The surface states of carbon nanodots (CDs) were engineered by controlling the chemical structure on the surface of the CDs, which play an important role in the chemiluminescence sensing properties of CDs towards peroxynitrite. Their application in monitoring exogenous and endogenous release of peroxynitrite in living cells is demonstrated.

Avoiding the intractable aggregation-caused quenching in solid-state materials, two aggregation-induced emission molecules were first implemented to fabricate white-light emitting ultrathin films with boosted quantum yields via layer-by-layer assembly. Such an ultrathin film-coated white light-emitting diode exhibits color purity.

Cataluminescence (CTL) is a specific chemiluminescence (CL) occurring on the surface of solid catalysts during heterogeneous catalytic oxidation reactions, and it is still a young technique compared to conventional CL. In recent years, CTL-based sensors have been widely used in the detection of various analytes. We have witnessed many developments in CTL-based sensing systems for the enhancement of sensitivity or selectivity. This review provides a thorough introduction to the history and development of CTL-based sensing systems. We have briefly discussed the working principles for CTL systems and related the influencing factors first. The development of CTL based on these factors and instruments has been subsequently introduced. Several excellent CTL-based sensing systems have been discussed to highlight their practicality for the analysis of complicated environmental samples. Discussions of the challenges and future trends of CTL-based sensing systems have been provided in the end of this review.

Adjusting and controlling the solid-state photophysical properties of molecule-based fluorophores are crucial for the development of next-generation luminescent materials. In this work, we report the tunable photoemission of a 9-acetylanthracene (ACA) chromophore based on the formation of two-component molecular cocrystals with four different co-assembled building blocks (4-bromotetrafluorobenzene carboxylic acid, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorohydroquinone, octafluoronaphthalene, and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCB)), which present wide-range tunability of luminescence properties (such as wavelength, color, fluorescence lifetime, photoluminescence quantum yield and two-photon emission) relative to pristine ACA. In addition, aggregation induced emission (AIE) properties can be further obtained for ACA.TCB cocrystals, which are absent for the pristine ACA solid. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the introduction of TCB can largely influence the energy level structures and orbital distributions of the ACA chromophore in the two-component crystals. Therefore, by the combination of experimental and theoretical studies on the molecular cocrystals, this work not only reports the supramolecular assembly of new types of crystalline two-component ACA systems, but also provides a detailed understanding of the structure–property relationship between molecular aggregation and luminescence behaviors.

Materials for blocking UV light play important roles in a variety of areas such as protecting the human skin and increasing the lifetime of polymers. In this work, a new type of host–guest UV-blocking material has been synthesized by the introduction of a fluorescent anion, 2-[2-[4-[2-(4-carboxyphenyl)vinyl]phenyl]vinyl]benzoate (CPBA), into the interlayer galleries of a ZnAl–NO3 layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursor by an anion-exchange method. The structure and the thermal and photostability of the intercalated ZnAl–CPBA-LDH were investigated by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy. The supramolecular layered host–guest structure of ZnAl–CPBA-LDH enables both physical shielding and absorption of UV light. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional UV blocking materials—which convert UV light into thermal energy—the CPBA anions in the LDH interlayer galleries convert UV light (in the range 250–380 nm) into lower energy fluorescence emission (λemmax = 430 nm), thus reducing the thermal aging of the polymer composite materials. Intercalation of the CPBA anions into the LDH host also markedly enhances the thermal stability of CPBA. In polypropylene (PP) aging performance tests, after adding 1–5 wt% ZnAl–CPBA-LDH to PP, the resistance to UV degradation of the resulting ZnAl–CPBA-LDH/PP composites is higher than that of pristine PP or a CPBA/PP composite. Therefore, this work provides a way to construct a new type of host–guest layered material for UV-blocking applications.

MgaZnbAlc–CO3 layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with varying magnesium/zinc ratios have been synthesized by a method involving separate nucleation and aging steps. The resulting LDHs were analyzed by powder X-ray diffraction, laser particle size analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and diffuse reflectance UV spectroscopy. The results show that the UV blocking properties of MgaZnbAlc–CO3–LDHs depend on both the proportion of zinc and the particle size distribution. The UV absorbing properties of MgaZnbAlc–CO3–LDHs increase with the content of zinc, which can be ascribed to the decrease in the band gap energy, as has been observed experimentally and confirmed by density functional theory calculations. The UV screening properties of Zn4Al2–CO3–LDHs were found to increase with increasing particle size, which can be explained by Mie scattering theory. Moreover, in accelerated UV light irradiation aging tests, LDH-modified asphalt samples showed excellent resistance to UV aging, with the efficacy of the LDH increasing with increasing zinc content.

