ACS Materials LettersPub Date : 2026-09-07Epub Date: 2026-08-18DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00594
Mingda Shan, Kongchen Wang, Kun Yang, Man Wang, Jing Du, Jiaqiang Wang, Jiayi Liang, Lihuan Tong, Su Chen, Zhongxiang Qiu, Yishan Yin, Chunlin Du, Huihui Cui, Yanwen Qi, Wenbo Wu, Ben Zhong Tang, Zhen Li
{"title":"Multifunctional Silica-Based Optical Nanoparticles with Aqueous-Phase Multicolor Room-Temperature Phosphorescence and Structural Color","authors":"Mingda Shan, Kongchen Wang, Kun Yang, Man Wang, Jing Du, Jiaqiang Wang, Jiayi Liang, Lihuan Tong, Su Chen, Zhongxiang Qiu, Yishan Yin, Chunlin Du, Huihui Cui, Yanwen Qi, Wenbo Wu, Ben Zhong Tang, Zhen Li","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00594","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00594","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Developing organic−inorganic hybrid nanomaterials generating multiple optical signals remains challenging due to inherent design complexities. Herein, we present organic-SiO<sub>2</sub> nanohybrids exhibiting size-dependent room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) and structural color. By employing a covalent anchoring strategy, silanized organic phosphors are incorporated into the SiO<sub>2</sub> matrix, protecting triplet excitons and enabling multicolor aqueous RTP emission with a maximum lifetime of 314.81 ms. Notably, as particle size increases, organic-SiO<sub>2</sub> RTP nanohybrids exhibit an approximately 2-fold enhancement in RTP lifetime and generate a red-shifted structural color signal through self-assembly. The long-lived luminescence and excellent biocompatibility of NPA@SiO<sub>2</sub> (H-120) enable in vivo afterglow imaging without additional covering treatments. Within 0.5 h after tail vein injection at an ultralow chromophore dose (0.25 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>), tumor sites in mice are precisely localized via efficient cellular uptake, representing superior imaging performance. Furthermore, the unique multiplexed optical features of organic-SiO<sub>2</sub> nanohybrids provide significant advantages for anti-counterfeiting labeling and multi-level encryption applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2711–2720"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148923802","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Organic Afterglow Microgels Exhibiting 9.33 s Phosphorescence Lifetime under Ambient Conditions","authors":"Huanhuan Hu, Ting Luo, Zhe Mo, Jia Liu, Xugen Chen, Xiaoyu Li, Feng Zhou, Jiantao Zhang, Kaka Zhang","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00391","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00391","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Organic room‑temperature phosphorescence (RTP) materials attract interest for bioimaging, anti‑counterfeiting, and data storage. Yet, achieving stable RTP in water‑rich, oxygen‑permeable hydrogels is difficult due to triplet quenching and fast nonradiative decay. Here, we introduce a microfluidics‑assisted method to build organic afterglow microgels with ultralong phosphorescence in air. Deuterated coronene is loaded into poly(methyl methacrylate) latex nanoparticles and then embedded in a crosslinked polymer network, creating a hierarchical confinement that suppresses triplet nonradiative transitions and oxygen quenching. The microgels show phosphorescence duration up to tens of seconds, with a record 9.33 s lifetime for organic microgel systems, arising from the localized triplet state of deuterated coronene. They also exhibit reversible humidity response: swelling quenches, and drying restores phosphorescence. This strategy offers a general route to high‑performance, stimuli‑responsive organic RTP materials for flexible optoelectronics and intelligent sensing.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2563–2571"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148923851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Solar-Driven Synergistic Photoreforming of PET and H2 Evolution over a ZnIn2S4–MoS2 Heterostructure","authors":"Jilong Chen, Song Chen, Bingqian Zu, Yingjie Liu, Jingtao Zhou, Yuhong Cao, Liping Bao, Jian Chi, Shuwei Shi, Liang Wu","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00555","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00555","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The photoreforming of plastic wastes into value-added chemicals and green hydrogen offers a dual-benefit solution—mitigating environmental pollution while alleviating global energy demands. In this study, a ZnIn<sub>2</sub>S<sub>4</sub>–MoS<sub>2</sub> (ZIS-MS) heterostructure