Jundan Tang, Zhifang Liu, Lihua Shen, Wei Fu and Xian Li
{"title":"Emerging sulfur quantum dots: from synthesis strategies to optical property engineering towards multidisciplinary applications","authors":"Jundan Tang, Zhifang Liu, Lihua Shen, Wei Fu and Xian Li","doi":"10.1039/D5TC01533B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01533B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Sulfur quantum dots (SQDs), a novel class of semiconductor nanomaterials, have garnered increasing attention due to their exceptional luminescent properties, robust biocompatibility, low toxicity antibacterial activity, and facile functionalization. Despite the many advantages of SQDs, a systematic and comprehensive review, especially regarding their future development directions and challenges, is still lacking. This gap hampers a cohesive understanding of the field and limits the ability to harness their full potential. In this review, we present a detailed examination of the synthesis strategies employed for SQDs, alongside an in-depth discussion on the modulation of their optical properties and their diverse applications across fields such as biomedicine, catalysis, and optoelectronics. Furthermore, we highlight critical challenges and future directions in the preparation and practical deployment of SQDs, offering insights into overcoming current limitations. By providing a holistic perspective, this review aims to serve as a valuable resource for advancing SQDs research and unlocking their transformative potential in emerging technologies.</p>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 29","pages":" 14697-14710"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144695694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mengliang Jiang, Linxiang Wang, Munire Maimaiti, Xin Feng, Yan Zhang and Jiachen Shi
{"title":"Effects of Li+, Na+, and K+ doping on the microstructure, fluorescence thermometry, and thermochromism of Ho3+,Yb3+:Bi2WO6 materials†","authors":"Mengliang Jiang, Linxiang Wang, Munire Maimaiti, Xin Feng, Yan Zhang and Jiachen Shi","doi":"10.1039/D5TC01422K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01422K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Luminescent materials with 1% M, 3% Ho<small><sup>3+</sup></small>, and 10% Yb<small><sup>3+</sup></small>:Bi<small><sub>2</sub></small>WO<small><sub>6</sub></small> (M = Li<small><sup>+</sup></small>, Na<small><sup>+</sup></small>, K<small><sup>+</sup></small>) upconversion ability were prepared by a high-temperature solid-phase method. The band structure and density of states of the synthesized material were calculated using density functional theory, and the UV visible absorption spectrum of the synthesized material was measured experimentally. Theoretical calculations and experimental results both indicated that, compared with the Bi<small><sub>2</sub></small>WO<small><sub>6</sub></small> substrate, doping with Ho<small><sup>3+</sup></small>/Yb<small><sup>3+</sup></small> or continuing to be doped with M<small><sup>+</sup></small> (M = Li<small><sup>+</sup></small>, Na<small><sup>+</sup></small>, K<small><sup>+</sup></small>) gradually reduced the bandgap of the material. The bandgap was reduced, and the material could absorb photons with lower energy, which was beneficial for the absorption of infrared photons. X-ray diffraction experiments revealed that Li<small><sup>+</sup></small>, Na<small><sup>+</sup></small>, K<small><sup>+</sup></small>, Ho<small><sup>3+</sup></small> and Yb<small><sup>3+</sup></small> doping had no effect on the orthorhombic crystal structure of the Bi<small><sub>2</sub></small>WO<small><sub>6</sub></small> matrix. For 1% M, 3% Ho<small><sup>3+</sup></small>, and 10% Yb<small><sup>3+</sup></small>:Bi<small><sub>2</sub></small>WO<small><sub>6</sub></small> (M = Na<small><sup>+</sup></small>, K<small><sup>+</sup></small>), scanning electron micrographs revealed that the powder sample particle size ranged from 1–3 μm, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) maps revealed that all the elements were relatively uniformly distributed in the samples. The fluorescence intensity ratio of the Ho<small><sup>3+</sup></small> emission peaks (<em>I</em><small><sub>756nm</sub></small>/<em>I</em><small><sub>538nm</sub></small>) was used for temperature characterization. The maximum relative thermometric sensitivities of 3% Ho<small><sup>3+</sup></small>, 10% Yb<small><sup>3+</sup></small>:Bi<small><sub>2</sub></small>WO<small><sub>6</sub></small> doped with