Nanoparticles readily agglomerate, especially during nucleation, growth, and calcination processes. In this work, modified carbon black (MCB) has been used to prevent particle agglomeration during the nucleation step in the preparation of a highly dispersed nano-La(OH)3 precursor by a coprecipitation reaction. The surface carboxyl groups formed on MCB after modification can adsorb and fix positively charged La3+ ions on the surface. Therefore, nano-La(OH)3 nuclei can be uniformly deposited on the MCB surface. After nucleation, La(OH)3 particles with a size of about 20 nm with a positive surface charge still interact strongly with the negatively charged MCB surface, which effectively prevents their agglomeration during the subsequent aging process. Furthermore, due to the release of CO2 over a wide temperature range from 400 to 700 °C during a subsequent calcination process, La2O3 particles obtained by calcination of the La(OH)3 precursor can be effectively isolated at high temperature and prevented from agglomerating. By using MCB as an agglomeration inhibitor in this way, highly dispersed La2O3 nanoparticles with a size of 50 nm having excellent photoluminescence ability can be prepared.

Agglomeration is a common problem in the production and application of nanoparticles. The degree of agglomeration of layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanoparticles is difficult to control in its industrial production. The properties of industrial scale MgAl–CO3–LDH products obtained using an aging reactor composed of a 1 m3 kettle with a water cooling jacket have been compared with MgAl–CO3–LDHs prepared using different aging times in a model laboratory scale reactor [a 500 mL flask]. The effect of varying aging times on the agglomeration of the LDH nanoparticles has been studied experimentally. The crystallinity, surface defects, and surface zeta potential of the LDHs have been studied in an effort to understand the mechanism of agglomeration of the nanoparticles. The results show that in poorly crystalline LDHs, accumulation of Al3+ cations at different points in the layers results in an increase in local charge density. Consequently, the zeta potential and the electrostatic repulsion between particles decrease, resulting in serious agglomeration of LDH nanoparticles. In contrast, for LDHs with higher crystallinity produced with extended aging times, the layer cations become uniformly distributed resulting in an increase in zeta potential and increased electrostatic repulsion between the particles. As a result, the degree of agglomeration is reduced.

Mg-based layered intercalated functional materials of the layered double hydroxide type are a significant class of magnesium compounds. Based on long-term studies of these materials in the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering in Beijing University of Chemical Technology, two principles of “using the intended application of a material as a guide to its structure design and synthesis process” and “the design of controlled intercalation processes in the light of future production processing requirements” have been developed. To achieve these objectives, the composition of the host layers and guest interlayer anions was tailored at the microlevel, while the mesostructure and macrostructure were controlled to fabricate different kinds of Mg-based layered intercalated functional materials. These materials have diverse applications in key areas such as catalysis, the environment, and construction, and as polymer additives. Therefore, China’s magnesium resources may be utilized more efficiently for the benefit of society.

An MgZnAl–CO3 layered double hydroxide (LDH) slurry with Na2SO4 as the by-product has been prepared by a co-precipitation method. The filtrates in the LDH washing process were collected according to their different levels of salinity. Filtrates with lower salinity can be used to wash a LDH slurry with higher salinity in the next cycle. Only in the final stages is pure water used. Recycling of the wash water in this way has been employed in a commercial production process, resulting in a water-saving of over 80%. The resulting MgZnAl–CO3–LDH product has a well-formed crystalline layered structure with a low content of impurities.

Layered intercalated functional materials of layered double hydroxide type are an important class of functional materials developed in recent years. Based on long term studies on these materials in the State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering in Beijing University of Chemical Technology, the principle for the design of controlled intercalation processes in the light of future production processing requirements has been developed. Intercalation assembly methods and technologies have been invented to control the intercalation process for preparing layered intercalated materials with various structures and functions.

The surface states of carbon nanodots (CDs) were engineered by controlling the chemical structure on the surface of the CDs, which play an important role in the chemiluminescence sensing properties of CDs towards peroxynitrite. Their application in monitoring exogenous and endogenous release of peroxynitrite in living cells is demonstrated.

Adjusting and controlling the solid-state photophysical properties of molecule-based fluorophores are crucial for the development of next-generation luminescent materials. In this work, we report the tunable photoemission of a 9-acetylanthracene (ACA) chromophore based on the formation of two-component molecular cocrystals with four different co-assembled building blocks (4-bromotetrafluorobenzene carboxylic acid, 2,3,5,6-tetrafluorohydroquinone, octafluoronaphthalene, and 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCB)), which present wide-range tunability of luminescence properties (such as wavelength, color, fluorescence lifetime, photoluminescence quantum yield and two-photon emission) relative to pristine ACA. In addition, aggregation induced emission (AIE) properties can be further obtained for ACA.TCB cocrystals, which are absent for the pristine ACA solid. Moreover, density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest that the introduction of TCB can largely influence the energy level structures and orbital distributions of the ACA chromophore in the two-component crystals. Therefore, by the combination of experimental and theoretical studies on the molecular cocrystals, this work not only reports the supramolecular assembly of new types of crystalline two-component ACA systems, but also provides a detailed understanding of the structure–property relationship between molecular aggregation and luminescence behaviors.