photocatalyst is successfully constructed via a facile hydrothermal approach and used for visible-light-driven hydrogen evolution via photoreforming of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Comprehensive characterization and mechanistic analysis demonstrate that the formation of Mo–S interfacial bonds and internal electric field jointly facilitate a direct Z-scheme charge transfer pathway, significantly boosting charge separation efficiency and photocatalytic performance. As a result, the optimized ZIS-MS heterostructure photocatalyst exhibits a hydrogen evolution rate of 7.01 mmol h<sup>−1</sup> g<sup>−1</sup> via photoreforming of pretreated PET—10.8 times higher than that of the pristine ZIS. Moreover, the photocatalyst enables selective oxidative conversion of pretreated PET into valuable products, such as formate, acetate, and glycolate, which is primarily driven by photogenerated holes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2663–2671"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148923954","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials LettersPub Date : 2026-09-07Epub Date: 2026-07-30DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00456
Wenjie Tan, Min Zheng, Lan Shen, Lijie Zhao
{"title":"Plant Polyphenols as a Multifunctional “Molecular Glue” for Driving Hydrogel Formation: From Mechanisms, Functions, and Manufacturing to Advanced Biomedical Applications","authors":"Wenjie Tan, Min Zheng, Lan Shen, Lijie Zhao","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00456","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00456","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Plant polyphenols have emerged as a highly versatile “molecular glue” for driving the formation of multifunctional hydrogels. This comprehensive review systematically explores the entire development pipeline of plant polyphenol-based hydrogels, spanning from their fundamental assembly mechanisms and biological functions to advanced manufacturing processes and biomedical applications. First, the diverse interactions dictated by specific polyphenol structures are elucidated to demonstrate how they govern macroscopic network architectures and endow the resulting materials with intrinsic bioactivity. Building on these fundamental mechanisms, one framework is introduced that maps structural features to optimized macroscopic manufacturing strategies. Furthermore, this review highlights the broad utility of these materials in advanced clinical scenarios. Finally, major clinical translation barriers such as oxidation tendencies, sterilization, and industrial standardization are critically evaluated. By bridging molecular fundamentals with macroscopic engineering and clinical challenges, this review provides practical design guidance to accelerate the future development and clinical translation of plant polyphenol-based biomaterials.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2438–2461"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148915758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials LettersPub Date : 2026-09-07Epub Date: 2026-08-14DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00611
Muhsin Ali, Ghanimah Abuhaimed, Raik Grünberg, Erol A. Hasan, Somayah Qutub, Mohamed Nejib Hedhili, Stefan T. Arold, Dana Alsulaiman
{"title":"A Rational Framework for Optimizing Electrochemical Biosensor Performance via Systematically Tuning Linker Length and Probe Density on a Nanobody−MXene Platform","authors":"Muhsin Ali, Ghanimah Abuhaimed, Raik Grünberg, Erol A. Hasan, Somayah Qutub, Mohamed Nejib Hedhili, Stefan T. Arold, Dana Alsulaiman","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00611","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00611","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Electrochemical biosensors hold immense promise for sensitive, point-of-care detection of clinically relevant biomarkers from liquid biopsies; however, their performance is fundamentally constrained by charge screening and steric hindrance at the biointerface, particularly under physiological conditions where the Debye length is <1 nm. Herein, we establish a rational framework for engineering high-performance electrochemical biointerfaces by independently tuning two key parameters: linker-based bioreceptor spacing and probe loading density. This strategy is enabled by a modular nanobody−MXene platform, combining 2D MXene nanosheets with covalently conjugated nanobodies. Using anti-GFP nanobodies as model bioreceptors, we identified an intermediate linker regime that maximized signal transduction and a low-density probe regime that mitigated steric hindrance while enhancing dynamic range and sensitivity. Applied to a VHH72 nanobody−MXene biosensor, this framework enabled the detection of SARS-CoV-2 S1 with a 12 pM limit of detection, high specificity, and robust performance in saliva. Collectively, this work establishes a dual-parameter framework for advancing next-generation electrochemical biosensors.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2721–2730"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148923778","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials LettersPub Date : 2026-09-07Epub Date: 2026-08-12DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00130
