under humid conditions. The use of C[4]P resulted in significant improvement in the lifespan and efficiency of the perovskite solar cells.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tijian Zhou, Li Li, Zhirong Zhu, Xiaoyan Chen, Qi Wang, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: The development of fluorogenic probes with ultrahigh contrast for detecting alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities in human serum is important for clinical auxiliary diagnosis of hepatobiliary diseases. However, incomplete ionization of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT)-based ALP fluorophores and autofluorescence interference of serum result in low sensitivity and accuracy. In this study, a difluoro-substituted dicyanomethylene-4H-chromenep-based enzyme-activatable near-infrared probe was developed, which showed a linear relationship between emission intensity and ALP concentration in both solution and serum samples, providing a potential tool for quantitatively detecting ALP and assessing the stage of hepatopathy.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Xinshi Liang, Honglong Hu, Zhi-gang Zheng, Min He, Mengqi Li, Ning Lv, Ning Shen, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: A photoresponsive liquid crystal polymer (LCP) film is proposed by incorporating a polymerizable photoswitch into commercial LCP and exposing it to UV light. Photonic microstructures are written on the flexible LCP film using patterned light. A four-dimensional anti-counterfeiting flexible label is constructed with the assistance of the photoresponsive LCP film, featuring photochromism, fluorescence, embedded microstructures, and optical diffraction.
INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shuo Zhang, Fangyuan Ye, Xiaoyu Wang, Rui Chen, Huidong Zhang, Liqing Zhan, Xianyuan Jiang, Yawen Li, Xiaoyu Ji, Shuaijun Liu, Miaojie Yu, Furong Yu, Yilin Zhang, Ruihan Wu, Zonghao Liu, Zhijun Ning, Dieter Neher, Liyuan Han, Yuze Lin, He Tian, Wei Chen, Martin Stolterfoht, Lijun Zhang, Wei-Hong Zhu, Yongzhen Wu
Summary: In this study, an amphiphilic molecular hole transporter with a multifunctional cyanovinyl phosphonic acid group was used to deposit a superwetting underlayer for perovskite deposition. This enabled the formation of high-quality perovskite films with minimized defects at the buried interface. The resulting perovskite film showed excellent photoluminescence properties and achieved a certified PCE of 25.4%, demonstrating its potential for application in solar cells.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yue Wu, Mengqi Li, Zhi-gang Zheng, Zhen-Qiang Yu, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) is a phenomenon that can carry extensive optical information and provide an extra dimension of information compared to regular light. Chiral liquid crystal (LC) assemblies, known as cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs), are highly ordered one-dimensional structures that can achieve molecule-scale chirality on a helical pitch. This makes LC assembly an ideal strategy for amplifying chirality and enabling ultra-dissymmetric CPL. This perspective discusses the generation, transmission, and modulation of CPL using chiral LC assembly, aiming to design and develop novel chiroptical materials. Recent applications of CPL-active LC microstructures in three-dimensional displays, circularly polarized lasers, and asymmetric catalysis are also highlighted.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chao Pan, Weijun Zhao, Xiaolei Zhao, Zhenxing Liu, Xiangyu Li, Yanting Lyu, Xupeng Wu, Zhirong Zhu, Wei-Hong Zhu, Qi Wang
Summary: This study reports a novel AIE photosensitizer TCM-MBP with low oxygen dependence, NIR emission, and higher ROS production. Encapsulated with nanoparticles, TCM-MBP can penetrate cells for visualization and efficient cancer cell killing upon light irradiation.
GREEN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaomeng Guo, Mengqi Li, Honglong Hu, Ting Xu, Hancheng Xi, Wei-Hong Zhu
Summary: In this study, a series of dynamic chiral photoswitches based on supramolecular metallacages were successfully prepared, achieving a high photoconversion yield of 91.3% in nanosized cavities. The chiral inequality phenomenon was observed in the metallacages, and a dynamic chiral system was established at the supramolecular level, featuring chiral transfer, amplification, induction, and manipulation. This study provides an intriguing idea to simplify and understand chiral science.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Qingshuang Xu, Yutao Zhang, Mingming Zhu, Chenxu Yan, Wenle Mao, Wei-Hong Zhu, Zhiqian Guo
Summary: An ongoing revolution in fluorescence-based technologies has led to the development of high-performance fluorogenic scaffolds for in vivo analysis, particularly for small-molecular near-infrared (NIR) fluorophores. A unique bent-to-planar rehybridization design strategy has been utilized to create a range of switchable bent/planar Si-rhodamines with varying wavelengths. By using elaborately lighting-up NIR-II probes, real-time monitoring of biological events in live cells, zebrafish, and mice has been successfully achieved, including the tracking of nitric oxide (NO) fluctuations in the brains of mice with Alzheimer's disease. This innovative strategy opens up exciting possibilities for in vivo imaging in both research and clinical applications.