Polyiodo Azole-Based Metal-Organic Framework Energetic Biocidal Material for Synergetic Sterilization Applications.

Biological hazards caused by bacteria, viruses, and toxins have become a major survival and development issue facing the international community. However, the traditional method of disinfection and sterilization is helpless in dealing with viruses that spread quickly and are highly infectious. Metal-organic framework (MOF) biocidal materials hold promise as superior alternatives to traditional sterilization materials because of their stable framework structures and unique properties. Now, we demonstrate for the first time the synthesis of a MOF (TIBT-Cu) containing Cu metal centers and tetraiodo-4,4'-bi-1,2,4-triazole as the main ligand. This novel MOF biocidal material has good thermal stability (Td = 278 °C), excellent mechanical sensitivity, and a high bacteriostatic efficiency (>99.90%). Additionally, the particles produced by the combustion of TIBT-Cu are composed of active iodine substances and CuO particles, which can act synergistically against harmful microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses. This study provides a new perspective for the preparation of highly effective bactericidal materials.

Organic/Organic Cathode Bi-Interlayers Based on a Water-Soluble Nonconjugated Polymer and an Alcohol-Soluble Conjugated Polymer for High Efficiency Inverted Polymer Solar Cells.

In this work, organic/organic cathode bi-interlayers based on a water-soluble nonconjugated polymer PDMC and an alcohol-soluble conjugated polymer PFN were introduced to modifythe ITO cathode for inverted polymer solar cells (PSCs). PDMC with ultrahigh molecular weight would facilitate to form strong adsorption on the ITO substrate, while PFN could provide both compatibly interfacial contacts with the bottom PDMC interlayer and the upper organic active layer. The PDMC/PFN cathode bi-interlayers could decrease work function of the ITO cathode to 3.8 eV, supplying the most efficient ohmic interfacial contacts for electron collection at the ITO cathode. With a PTB7:PC71BM blend as the active layer, inverted PSCs based on the PDMC/PFN cathode bi-interlayers showed the highest efficiency of 9.01% and the best air stability within 60 days if compared with devices based on a separate PDMC or PFN cathode interlayer. The results suggest that the PDMC/PFN cathode bi-interlayers would play an important role to achieve high efficiency and stable inverted PSCs.