Themed collection 2017 Journal of Materials Chemistry C HOT Papers

This review presents an overview of recent developments in the area of vat dye chemistry for the preparation of π-conjugated molecules and polymers for organic electronic applications.

Advantages of the double branched dyes: better fixing, higher loading density, lower aggregation tendency, longer S₁ lifetime on the TiO₂ surface

This review covers the electronic properties of silole-based organic semiconductors and the newest developments in the field of silole-based OLEDs and OPVs.

Solution-processed layered-controlled 2D metal halide perovskites are emerging as one of the most promising candidates for low-cost photovoltaics and optoelectronics.

In this Review, we present the recent progress in the field of host–guest composite organic micro/nanoscale lasers, and provide our perspective on the future research interests in this area.

The control of light – its coupling, splitting, modulating, and filtering – is of fundamental importance for the development of advanced, life-changing technologies, which are expected to revolutionise our society in the near future.

The aim of the present review is to report the state of the art of an emerging family of molecules, namely 4-substituted spirobifluorenes (SBFs).

This review summarizes the optical properties of lead-halide-perovskite thin films, single crystals, and solar-cell devices.

This review reports on the development of polymeric semiconductors through environmentally friendly manufacturing processes, especially for transistor applications.

The recent chemical exfoliation of layered MAX phase compounds to novel two-dimensional transition metal carbides and nitrides, the so-called MXenes, has brought a new opportunity to materials science and technology.

Herein, we review recent advances in transparent stretchable electronic materials and transparent stretchable electronic devices. Some representative examples that highlight the unique optical, electrical and mechanical properties of transparent stretchable materials and devices are also discussed in detail.

Conductive polymer nanocomposites have found applications in advanced devices: organic light emission diodes, organic photovoltaics, electrochromic devices, and others.

A metal 3D printing method combining a room temperature 3D printing and subsequent heat-treatments: sintering and secondary metallic infiltration.

An electric-field-induced strain in ferroelectric materials has extensive applications in actuators and sensors.

A polarized emission effect has been realized in CH₃NH₃PbI₃ perovskite nanocrystals with a linear polarization degree of 0.28.

Hybrid organic–inorganic formamidinium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals can be synthesized through a solid–liquid–solid cation exchange reaction.

The excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) properties of three tris(N-salicylideneaniline)-based (TSA) imine-linked porous organic polymers (POPs) were investigated.

We report the regioselective ortho-functionalization of PDI with aryl Grignard reagents. OPVs with these non-fullerene acceptors showed PCEs up to 5%, the highest reported for an acceptor with a single PDI core.

2,6-Diphenyl-9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene demonstrates improved mobility and comparable solid-state emission compared with 9,10-bis(phenylethynyl)anthracene, suggesting it could be a new and better integrated optoelectronic organic semiconductor.

A hybrid (NaYF₄:Yb/Er@NaYF₄:Nd/Yb)/MoS₂ device structure is proposed to realize narrow spectral window photodetection in the near-infrared region.

An alternative way to design new luminescent materials based on a site-selected energy transfer mechanism using high precision control of dopants.

Superbenzene-bridged bis(permethyl-β-cyclodextrin) as a convenient and effective probe for trinitrophenol exploder.

The photoinduced interconversion of the two emissive states of a photoactivatable fluorophore permits the quantitative mapping of the electromagnetic radiation propagating through microscaled objects in three dimensions.

We report multi-color perovskite nanowire lasers on arbitrary substrates through kinetically controlled growth followed by gas-phase halide exchange.

An Au/Ag bimetallic core–shell–satellite nanostructure was demonstrated to have high SERS activity due to a large number of accessible tips and nanogaps.

Electrochemical redox-induced radiative charge transfer in non-toxic CIS NCs was investigated for the first time by ECL.

The Ba₉Lu₂Si₆O₂₄:Ce³⁺ cyan phosphor has excellent luminescence properties and displays promising application in NUV-based white LEDs with high performance.

EGaIn liquid metal electrodes have been fine patterned by manipulating wetting/dewetting of the substrate for all-printed device application.

Highly efficient green- and orange-emitting PhOLEDs were successfully realized via a simple methoxyl modification in furo[3,2-c]pyridine-based Ir complexes.

Triplet decay of TADF emitters can be tuned by their molecular structure, leading to the negative temperature dependence of emission decay.

The first report on efficient solution-processed FR/NIR AIE/AEE EL materials and devices with light emission at 659 nm and 683 nm, respectively.

Two series of Pt(II) acetylide complexes containing dimesitylborane and phenyl terminal groups with star- and V-shaped configurations were synthesized.

TPD based molecular “bee” dopant-free HTMs for PSCs exhibit a PCE of 15.28% which is comparable to doped spiro-OMeTAD.

Organic–inorganic hybrid semiconducting NWs based on an ABX₃-type 1D chain compound show photoconductive properties.

Purely organic intra- and inter-molecular charge transfer emitters are comparatively studied to show how to develop high-performance OLEDs through tailoring their excited-state properties.

We report a direct printing of liquid droplet matrix onto various surfaces with a stamp which can be recycled up to 100 times.

Individual Sb-doped p-type ZnO (ZnO:Sb) microwires have been synthesized, and could be used to construct wavelength-tuning emitting filaments in the visible region. Meanwhile, ZnO:Sb microwires are applied to fabricate homojunction ultraviolet light-emitting diodes.