Jisheng Song, Jian Zhang, Jinwei Hao, Fan Yang, Rong Chen
{"title":"Antianisotropic Growth Enabled Compact MIL-53 Films for Ultralow-k Interconnect Dielectrics","authors":"Jisheng Song, Jian Zhang, Jinwei Hao, Fan Yang, Rong Chen","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00130","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00130","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The miniaturization of integrated circuits is increasingly limited by parasitic resistance−capacitance (RC) delay. Metal−organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising low-dielectric-constant (low-<em>k</em>) materials, yet simultaneously achieving ultralow <em>k</em> and mechanical robustness remains challenging. Here, we propose an antianisotropic growth strategy to fabricate compact MIL-53(Al) thin films via microwave-assisted hydrothermal conversion of an atomic layer-deposited Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> layer. By combining a metal species modulator to reduce the grain length-to-width ratio with a pH modulator to boost nucleation, this synergistic approach enables nanoscale-controlled growth. The optimized microstructure enhanced the elastic modulus by 45.9% while maintaining an ultralow <em>k</em> of 1.98 at 1 MHz. The breakdown field increased approximately 4-fold, resulting in a projected lifetime of 5.55 years at 1 MV cm<sup>−1</sup>. The antianisotropic growth strategy enables MOF films to combine ultralow <em>k</em> with robust mechanical properties and reliability, offering a practical strategy for high-performance dielectrics in next-generation interconnect technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2530–2537"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148923835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials LettersPub Date : 2026-09-07Epub Date: 2026-07-25DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00641
Tianlu Zhao, Liuyi Li
{"title":"Covalent Organic Frameworks Confining Metal Complexes: Suppressing Back-Electron Transfer through Dynamic Supramolecular Interactions","authors":"Tianlu Zhao, Liuyi Li","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00641","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Photocatalysis offers a sustainable route for solar energy conversion; however, achieving high overall efficiency remains severely hindered by rapid charge recombination. Constructing supramolecular architectures by integrating molecular complexes into covalent organic frameworks (COFs) presents a promising strategy to overcome such recombination bottlenecks. Specifically, dynamic non-covalent interactions structurally direct electron transfer toward the incorporated metal complexes. The concurrent interfacial dissociation physically isolates the active redox sites, establishing definitive spatial charge separation to fundamentally suppress back electron transfer. Herein, we elucidate the fundamental significance of engineering dynamic interactions within COF-based supramolecular photocatalysts and outline critical scientific challenges for advancing highly adaptive artificial photosynthetic systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2525–2529"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148923956","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Cavitation-Free Shear Emulsification Breaks the Yield–Damage Trade-Off in MXene Delamination","authors":"Yiqian Wang, Xingyuan Wei, Ziqi Zhao, Anqi Chen, Jingfeng Wang, Yuyan Liu, Hui Kang, Zhimin Fan","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00565","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00565","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The production of high-quality monolayer MXene nanosheets is constrained by the trade-off between delamination efficiency and structural damage. Here, we report a cavitation-free, high-speed shear emulsification strategy for the rapid, low-damage delamination of multilayer Ti<sub>3</sub>C<sub>2</sub>T<sub><em>x</em></sub> MXene. Continuous fluid shear promotes