Li<small><sup>+</sup></small>, Na<small><sup>+</sup></small>, or K<small><sup>+</sup></small> in the 298–573 K temperature range were 1.69% K<small><sup>−1</sup></small> (348 K), 2.54% K<small><sup>−1</sup></small> (298 K), and 2.65% K<small><sup>−1</sup></small> (298 K), and the minimum temperature resolutions were 0.14 K (323 K), 0.05 K (298 K), and 0.04 K (298 K), respectively. Under 980 nm excitation from 298 K to 573 K, the luminescence of the samples not doped with Li<small><sup>+</sup></small>, Na<small><sup>+</sup></small>, or K<small><sup>+</sup></small> changed from yellow–green to yellow and then red, whereas the Li<small><sup>+</sup></small>, Na<small><sup>+</sup>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 30","pages":" 15555-15571"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144751159","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yangguang Xiang, Tong Zou, Kun Yang, Jinling Li, Ya Zou and Zebing Zeng
{"title":"Recent advances in the O-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons","authors":"Yangguang Xiang, Tong Zou, Kun Yang, Jinling Li, Ya Zou and Zebing Zeng","doi":"10.1039/D5TC02120K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC02120K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The strategic heteroatom doping of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has emerged as a powerful paradigm for engineering advanced organic materials with tailored optoelectronic functionalities. Compared to those incorporated with other heteroatoms, the oxygen (O)-doped PAH systems have received comparatively less attention. This review highlights the recent advances in the synthesis, optoelectronic properties, and organic electronic applications of representative O-doped PAHs, mainly focusing on pyranopyranyl-bridged analogues of anthanthrene, O-embedded quinoidal acenes, and furanyl-bridged fused benzofuranyl derivatives. By summarizing their optoelectronic properties and structure–property relationships, we hope this review might provide valuable insights into the further design of high-performance functional O-doped conjugated materials for organic electronics.</p>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 28","pages":" 14187-14201"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144646721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Halogen-assisted colour modulation in a flexible copper coordination polymer crystal-based hybrid photonic splitter†","authors":"Ankur Khapre, Vinaya Durga Chebrolu, Preetika Rajasekar, Biswajit Kumar Barman and Rajadurai Chandrasekar","doi":"10.1039/D5TC02090E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC02090E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Tuning the optical band in flexible nano- and micro-crystalline structures using halogen atoms offers a promising route for fabricating functionally complex soft optical devices, though it remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report the synthesis and crystallization of two high aspect-ratio, elastic, and chromatically distinct one-dimensional coordination polymer (CP) crystal waveguides: the cyan-emissive poly-[di-μ-iodido-bis[3,5-dibromopyridine]dicopper(<small>I</small>)] (CuDBP) and the green-emissive poly-[di-μ-iodido-bis[3-bromo-5-chloropyridine]dicopper(<small>I</small>)] (CuBCP). Theoretical studies have revealed a noticeable difference in the optical energy gap of these halogen-substituted CPs. Mechanical micromanipulation of these low-optical-loss crystal waveguides using an atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever tip reveals their pseudoplasticity, enabling the fabrication of an innovative three-port hybrid Y-splitter. This circuit operates as a passive optical splitter when the input is introduced through the CuBCP crystal, whereas it functions as a chromatic signal modulator without splitting when the input originates from the CuDBP crystal. Demonstrating such unique and unexplored properties of 1D CPs in photonic components corroborates the versatility for devising next-gen organic photonic integrated circuits.</p>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 29","pages":" 14743-14750"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144695697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhaohui Lu, Mei Liang, Shuang Xia, Zhengguang Heng, Zhuo Shi, Shengtai Zhou and Huawei Zou