A fast and efficient microwave-assisted strategy is developed to prepare high-quality CsPbX₃ nanocrystals with controllable morphologies (nanoplate, nanocube, and nanorod).

PCE of perovskite solar cells based on Fe³⁺-doped compact TiO₂ is improved from 16.02% to 18.60%.

A flash evaporation method was developed to fabricate small molecule-based multilayer organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The new method can reduce the fabrication cost and avoid the issue of intersolubility in solution-processed multilayer OLEDs.

Utilizing first-principles calculations, we perform a systematic study on the electronic and magnetic properties of recently proposed graphene-like Be₃C₂ nanostructures.

UV-ozone exposure directly on the dielectric surface to get an OTFT mobility as high as 6.50 cm² (V s)⁻¹.

A novel Na₂WO₂F₄:Mn⁴⁺ red-emitting phosphor, exhibiting an ultra-intense zero phonon line at 620 nm, is demonstrated to be promising for LED lightings and displays.

ZTO/Al₂O₃ heterostructure and chemically stable sol–gel multi-stacking method are proposed for practical solution-processed oxide TFTs.

The predictive algorithm measures and predicts the steady-state current density for each bias set point, which speeds up the tracking process and measures the true maximum power point, regardless of the degree of hysteresis.

A highly stretchable and ultra-sensitive strain sensor based on a nickel nanoparticle-coated graphene polyurethane sponge (Ni@GPUS) ternary hybrid material was fabricated.

Polarization-manipulated all-optical format inversion of a 12.5 Gbit s⁻¹ pulsed return-to-zero on-off-keying (PRZ-OOK) data stream is demonstrated through the nonlinear Kerr switching-induced wavelength conversion process.

Luminescent MOFs and superparamagnetic particles form multifunctional composites suitable for ratiometric sensing in liquids by magnetic harvesting and PL read-outs.

A new non-AIE unit of triphenylamine, for the first time, is utilized to construct a bright ML luminogen of TPA-1BA.

We synthesize a new hydrous single crystal, K₂GaF₅(H₂O), and induce it to convert into stable moisture-proof phosphor K₃GaF₆:Mn⁴⁺ for warm WLED applications by rapidly adding K₂MnF₆ into its co-precipitate reaction system.

A novel imide-functionalized dithienylbenzodiimide was synthesized and incorporated into polymer semiconductors, which exhibit low-lying FMOs and substantial electron mobilities.

The emission colors of cesium lead halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) can be controlled by dynamic ion exchange and Mn²⁺ doping.

A femtosecond laser is proposed to pattern and anneal a metal oxide layer for simple fabrication of metal oxide thin-film transistor arrays.

A novel red fluoride phosphor NKSF:Mn was obtained at room temperature by controlling the ratio of NaF to KF. The chromaticity coordinates of phosphor NKSF:Mn are very close to the CIE coordinates of ideal red ascribed to the contribution of particularly strong zero-phonon lines.

Inverting the substitution patterns of amphiphilic cyclodextrins has uncovered their unprecedented abilities to form hexagonal columnar mesophases.

1D mesoporous MoO₂/C hybrid heteronanowires were designed for outstanding dielectric loss properties.

Monodisperse YAG:Ce³⁺ microspheres have been synthesized through a fast epoxide-driven sol–gel route and subsequent heat treatment under a reducing atmosphere. The luminescence quantum yield of the 6 mol% Ce³⁺ ion doped YAG microspheres was more than 90%.

A strong and tough CNT-NR film with excellent EMI SE (44.7 dB@250 μm) is realized.

We newly propose a periodic 3D nanostructure to reduce the thermal conductivity of Bi_1.5Sb_0.5Te₃ ternary alloys, which results in a greatly enhanced figure of merit (>50%).

Carbon-doping in Sr₂Si₅N₈:Eu²⁺ results in enhanced reduction of Eu³⁺ and the covalence of Eu–(N,C) bonds, finally leading to enhanced thermal degradation.

Both trap-state densities and energy levels affect carrier transfer, resulting in a maximum diffusion length of 380 μm in CH₃NH₃PbI_3−xCl_x (x = 0.005).

Efficient energy transfer in dispersed films of organic dyes to dark excimer sites and highly emissive J-coupled dimers.

To develop stimuli-responsive polymers with highly comprehensive properties, sulfide-containing polyimides with relatively simple structures were designed and synthesized.

A NTC effect has been developed upon heating in a ternary graphene/PA6/UHMWPE composite with a segregated and double-percolated structure.

Ultrafast singlet exciton fission in thin solid films after UV laser photoexcitation was observed using transient absorption spectroscopy.

We demonstrated the synthesis and characterization of two polymers, IDT-T1 and IDTT-T1, to investigate the effect of extending the π-conjugation length on the properties of the copolymers.

Here we report a systematic study on the effects of precursors and solvents in solution-processed oxide semiconductor thin film transistors.

A clear insight into the crystal phase related emission mechanism is demonstrated in MAPbBr₃.

The CoTAP impedance matching layer is assembled on the surface of CNTs, which can enhance EM absorption and decrease surface reflection.

The structures and photoluminescence tuning of Eu²⁺-doped K_xCs_1−xAlSi₂O₆ (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.6) phosphors with abnormal thermal quenching behavior have been investigated.