interlayer sliding and separation, enabling an 82% monolayer yield within 10 min while retaining an average lateral size of approximately 5 μm and a film conductivity of 10,800 S cm<sup>–1</sup>, outperforming conventional ultrasonic delamination. Structural and spectroscopic analyses show that crystallinity and surface terminations are retained, enabling assembly into dense lamellar films. These films exhibit electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding effectiveness above 60 dB and an infrared emissivity of 0.11. Furthermore, the process is readily scalable to hundred-gram-level delamination, highlighting its potential for the large-scale production of high-quality MXene for multifunctional applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2703–2710"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148923958","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Optimized Ternary PdCuFe Prussian Blue Analogues for Selective Photocatalytic Conversion of CO2 to CO","authors":"Saira Man, Xuecheng Guo, Sara Samuei, Jian Lei, Khadija Tul Kubra, Zakaria Ismail, Chao Zhang, Zhongliao Wang, Ferdi Karadas, Jingxiang Low, Yujie Xiong","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00484","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00484","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Photocatalytic CO<sub>2</sub> reduction is hindered by the rigid coordination environments of conventional catalysts, which limit coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUSs), suppress charge transfer, and reduce CO<sub>2</sub> binding affinity. Prussian blue analogues (PBAs) offer porous structures and stability, but traditional bimetallic PBAs retain these drawbacks. We introduce Pd<sup>2+</sup> into a Cu−Fe cyanide PBA lattice, forming a ternary PdCuFe PBA with high-density CUSs. In this design, Pd sites stabilize <sup>*</sup>COOH intermediates, Cu sites function as electron reservoirs, and the Fe−CN framework ensures structural integrity. Under visible light without sacrificial agents, the PdCuFe PBA exhibits enhanced CO<sub>2</sub> reduction performance, outperforming CuFe and FeFe PBAs by factors of 1.77 and 4.10, respectively. <em>In situ</em> DRIFTS and DFT calculations reveal that Pd incorporation extends light absorption and lowers the <sup>*</sup>COOH formation energy barrier. This work presents a strategy for designing multimetallic photocatalysts rich in unsaturated active sites for sustainable solar fuel production.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2623–2630"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148923975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ACS Materials LettersPub Date : 2026-09-07Epub Date: 2026-08-02DOI: 10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00474
Joel Casella, Feline Töpperwien, Tim Welmers, Vittorio Montanelli, Arnold Müller, Maksym Yarema, Moritz H. Futscher, Marta D. Rossell, Jędrzej Morzy, Yaroslav E. Romanyuk
{"title":"Synergistic Effects in Mixed-Metal Fluoride Conversion Cathodes in Thin-Film Solid-State Batteries","authors":"Joel Casella, Feline Töpperwien, Tim Welmers, Vittorio Montanelli, Arnold Müller, Maksym Yarema, Moritz H. Futscher, Marta D. Rossell, Jędrzej Morzy, Yaroslav E. Romanyuk","doi":"10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsmaterialslett.6c00474","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Transition-metal fluoride (TMF) conversion cathodes offer high theoretical capacities but are limited by sluggish kinetics, large voltage hysteresis, and poor reversibility. We explore if TMF performance can be improved by leveraging synergies among metal mixtures in TMF cathodes. We systematically evaluate mixed-metal TMF cathodes (TM = Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu) in a thin-film solid-state battery configuration. Across 30 compositions, most mixtures exhibit synergistic effects through improved cycling and energy efficiency. Cu/Fe mixtures stand out, delivering higher average discharge voltage and capacity with reduced hysteresis compared to pure Cu and Fe cathodes. An optimum of 20–30% Cu is identified, reaching up to 1.05 Wh/g, 530 mAh/g, 2.10 V, and 70% voltaic efficiency. Long-term cycling shows the best compositions retain ∼300 mAh/g at 1C after 1000 cycles. This study shows that metal mixing is a broadly effective strategy to enhance TMF conversion cathodes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19,"journal":{"name":"ACS Materials Letters","volume":"8 9","pages":"2603–2609"},"PeriodicalIF":8.6,"publicationDate":"2026-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148915735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}