{"title":"Improving thermal stability and ablative performance of epoxy resin by constructing epoxy–siloxane hybrid networks†","authors":"Zhaohui Lu, Mei Liang, Shuang Xia, Zhengguang Heng, Zhuo Shi, Shengtai Zhou and Huawei Zou","doi":"10.1039/D5TC01688F","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01688F","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Epoxy resin exhibits poor thermal stability, which significantly restricts their application in thermal protection sectors. To solve this problem, siloxane was used to modify epoxy resin by constructing an epoxy–siloxane hybrid network to improve char residue and ablative performance. The results show that the 800 °C char residue of siloxane-modified epoxy resin reached 36.4% in a nitrogen atmosphere and 12.4% in an air atmosphere, representing increases of 98.9% and 726.7% compared with the unmodified counterpart, respectively. The mass ablative rate of the modified epoxy resin was 0.0515 g s<small><sup>−1</sup></small>, which was 55.9% lower than that of pure epoxy resin. This work provides a strategy to improve the thermal stability and ablative performance of epoxy resin, which exhibits a promising application in industrial sectors for thermal protection purposes.</p>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 30","pages":" 15615-15627"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144751178","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Zhengjie Hou, Yuheng Jin, Cheng Qian, Jingyu Zhu, Tao Zhang, Jiansheng Wu, Sheng Li, Binghua Zou and Fengwei Huo
{"title":"Recent advances in materials and structural designs for flexible surface electromyography electrodes","authors":"Zhengjie Hou, Yuheng Jin, Cheng Qian, Jingyu Zhu, Tao Zhang, Jiansheng Wu, Sheng Li, Binghua Zou and Fengwei Huo","doi":"10.1039/D5TC01312G","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01312G","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Flexible electrodes play an essential role in collecting surface electromyography (sEMG) signals and are becoming a promising alternative and supplement to needle electrodes and rigid sEMG electrodes, featuring flexibility, wearability, and non-invasiveness. However, flexible electrodes face the challenges of high electrode–skin interfacial impedance and a tendency to detach under large and continuous deformation. This review outlines the latest advancements aimed at minimizing contact impedance and improving electrode contact stability, primarily achieved through two fundamental aspects: the optimization of materials and the design of structures. Materials are categorized into metals, carbon, and conductive polymers, along with recent practical applications in flexible sEMG electrodes. Several advanced structural designs are summarized considering two key challenges in improving interfacial contact stability: electrode stretchability and interfacial contact quality. Finally, this review discusses the future directions for developing flexible sEMG electrodes and the subsequent challenges expected to arise in this field.</p>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 29","pages":" 14711-14726"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144695695","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xu Li, Yuzhou Chen, Yunlong Dong, Yang Li, Yuelan Lv and Yongjun Liu
{"title":"Multi-channel information encryption based on the structural color and photoluminescence capability of cellulose nanocrystal flexible films†","authors":"Xu Li, Yuzhou Chen, Yunlong Dong, Yang Li, Yuelan Lv and Yongjun Liu","doi":"10.1039/D5TC00980D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC00980D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Traditional single-channel message encryption can only store a limited amount of encrypted information, and the lower level of security makes the decryption process very vulnerable. In this regard creating a multi-channel message encryption combining structural color, photoluminescence, and chiral optical properties is necessary. In this work, a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC)/glycerol (Gly)/polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) ternary cellulose nanocrystal composite film is designed with excellent optical properties, unique structural features and good mechanical properties, which can effectively respond to left-hand circularly polarized light, viewing angle and relative humidity changes. Microanalysis showed that the presence of Gly and PVP would not hinder the self-assembly of CNCs in aqueous solution and would enhance the mechanical properties and improve the structural color of the composite films. Afterwards, the fluorescent dye spiropyran (SP) was introduced into the system, and the composite film SP-CNC produces richer color effects. Based on this, we constructed a multi-channel message encryption model by combining the excellent optical properties of CNCs, the photoluminescence properties of SP dyes, and the classical Vigenère cipher. This greatly improves the security level of message encryption and provides a powerful strategy for large-capacity and high-security message encryption.