In this work, yolk–shell structured magnetic hollow mesoporous silica (MHMS) nanospheres with controllable magnetic responsibility, high specific surface area, a huge cavity and ink-bottle type mesopores were successfully synthesized in one-step by an electrostatic self-assembly templated approach. The obtained MHMS nanospheres exhibited low cytotoxicity, excellent biocompatibility and potential application in the biomedical field.

Four Ru(II)/Ir(III) metalloligands have been designed and synthesized from polypyridine and bibenzimidazole (BiBzIm) organic ligands, which show strong visible light absorption via metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions. Nd/Yb(III) complexes were further assembled from these Ru(II)/Ir(III) metalloligands, and Ln(III)-centered NIR emissions can be efficiently sensitized by 3MLCT states of the metalloligands in the visible-light region. The energy transfer rates for the complexes are generally in the order Nd > Yb, which is due to the better matching between 3MLCT states of Ru(II)/Ir(III) metalloligands and densely distributed excited states of Nd(III) ions. Long decayed lifetimes on a μs scale and high quantum yields up to 1% are obtained in these lanthanide complexes, suggesting that the Ru(II)/Ir(III) metalloligands can serve as a good visible light harvesting antenna to efficiently sensitize Ln(III)-based NIR luminescence.

A series of novel bivalent β-carbolines with a piperazine group spacer between 3-methylene units were synthesized and evaluated as antitumor agents. The results demonstrated that compounds 7e and 7g exhibited the most potent cytotoxic activities against ten tumor cell lines. Structure–activity relationships analysis indicated that (1) the substituents in positions 1 and 9 of the β-carboline ring played a significant role in modulating the antitumor activity; (2) the introduction of alkyl groups into position-9 of the β-carboline nucleus enhanced their cytotoxic potencies and the butyl substituent was the optimal group. Investigation of the preliminary mechanism of action demonstrated that compound 7g showed obvious anti-angiogenic activity in the in vivo CAM assay, and the potency was similar to that of CA4P (200 μM).

Indoxacarb, the first commercialized pyrazoline-type sodium-channel blocker, is a commonly used insecticide because of high selectivity. To discover sodium-channel blocker with high insecticidal activity, a series of novel indoxacarb analogs were designed and synthesized by judicious structural modifications of the substituent group of C5, C6 in indenone and C′4 in benzene ring. Some analogs exhibited significant insecticidal activities against Spodoptera litura F. and excellent BgNav1-1a channel inhibitory activity. The structure–activity analysis indicated that the presence of strong electron-withdrawing group and decreased steric hindrance of indenone ring (R1, R2) in 5- and 6-position could enhance larvicidal activity and BgNav1-1a channel inhibitory activity.

•A “turn on” fluorescent chemosensor was developed to detect Ag+ ions.•The binding of chemosensor with Ag+ ions forms fluorescent nanoaggregates.•The chemosensor bonds Ag+ ions with a stoichiometric ratio of 1:2.•A 14-fold fluorescence enhancement with a large stokes shift (135 nm) was observed.•A low detection limit of 8.74 × 10−7 M was obtained.A new fast-responsive “turn on” fluorescent sensor for Ag+ was successfully developed by taking advantage of the aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property of tetraphenylethylene motif with a detection limit of 8.74 × 10−7 M. The sensor exhibits highly selective and sensitive recognition toward Ag+ ions over the other 12 metal ions due to the high electrophilic and thiophilic character of Ag+ ions. The 1H NMR titration and dynamic light scattering (DLS) spectra conclude that the binding of the sensor with Ag+ ions forms fluorescent nanoaggregates in aqueous media due to its AIE enhancement. A stoichiometric ratio (1:2) of the sensor and Ag+ was determined by a Job’s plot.

Two metal-free organic sensitizers containing two N,N-diethylaniline (DEA) moieties and a twisted 1,1,2,2-tetraphenylethene (TPE) structure, dye SD with one anchoring group and dye DD with two anchoring groups, were synthesized and applied in dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). The introduction of a nonplanar TPE structure was used to form a series of propeller-like structures and reduce the tendency of dyes to randomly aggregate on TiO2 surface, but without importing an aggregation-induced emission (AIE) property. The thermal stabilities, UV–vis absorption spectra, electrochemical properties, and photovoltaic parameters of DSSCs with these two dyes were systematically studied and compared with each other. The overall conversion efficiencies (η) of 4.56% for dye SD and 6.08% for dye DD were obtained under AM 1.5 G irradiation.

Six β-diketonate ligands were used to prepare the corresponding antenna europium(III) ternary complexes using 1,10-phenanthroline as an ancillary ligand. All the complexes exhibited high decomposition temperatures. Photophysical properties such as FT-IR spectra, UV-Vis absorption spectra, excitation and emission spectra, relative luminescent intensity ratios, luminescence decay curves and quantum yields based on the complexes were systematically studied and compared with each other. The energy-transfer mechanism was proposed as a ligand-sensitized luminescence process. Bright red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were then fabricated by coating the complexes onto 395 nm-emitting InGaN chips. The light emission from the InGaN chips could be completely absorbed in the spectra of LEDs. The Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates are close to the National Television Standard Committee (NTSC) standard value for the red color. All these findings indicate that these Eu(III) complexes are promising red phosphors for fabrication of near UV-based white LEDs.

