Artificial nanochannel systems regulated by diverse stimuli can provide rich ion transport, and are frequently used to mimic intelligent ion channels in biological membranes. Combining shape control and chemical modification of artificial nanochannels is an effective approach in the construction of nanochannel systems with ion transport regulation by multiple stimuli. In this work, symmetric and asymmetric hourglass shaped Al2O3 nanochannels were fabricated and the nanochannels were chemically patterned with N719 and APTES at expectant positions. By regulating the pH value, the ionization status of the coated molecules was changed and the charges in the nanochannels were redistributed, which resulted in pH-responsive ion rectification characteristics. When irradiated with light, the charges on the surfaces modified with N719 molecules were increased and new charge distributions in the nanochannels were formed, which led to light-responsive ion transportation behaviour. In the symmetric Al2O3 nanochannels, an ion current rectification ratio of about 4.3 was obtained. In the asymmetric Al2O3 nanochannels, the light induced current change ratio reached about 1.1. The study of symmetric and asymmetric nanochannels combined with different responsive molecules at expectant positions may provide an innovative approach for the design and fabrication of smart nanochannel systems to simulate biological ion channels.

Nitrogen and sulfur codoped carbon dots (CDs) were prepared from garlic by a hydrothermal method. The as-prepared CDs possess good water dispersibility, strong blue fluorescence emission with a fluorescent quantum yield of 17.5%, and excellent photo and pH stabilities. It is also demonstrated that the fluorescence of CDs are resistant to the interference of metal ions, biomolecules, and high ionic strength environments. Combining with low cytotoxicity properties, CDs could be used as an excellent fluorescent probe for cellular multicolor imaging. Moreover, the CDs were also demonstrated to exhibit favorable radical scavenging activity.Keywords: carbon dots; fluorescence; multicolor imaging; radical scavenging activity; reactive oxygen species

In this paper, a compatible Au ring grating/GaAs quantum well (QW) coupling structure is used to electrically excite surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs). Once current injects into QW, SPPs are directly generated at the metal/semiconductor interface and coupled to a metal ring grating. The direct transmission of the light from QW are avoided by damaging QW coupling structure using ion-beam etching process, and only SPPs are coupled out. The scattering characteristics of generated SPPs demonstrate the capability of tunable electric field distribution, utilizing metal grating structures with different ring shape. The strong polarization-dependence characteristics of device are shown. The obvious application of well-designed electric excitation SPPs structures is proposed to be an approach to realize active plasmonic devices and integrated plasmonic circuits.

Organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells were expected to adopt the advantages of both organic and inorganic materials. Due to several crucial problems, the power conversion efficiency of most hybrid solar cells was lower than 1%. Recent work reported the highest power conversion efficiency of a hybrid solar cell as 11.3%, which increased the research interest into organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells. This article focuses on the progress in state-of-the-art research on organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells and the associated key issues, including the energy band alignment of the organic and inorganic components, interface control of the heterojunction, and the use of ordered nanostructures were discussed. The challenges and prospects for organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells in the near future are discussed.

Magnificent CdS three-dimensional nanostructure arrays, composed of caky plating made up of Cd micro-platelet arrays which are surrounded by an outer layer of well-aligned CdS nanowire/pillar arrays, were successfully prepared through a combination of electroplating and subsequent solvothermal reaction on Cd-coated copper substrates. The nucleation and growth behavior of CdS nanowire/pillars were qualitatively analyzed in terms of kinetics. The results demonstrated that the microstructure of the products shows great dependence on the synthetic conditions, including reactant concentration, growth temperature and time, and the morphological characteristics of the substrate. The coalescence growth of adjacent CdS nanowire/pillars during the growth stage was firstly demonstrated. In addition, the formation mechanism of caky Cd plating was well discussed and also a hydrogen bubbles-assisted growth mechanism based on electrochemistry was proposed to explain the unique plating. The relationship between the microstructure of the products and the synthetic conditions is beneficial for modifying the shape of CdS nanostructures. The as-prepared CdS three-dimensional nanostructure arrays are advantageous for their large surface area, highly ordered structure and conductive growth substrates, and thus may have great potential in many advanced material areas, especially in the field of solar cells.

ZnS nanorings have been synthesized via thermal evaporation of ZnS powders at 1050 °C for the first time. The ZnS nanorings grew along the [101¯0] direction with a high density of stacking faults along the [0001] direction. The ZnS nanorings were believed to be formed by strain induced bending. This mechanism of ZnS nanoring formation is totally different from those proposed for the formation of ZnO, ZnSe, AlN and GaN nanorings via coiling of their polar surface and long-rang electrostatic interaction. This synthesis method of ZnS nanoring suggests that similar ring-like structures of other II–VI semiconducting nanomaterials may be synthesized.► ZnS nanorings have been synthesized via thermal evaporation of ZnS powders at 1050 °C. ► The ZnS nanoring grows along the [101¯0] direction with a high density of stacking faults. ► The formation mechanism of ZnS nanoring is the strain induced bending, which is different from other nanorings.

Highly ordered arrays of Cu-rich and -deficient CuInSe2 nanotubes as well as ZnO/CuInSe2 core/sheath nanocables have been synthesized on glass substrates by using ZnO nanorod arrays as sacrificial templates via a low-cost solution method. Chemical conversions from hexagonal ZnO to cubic ZnSe, hexagonal CuSe and tetragonal CuInSe2 are demonstrated as a novel means for synthesis of I−III−VI nanomaterials. Large differences in their solubility product constant (Ksp) are crucial for direct exchange in the conversions. In solvothermal reaction of ZnO/CuSe core/shell nanocables with InCl3, the triethylene glycol solvent serves as a reducing agent for the reduction of cupric (Cu2+) to cuprous (Cu+) ions and also as an agent for the dissolution of ZnO cores. The absorption coefficient of the CuInSe2 nanotubes in the visible region is on the order of 104 cm−1. Photoelectrochemical solar cells were fabricated with arrays of ZnO/Cu1.57±0.10In0.68±0.10Se2 and ZnO/CuSe nanocables. It was found that power conversion efficiency of the ZnO/Cu1.57±0.10In0.68±0.10Se2 cell is about two times higher than that based on ZnO/CuSe.Keywords: changes; core/shell; CuInSe2; CuSe; ions; nanocables; polyol; reduction; sacrificial; templates

Organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells were expected to adopt the advantages of both organic and inorganic materials. Due to several crucial problems, the power conversion efficiency of most hybrid solar cells was lower than 1%. Recent work reported the highest power conversion efficiency of a hybrid solar cell as 11.3%, which increased the research interest into organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells. This article focuses on the progress in state-of-the-art research on organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells and the associated key issues, including the energy band alignment of the organic and inorganic components, interface control of the heterojunction, and the use of ordered nanostructures were discussed. The challenges and prospects for organic–inorganic hybrid solar cells in the near future are discussed.