</p>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 30","pages":" 15591-15602"},"PeriodicalIF":5.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144751162","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Suharman, Sota Nakayama, Soh Kushida, Sundas Rani, Wijak Yospanya, Piyanan Pranee, Reiko Oda, Hiroshi Yamagishi and Yohei Yamamoto
{"title":"Induced blue, green, and red-colour circularly polarized luminescence from single dye-doped homochiral poly(lactic acid) microspheres†","authors":"Suharman, Sota Nakayama, Soh Kushida, Sundas Rani, Wijak Yospanya, Piyanan Pranee, Reiko Oda, Hiroshi Yamagishi and Yohei Yamamoto","doi":"10.1039/D5TC01506E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01506E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) can be induced by doping an achiral fluorescent dye into a chiral polymer matrix. Here, we demonstrate the supramolecular self-assembly of chiral poly(<small>L</small>-lactic acid) (PLLA) with the fluorescent dye, 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene (BPEA), forming microspheres that generate CPL. As the BPEA concentration increases, the fluorescent colour shifts from blue to green and red, suggesting the formation of BPEA dimers and J-aggregates. The highest luminescent dissymmetry factor (<em>g</em><small><sub>lum</sub></small>) of 3.1 × 10<small><sup>−2</sup></small> was obtained from the microsphere suspension at the BPEA/PLLA ratio of 0.1.</p>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 27","pages":" 13659-13663"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144598190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jae Hee Song, Kyung Do Kim, Jonghoon Shin, Seong Jae Shin, Suk Hyun Lee, Seung Yong Byun, In Soo Lee, Han Sol Park, Yeon Jae Kim, Hyun Woo Nam and Cheol Seong Hwang
{"title":"Ferroelectric and field-induced ferroelectric phase formation in atomic-layer-deposited ZrO2 thin films with TiN electrodes†","authors":"Jae Hee Song, Kyung Do Kim, Jonghoon Shin, Seong Jae Shin, Suk Hyun Lee, Seung Yong Byun, In Soo Lee, Han Sol Park, Yeon Jae Kim, Hyun Woo Nam and Cheol Seong Hwang","doi":"10.1039/D5TC01449B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5TC01449B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study investigates the origin of ferroelectric (FE) phase formation in 10-nm-thick atomic-layer-deposited ZrO<small><sub>2</sub></small> thin films by examining their structure and electrical properties as a function of deposition temperature (<em>T</em><small><sub>dep</sub></small>, 280–310 °C) and post-metallization annealing (PMA) steps. Polarization measurements revealed only field-induced ferroelectric (FFE) properties in the films deposited at 280 °C. However, the FE-like properties were observed in the films deposited at <em>T</em><small><sub>dep</sub></small> = 285–310 °C, with double remnant polarization (2<em>P</em><small><sub>r</sub></small>) values of ∼15 μC cm<small><sup>−2</sup></small> at 310 °C, where the films exhibited improved crystallinity, larger grain size, and higher oxygen density. However, PMA led to increased oxygen deficiency, causing FE characteristics to vanish, leaving only FFE in the films. In addition, the wake-up process does not correspond to the permanent phase transition from the non-polar tetragonal phase to the polar orthorhombic phase. Rather than that, the internal field, induced by the asymmetric oxygen vacancy distribution across the film thickness, undergoes disparate evolution with the cycling in the FE and FFE regions in the film. The overall FE-like property of the woken-up state corresponds to the merged FE and FFE properties, which are also influenced by the applied electric field (<em>E</em><small><sub>app</sub></small>) strength during the cycling and property measurements.</p>","PeriodicalId":84,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Materials Chemistry C","volume":" 29","pages":" 14751-14766"},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144695672","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"材料科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}