A new europium(III) ternary complex based on a fluorinated β-diketonate ligand and 1,10-phenanthroline as an ancillary ligand has been prepared and evaluated as a candidate for light-emitting diode (LED). The complex exhibits a high decomposition temperature (316 °C). Photophysical properties such as FT-IR spectra, UV–vis absorption spectra, excitation and emission spectra, luminescence decay curve and quantum yield were investigated. The excitation band is well matched with the characteristic emission of 395 nm-emitting InGaN chips. The complex exhibits an efficient energy transfer pathway from the ligands to the central Eu3+ ion via a ligand-sensitized luminescence process. An intense red-emitting LED was fabricated by coating the complex onto a 395 nm-emitting InGaN chip, and its Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinate (x=0.6389, y=0.3255) is close to the National Television Standard Committee (NTSC) standard value for red color. Meanwhile, the energy transfer from the InGaN chip to the complex is very efficient. All the findings demonstrate the potential application of the Eu(III) complex as red-emitting phosphors for UV-based white LEDs.Highlights► A new europium(III)-β-diketonate complex was synthesized and characterized. ► Thermal stability and photophysical properties were investigated in detail. ► PL mechanism was proposed to involve a ligand-sensitized luminescence process. ► An intense red-emitting LED was fabricated by using the complex. ► CIE chromaticity coordinate is close to NTSC standard value for red color.

Silicon nanowires (SiNWs) with the length of several hundreds of micrometers and an average diameter of 15 nm were successfully synthesized via a thermal-evaporation oxide-assisted process. Then, a convenient method was applied to metallize the SiNWs just by dipping them into an aqueous deposition solution. During the metallization process, which is a redox reaction, gold nanoparticles (NPs) were prepared on SiNWs surface to confine the particle size and prevent agglomeration during the preparation and utilization of gold NPs. The synthesized SiNWs decorated with gold NPs were utilized to modify the glassy carbon electrode. Electrochemical measurements displayed that the modified electrode showed high sensitivity for dopamine (DA) detection.

In this paper, we report the successful synthesis of mesoporous MnO2 nanospheres composed of nanosheets via a facile hydrothermal route without any template. The phase and morphology of the products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The reaction time played an important role in the formation of mesoporous MnO2 nanospheres. The obtained nanospheres showed superior catalytic ability in the degradation reaction of an aqueous solution of Rhodamine B (RhB) in the presence of H2O2. Electrochemical measurements predicted that the mesoporous MnO2 nanosphere-modified electrode showed good electrocatalytic properties for the reduction of H2O2 in alkaline medium, which might have wide application in electrochemical analysis.

Single crystalline α-alumina nanoribbons were synthesized by reacting aluminum with silicon monoxide at high temperature. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM). The intense peaks of XRD pattern indicate that the prepared nanoribbons have a high degree of crystallinity. In the present work, silicon monoxide was used as an oxidant and precursor, which served to control the reaction rate. An interesting morphological evolution that nanoribbons resulted from nanosaws was described, and these novel nanosaws were also carefully characterized.

A series of tetraethynylsilanes (TETS) have been synthesized by reaction of silicon tetrachloride (SiCl4) with Ar–CCLi, which was prepared in situ by treatment of Ar–CCH with n-BuLi. For these TETS thus prepared, their photoactivated insecticidal activities against the 4th-instar larvae of Aedes albopictus (Skuse) were evaluated to enrich the structure–activity relationship. In particular, compound 8 exhibited excellent photoactivated insecticidal activity, the LC50 value was 0.1346 mg L−1 under UV light treatment and the irradiation-generated enhancement in the activity was more than 69.58-fold, thus could be exploitable as ideal analog candidates in the search for new photoactivated insecticide leads.

In this work, yolk–shell structured magnetic hollow mesoporous silica (MHMS) nanospheres with controllable magnetic responsibility, high specific surface area, a huge cavity and ink-bottle type mesopores were successfully synthesized in one-step by an electrostatic self-assembly templated approach. The obtained MHMS nanospheres exhibited low cytotoxicity, excellent biocompatibility and potential application in the biomedical field.

Four Ru(II)/Ir(III) metalloligands have been designed and synthesized from polypyridine and bibenzimidazole (BiBzIm) organic ligands, which show strong visible light absorption via metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) transitions. Nd/Yb(III) complexes were further assembled from these Ru(II)/Ir(III) metalloligands, and Ln(III)-centered NIR emissions can be efficiently sensitized by 3MLCT states of the metalloligands in the visible-light region. The energy transfer rates for the complexes are generally in the order Nd > Yb, which is due to the better matching between 3MLCT states of Ru(II)/Ir(III) metalloligands and densely distributed excited states of Nd(III) ions. Long decayed lifetimes on a μs scale and high quantum yields up to 1% are obtained in these lanthanide complexes, suggesting that the Ru(II)/Ir(III) metalloligands can serve as a good visible light harvesting antenna to efficiently sensitize Ln(III)-based NIR luminescence.

Six β-diketonate ligands were used to prepare the corresponding antenna europium(III) ternary complexes using 1,10-phenanthroline as an ancillary ligand. All the complexes exhibited high decomposition temperatures. Photophysical properties such as FT-IR spectra, UV-Vis absorption spectra, excitation and emission spectra, relative luminescent intensity ratios, luminescence decay curves and quantum yields based on the complexes were systematically studied and compared with each other. The energy-transfer mechanism was proposed as a ligand-sensitized luminescence process. Bright red light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were then fabricated by coating the complexes onto 395 nm-emitting InGaN chips. The light emission from the InGaN chips could be completely absorbed in the spectra of LEDs. The Commission International de I'Eclairage (CIE) chromaticity coordinates are close to the National Television Standard Committee (NTSC) standard value for the red color. All these findings indicate that these Eu(III) complexes are promising red phosphors for fabrication of near UV-based white LEDs.