Designing a Novel Wide Bandgap Small Molecule Guest for Enhanced Stability and Morphology Mediation in Ternary Organic Solar Cells with over 19.3% Efficiency.

In this study, a novel wide-bandgap small molecule guest material, ITOA, designed and synthesized for fabricating efficient ternary organic solar cells (OSCs) ITOA complements the absorbance of the PM6:Y6 binary system, exhibiting strong crystallinity and modest miscibility. ITOA optimizes the morphology by promoting intensive molecular packing, reducing domain size, and establishing a preferred vertical phase distribution. These features contribute to improved and well-balanced charge transport, suppressed carrier recombination, and efficient exciton dissociation. Consequently, a significantly enhanced efficiency of 18.62% for the ternary device is achieved, accompanied by increased short-circuit current density (JSC), fill factor (FF), and open-circuit voltage (VOC). Building on this success, replacing Y6 with BTP-eC9 leads to an outstanding PCE of 19.33% for the ternary OSCs. Notably, the introduction of ITOA expedites the formation of the optimized morphology, resulting in an impressive PCE of 18.04% for the ternary device without any postprocessing. Moreover, the ternary device exhibits enhanced operational stability under maximum power point (MPP) tracking. This comprehensive study demonstrates that a rationally designed guest molecule can optimize morphology, reduce energy loss, and streamline the fabrication process, essential for achieving high efficiency and stability in OSCs, paving the way for practical commercial applications.

"Functional connector" strategy on tunable organo-vermiculites: The superb adsorption towards Congo Red.

With the increasingly worldwide concentration of environmental pollution, exploiting cost-effective adsorbents has been a research hotspot. Here we introduce novel "functional connector" amide-containing gemini surfactants (LDAB, LDAPP, LDAMP and LDABP) and apply to modify Na-vermiculite (Na-Vt) for Congo red (CR) removal. Chain amide as the functional connector in the modifier, increases 6.9 times of CR uptake than traditional organo-Vts, which is further enhanced by tunning the functional group of modifier spacers. Superb uptake of CR on organo-Vts reaches 1214.05, 1375.47 and 1449.80 mg/g, and the removal efficiencies achieve 80.94%, 91.70% and 96.65% on LDAB-Vt, LDAPP-Vt and LDAMP-Vt, respectively. Notably, the maximum experimental adsorption capacity of LDAPP-Vt is 1759.64 mg/g. These experimental values are among the highest reported CR adsorbents. A combination experimental and theoretical analysis is conducted to unveil the structure-adsorptivity relationship: (i) Adsorptivity enhancement of organo-Vts is more effectively by regulating functional chains than the functional spacer. (ii) para-substituted aromatic spacers own the best adsorptive configuration and strongest stability for π-π interaction. (iii) π-π interaction provided by isolated aromatic ring is stronger than biphenyl, whose steric hindrance depresses the adsorptivity. Results in this study not only explain a new "functional connector" strategy to Vt-based adsorbents, but also provide a practical designing strategy for organic adsorbents characterized with high uptake capacity.

In Situ Synthesis of Ni-BTC Metal-Organic Framework@Graphene Oxide Composites for High-Performance Supercapacitor Electrodes.

In response to serious ecological and environmental problems worldwide, a novel graphene oxide (GO) induction method for the in situ synthesis of GO/metal organic framework (MOF) composites (Ni-BTC@GO) for supercapacitors with excellent performance is presented in this study. For the synthesis of the composites, 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid (BTC) is used as an organic ligand due to its economic advantages. The optimum amount of GO is determined by a comprehensive analysis of morphological characteristics and electrochemical tests. 3D Ni-BTC@GO composites show a similar spatial structure to that of Ni-BTC, revealing that Ni-BTC could provide an effective framework and avoid GO aggregation. The Ni-BTC@GO composites have a more stable electrolyte-electrode interface and an improved electron transfer route than pristine GO and Ni-BTC. The synergistic effects of GO dispersion and Ni-BTC framework on electrochemical behavior are determined, where Ni-BTC@GO 2 achieves the best performance in energy storage performance. Based on the results, the maximum specific capacitance is 1199 F/g at 1 A/g. Ni-BTC@GO 2 has an excellent cycling stability of 84.47% after 5000 cycles at 10 A/g. Moreover, the assembled asymmetric capacitor exhibits an energy density of 40.89 Wh/kg at 800 W/kg, and it still remains at 24.44 Wh/kg at 7998 W/kg. This material is expected to contribute to the design of excellent GO-based supercapacitor electrodes.

Organo-Vermiculites Modified by Aza-Containing Gemini Surfactants: Efficient Uptake of 2-Naphthol and Bromophenol Blue.

To explore the effect of spacer structure on the adsorption capability of organo-vermiculites (organo-Vts), a series of aza-containing gemini surfactants (5N, 7N and 8N) are applied to modify Na-vermiculite (Na-Vt). Large interlayer spacing, strong binding strength and high modifier availability are observed in organo-Vts, which endow them with superiority for the adsorption of 2-naphthol (2-NP) and bromophenol blue (BPB). The maximum adsorption capacities of 5N-Vt, 7N-Vt and 8N-Vt toward 2-NP/BPB are 142.08/364.49, 156.61/372.65 and 146.50/287.90 mg/g, respectively, with the adsorption processes well fit by the PSO model and Freundlich isotherm. The quicker adsorption equilibrium of 2-NP than BPB is due to the easier diffusion of smaller 2-NP molecules into the interlayer space of organo-Vts. Moreover, stable regeneration of 7N-Vt is verified, with feasibility in the binary-component system that is demonstrated. A combination of theoretical simulation and characterization is conducted to reveal the adsorption mechanism; the adsorption processes are mainly through partition processes, electrostatic interaction and functional interactions, in which the spacer structure affects the interlayer environment and adsorptive site distribution, whereas the adsorbate structure plays a role in the diffusion process and secondary intermolecular interactions. The results of this study demonstrate the versatile applicability of aza-based organo-Vts targeted at the removal of phenols and dyes as well as provide theoretical guidance for the structural optimization and mechanistic exploration of organo-Vt adsorbents.

Architecting Nanostructured Co-BTC@GO Composites for Supercapacitor Electrode Application.

Herein, we present an innovative graphene oxide (GO)-induced strategy for synthesizing GO-based metal-organic-framework composites (Co-BTC@GO) for high-performance supercapacitors. 1,3,5-Benzene tricarboxylic acid (BTC) is used as an inexpensive organic ligand for the synthesis of composites. An optimal GO dosage was ascertained by the combined analysis of morphology characterization and electrochemical measurement. The 3D Co-BTC@GO composites display a microsphere morphology similar to that of Co-BTC, indicating the framework effect of Co-BTC on GO dispersion. The Co-BTC@GO composites own a stable interface between the electrolyte and electrodes, as well as a better charge transfer path than pristine GO and Co-BTC. A study was conducted to determine the synergistic effects and electrochemical behavior of GO content on Co-BTC. The highest energy storage performance was achieved for Co-BTC@GO 2 (GO dosage is 0.02 g). The maximum specific capacitance was 1144 F/g at 1 A/g, with an excellent rate capability. After 2000 cycles, Co-BTC@GO 2 maintains outstanding life stability of 88.1%. It is expected that this material will throw light on the development of supercapacitor electrodes that hold good electrochemical properties.