Agents to combine functions simultaneously are highly needed but still challenging in synergistic therapy. Particularly, capabilities to deplete glutathione (GSH) in tumors and monitor their process are also important. Therefore, platinum(II) metallacycles are prepared by using aggregation-induced emission active ligands. Despite their similar structures, high emission for Mh1 is obtained (PLQY = 49.2%) in solids, but a PLQY of only 6.8% is recorded for Mh2. NIR emission in Mh2 can be turned-on in depleting GSH by releasing emissive ligands. Also, both type I and type II reactive oxygen species (ROS) are obtained in Mh2 nanoparticles. Due to the depletion of GSH and generation of ROS, oxidative stress in immunogenic cell death can be induced. By combining chemotherapy and photoimmunotherapy, synergistic therapy in vivo is obtained for Mh2-NPs to well inhibit the tumor growth, also showing antitumor immune effects in distant tumors. The work here provides some guidelines in designing the multi-functional agents, showing the great potentials in efficient cancer therapy.

Lignin, as one of the most abundant natural aromatic polymers, holds significant promise for high-value applications; however, its inherent dark coloration poses a major constraint for such uses. In this review, we systematically examine the key factors contributing to lignin's color, with a focus on structural alterations during extraction, the formation of chromophores, and the influence of molecular weight and morphology. We then provide a comprehensive overview of current decolorization strategies, including oxidative bleaching, hydroxyl shielding modification, physical methods, and biomass fractionation techniques. This review offers a detailed summary of both the mechanisms underlying lignin coloration and recent advances in decolorization, thereby providing valuable guidance for the optimization of whitening processes and facilitating the advanced utilization of lignin.

Coulomb's law predicts that like-charge ions repel and avoid dimerization. However, a class of dimers between like-charge ions is characterized. The [3,3’-Fe(1,2-C₂B₉H₁₁)₂]⁻ (abbreviated as [o-FESAN]⁻) represents an innovative non-classical inorganic anion apart from hydroxyanions that exhibits anion-anion stabilization via dihydrogen bonding. Experimental methods (nuclear magnetic resonance [NMR], dynamic light scattering [DLS], and X-ray diffraction) and theoretical approaches (density functional theory) reveal that [o-FESAN]⁻ clusters aggregate by overcoming long-range electrostatic repulsion. The synthesis of [H₃O][o-FESAN]•3H₂O and its crystal structure confirm the formation of stabilized anion-anion aggregates, with [H₃O]⁺ counterions residing freely in the channels rather than between the anionic clusters. The structure exhibits the cisoid rotamer, which facilitates the ability of the anionic [o-FESAN]⁻ cluster to form interactions stabilized by dihydrogen bonds (head-to-middle cluster) shorter than the sum of the Van der Waals radii. These shorter bonds are crucial for the formation of anion-anion interactions mediated by dihydrogen bonds. X-ray structures show that anions aggregate in the solid state, overcoming long-range electrostatic repulsion through dihydrogen bonds, which are distinct from the hydrogen bonds commonly observed in anion systems involving highly electronegative elements. Consistent with crystal structure evidence, ¹H NMR, transmission electron microscopy, and DLS confirm [o-FESAN]⁻ anion-anion aggregates in solution. Theoretical calculations support the formation of these anion-anion aggregates, primarily via C_cluster-H···H-B bonds. While individual B-H···H-B interactions are weakly attractive, their cumulative effect significantly enhances aggregate stability. Additionally, the crystal structure of Na(H₂O)₃[o-FESAN] is reported and analyzed, providing further evidence of unconventional interactions stabilized by dihydrogen bonds.

The electronic spectra and luminescence decay measurements at room temperature (RT) and 77 K have been recorded for pristine hexagonal and cubic CsCdCl₃ and for this material doped with Mn²⁺ or Fe³⁺. First-principles calculations have been performed in order to rationalize the results. The RT visible emission broad band of hexagonal CsCdCl₃ is due to [MnCl₆]⁴⁻ emission at two different Cd²⁺ sites. On cooling below RT, the Mn²⁺ emission weakens in intensity, and variable intensity near-ultraviolet emission bands are assigned to spin-orbit coupling mixed singlet and triplet ¹D₂, ³D_3,2,1 (4d⁹5s¹) → ¹A_1g (4d¹⁰) (O_h) transitions at C_3v and D_3d sites of Cd²⁺. Pristine cubic CsCdCl₃ exhibits two weak RT emission bands associated with tetrahedral and octahedral Mn²⁺ impurity. Doping hexagonal CsCdCl₃ with Fe³⁺ does not produce additional visible emissions and leads to quenching of Cd²⁺ emissions below RT. Very weak infrared emission from Fe³⁺ is observed. The thermoluminescence of cubic and hexagonal CsCdCl₃ is weak, but long-lasting persistent luminescence is obtained upon Mn²⁺ doping at a several percent level. Optical applications for anti-counterfeiting and information encryption are suggested.

