Themed collection Recent Open Access Articles

We present an overview of the latest studies on organic neuromorphic and smart sensing devices and highlight the potential of these concepts to enhance the interaction efficiency between electronics and biological substances.

The rise of n-type organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs): from materials to applications.

We review the nucleation and growth of different Ga₂O₃ polymorphs with several techniques, giving practical guidelines for their synthesis.

Development of conjugated polymers in two dimensions via liquid-interface-assisted synthesis as active layers for use in electronic devices.

Methodologies and experimental achievements for exploration into electronic band structures of organic semiconductor and hybrid perovskite single crystals are reviewed.

Photon-upconversion materials are capable of converting low energy infrared light into higher energy visible or ultraviolet light.

The development of metal particle-free inks is reviewed, with particular attention on their formulation, patterning and post-processing techniques.

We review the cooling of charge carriers in metal halide perovskites for the use in hot carrier solar cells.

Solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell components, materials, architectures and interfaces are comprehensively reviewed.

Recent progress in photoresponsive polymers based on three common supramolecular design strategies, namely ionic, hydrogen and halogen bonding, is reviewed.

The merging of the materials science paradigms of liquid crystals and 2D materials promises superb new opportunities for the advancement of the fields of optoelectronics and photonics. In this review, we summarise the development and applications of 2D material liquid crystals for optoelectronics and photonics.

Perspective covering carbazole-containing emitters and hosts for third generation TADF (thermally-activated delayed fluorescence) OLED technology along with computational benchmark studies.

This review addresses recent approaches for atomic layer deposition (ALD) that are closely related to the electrical properties of ultrathin SrTiO₃ and BaTiO₃ films.

Based on the example of the p-type LaAlO₃/SrTiO₃ interface, we discuss charge-transfer phenomena that tailor the ionic conductivity along oxide heterointerfaces, by providing a confined space-charge layer as channel for oxygen ion conduction.

We present a colour tunable system obtained by combining a humidity-responsive cholesteric liquid crystal network and hydrogel coatings, in a diligently designed cell-geometry.

A novel approach to sharp and persist NIR luminescence at 1 μm wavelength.

An all-solution-based modular functionalization of a cross-linked polymer semiconductor interface is presented. The thus covalently introduced moieties can be utilised for tailor-made organic–organic interfaces in organic optoelectronic devices.

We characterise the magnetism of self-assembled Fe_nN nanocrystals, combining core level spectroscopy with first-principles theory. Ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases are found, which are magnetically ordered at room temperature.

Self-readsorption of surface ligands completely restores the photoluminescence of CsPbBr₃ quantum dots damaged by excitation light.

[MCl₃(EⁿBu₂)₃] (M = Sb, Bi; E = Se, Te) enable CVD growth of ternary Bi₂(Se_1−xTe_x)₃ and (Bi_1−ySb_y)₂Te₃ thin films with good compositional, structural and morphological control.

Upon doping with sulfonic acids and bistriflimide the polar polythiophene p(g₄2T-T) exhibits a maximum conductivity of 120 S cm⁻¹ and can be hot-pressed into self-standing, flexible films.

A 0D perovskite-related material Cs₃Fe₂Br₉ is shown to have a low bandgap of 1.65 eV and exhibit antiferromagnetic behaviour.

A new heterocoronene-based chromophore was synthesized via a two-step reaction and showed similar photostability to perylenetetracaboxdiimides.

We report the synthesis, photophysics and application of a novel semiconducting polymer as a colour converter for high speed visible light communication.

Electronic structure calculations are used to develop design rules for enhanced electrical conductivity in zeolitic imidazolate frameworks.

Modifications in nanoscale chemical order can tune the magnetic properties of Co₂FeSi_xAl_1−x, indicating disorder as a potential engineering tool.

We report the development of indium oxide (In₂O₃) transistors via a single step laser-induced photochemical conversion process of a sol–gel metal oxide precursor.

Simply “migrating” the aromatic sextet of cata-condensed 2D PAH with the same number of fused benzene rings affords novel organic semiconductors with different properties.

Polymer-stabilized blue phase liquid crystal in-plane switching cell.

An AIE-active oligourethane gel was designed and synthesized, and it was demonstrated that the gel is a highly-selective and reversible sensor for Fe³⁺, HSO₄⁻ and F⁻ ions.

Titanium deposited on the Bi₂Se₃ surface reacts (even at 130 K) and forms new phases.

Experimental and theoretical studies of the order–disorder transition in the Cu₃SbS₄–Cu₃SnS₄ solid solution reveal evidence for S^2−δ species.

Flexible nanoporous gold and silver leaf are patterned without photolithography and adhered to microfluidics to create disposable multiplexed electrochemical biosensors.

The search for new single-phase multicaloric materials, combining electrocaloric and magnetocaloric effects, is just at its beginning.

The aqueous faradaic and capacitive properties of an organic semiconductor photocathode are finely tuned by via microstructure and wettability.

Bismuth oxyiodide has anisotropic transport properties, and optimal device performance requires control over its preferred orientation. We find that this preferred orientation can be finely tuned through the precursor and substrate temperatures.

Modelling of ferroelectric–dielectric composites by knowledge and data fusion, powered by inherent natures of learning abilities of humans and machines.

Pyrolysis transformations, wrinkling and cracking, of thick solution-derived epitaxial superconducting YBa₂Cu₃O₇ films are disclosed through in situ analytical studies.

The dissolution process of CZTS constituent elements in a low-toxicity amine-thiol solvent system is analysed in detail through the use of ESI-MS and IRMPD techniques. Devices produced from this solution achieved efficiencies of up to 8.1%.

A new bright red emitting complex [Eu(btfa)₃bpm]₂ has been synthesized. The photophysical properties were analyzed and it was utilized as an emitter to fabricate red OLEDs.

Solution processed organic photodetectors with a nanostructured active layer in the shape of a photonic crystal exhibit an improved NIR response, below the band gap of the active layer materials, that can be tuned by varying the lattice parameter.

The strong molecule-surface interaction, followed by charge transfer at the interface, plays a fundamental role in the thermal stability of the layer by rigidly anchoring the porphyrin molecules to the copper substrate.

A small molecule additive, dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBSA), is added to the electrolyte in OECTs to improve the device performance.

GaN is grown epitaxially on 4H-SiC without buffer layer using ALD with Ga(NMe₂)₃ and NH₃ plasma.

New non-centrosymmetric soft honeycomb lattices and superlattices are generated by self-assembly of novel mesogens promising applications as SHG and ferroelectric materials.

Magnetic-dipole photoluminescence from octahedral Yb³⁺ in CaNbGa garnet is proposed for sensing the magnetic component of plasmonic radiated fields.

Efficient thermally evaporated MA-free perovskite solar cells are developed by optimising their stoichiometry and annealing procedures.

Using a solvent vapour annealing method, the crystallinity and photoconductivity of a 2D perovskite containing functionalized benzothieno[3,2-b]benzothiophene cations was enhanced.

An alternate use of PEAI for enhancing the performance of inverted perovskite solar cells is demonstrated, by employing it as an anti-solvent during the perovskite fabrication process. The results show an enhancement of the open-circuit voltage as compared to the PEAI post treatment.

A novel nanosensing platform was developed for the quantitative detection of creatinine of clinically relevant concentrations via UV-Vis spectroscopy and surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy.

A nitrogen doped carbon aerogel was used as a substrate for the atomic layer deposition of TiO₂ and ZnO layers in various thicknesses.

Phosphorescence in the liquid crystal state with one of the highest quantum yield values, 42%, at room temperature is reported.

Robust method to process of OLEDs from water to avoid the use of hazardous solvents.

The length of solubilizing alkyl chains affects the formation, structure, and properties of two semi-crystalline phases in conjugated polymers.

Fe and Ni compounds and their oxides offer stoichiometry dependent magnetic properties, exploitable for the design of magnetic heterojunctions.

[Eu(btfa)₃DPEPO] and [Eu(nta)₃DPEPO] are bright, red emitting complexes. They have been incorporated into single and double emitting layer electroluminescent devices.

We report the first solution based deposition of zinc oxysulfide, Zn(O,S), thin films via aerosol-assisted chemical vapour deposition (AACVD) facilitated by the use of a specifically designed precursor: [Zn₈(SOCCH₃)₁₂S₂] (1).

Predicted thermoelectric behaviour in Bi₂PdO₄ is experimentally realized. Pb doping enhances the power factor, with additional reduction of thermal conductivity.

Ultra-smooth thin-films of nylons, one of the most successful commercialized polymers, have been realized for the application in ferroelectric field effect transistors.

Simple, scalable and cost-effective synthesis of quality two-dimensional (2D) transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is critical for fundamental investigations but also for the widespread adoption of these low-dimensional materials in an expanding range of device applications.

An unusual solid–liquid–vapor extended growth mechanism is reported in the synthesis reaction of Cu₂ZnGeSe₄ absorbers through a specific break-off experiment.

BiFeO₃ single-phase thin films with an effective and tuneable multiferroic response are obtained in aqueous media by using mild processing conditions.

We describe how chemical vapor deposition in the B–C–N material system can be done from triethylboron and a nitrogen–argon plasma. The films can be tuned to various morphologies and dielectric constants.

Inkjet printing is an attractive low-cost method for the deposition of piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate thin films. Pyrolysis temperature and time are crucial processing parameters to obtain dense layers with state-of-the-art properties.

A typical schematic for both spray pyrolysis set-up and ZrO_x-based TFT device, and the corresponding electrical performance.

A systematic study of (1−x)Pb(Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)O₃–xBiFeO₃ (x = 0–0.5) was performed in order to investigate the strengthening of the relaxor properties when adding BiFeO₃ into Pb(Fe_0.5Nb_0.5)O₃ and forming a solid solution.

For molecularly doped poly(3-hexyl-thiophene) solvated individual chains can be unambiguously differentiated from aggregated ones by diagnostic polaron absorption.

The design of new arylated poly(phenylene vinylene) with high fluorescence efficiency (from AIE) and intrinsic microporosity (from S_BET) is described.

We report on the epitaxial growth of photoresponsive alkyl-substituted azobenzene fibres on top of uniaxially oriented polyethylene (PE) films.

A complete protocol for epitaxial integration of SrTiO₃ with a (1 × 2) + (2 × 1) reconstructed Sr(1/2 ML)/Si(001) surface using the PLD method.