Diabetic ulcers (DUs), a severe complication of diabetes, are characterized by impaired wound healing and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality. A key pathological driver is the persistent accumulation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which extend inflammation and tissue damage; however, appropriate therapeutic strategies to resolve NETs remain underdeveloped. We engineered a self-assembled nanocomplex, O/DNase-I, through structural and functional integration of oligomerized epigallocatechin gallate (OEGCG) and deoxyribonuclease-I (DNase-I). Its functionality was systematically evaluated in vitro and in a diabetic murine wound model using molecular and histological analyses. The O/DNase-I nanocomplex simultaneously eliminates existing NETs via DNase-I-mediated DNA hydrolysis and suppresses further NET formation through OEGCG. This synergistic action robustly cleared NETs, mitigated pro-inflammatory signaling, and critically, promoted a reparative immune microenvironment by driving M2 macrophage polarization, ultimately accelerating diabetic wound closure in vivo. This study not only validates O/DNase-I as a potent therapeutic approach for diabetic wound management but also establishes a novel supramolecular strategy for targeting dysregulated inflammation, with broad potential applications in other NET-associated pathologies.

Supramolecular aggregates, formed through the highly directional and reversible noncovalent assembly of building blocks, represent a cornerstone of modern materials science, enabling the creation of complex architectures with emergent properties. Among the diverse molecular platforms available, resorcin[4]arene-derived cavitands have emerged as particularly powerful building units due to their intrinsic concave cavity, tunable geometry, and versatile functionalization capacity. This review highlights recent progress in the construction of functional supramolecular aggregates based on resorcin[4]arene cavitands, with a focus on their assembly strategies and wide-ranging applications. The review systematically covers several key types of aggregate systems: porous coordination aggregates (e.g., metal-organic frameworks [MOFs]) with stimuli-responsive properties, dynamic polymeric aggregates exhibiting self-healing behavior, sensing aggregates enabling differential detection, and therapeutic aggregates for combination therapy. These systems are unified by their exploitation of cavitands’ unique host-guest chemistry and their ability to form well-defined superstructures through various noncovalent interactions. We emphasize how the precise manipulation of cavitand structure directs the assembly process and dictates the functional output of the resulting aggregates. Finally, we outline current challenges and future opportunities in this field, highlighting the potential of cavitand-based aggregates to enable next-generation technologies in sensing, catalysis, biomedicine, and energy materials. This review is expected to provide valuable insights and inspiration for researchers working in supramolecular chemistry and aggregate science.

The construction of supramolecular aggregates triggered by macrocycles has become a thriving area of supramolecular chemistry. In this context, resorcinarene cavitands, a class of macrocyclic receptors with intrinsic cavities, have been drawn into the limelight because of their advantages, such as the concave-shaped structure, adjustable cavity size, favorable host-guest behavior, and ease of functionalization. They can induce organic and inorganic molecules to self-assemble into supramolecular aggregates through various bonding modes, including hydrophobic interactions, metal-ligand coordination, van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, π-π stacking, and amphiphilic interactions. This minireview focuses on some representative resorcinarene cavitand-based assembly aggregates, including microporous MOFs, supramolecular polymers, sensor arrays, and multifunctional nanodrugs. Each section highlights recent advancements, structural characteristics, and functional applications of these aggregate systems. This review will provide useful information for researchers working on not only cavitand chemistry but also the chemistry of other macrocyclic hosts, and it will inspire new discoveries in the field of supramolecular assemblies and systems containing macrocyclic hosts.

The hypoxic tumor microenvironment severely limits the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). To overcome this limitation, we designed and synthesized a dual-functional photosensitizer, PorRu, by conjugating a porphyrin unit with a ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complex through a flexible alkyl chain. PorRu is engineered to achieve specific accumulation in HCC cells and “dual-lock” binding with G-quadruplex DNA (G4 DNA). It demonstrated approximately 3–6 folds higher photocytotoxicity against HCC cells compared to its individual components, owing to enhanced tumor targeting and improved Type I photochemical reactivity. Unlike conventional oxygen-dependent PDT, PorRu efficiently generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) under near-infrared irradiation, directly oxidizing guanine bases in G4 DNA and causing extensive oxidative damage under both normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The ROS burst induces severe oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the release of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), ultimately activating the inflammasome and triggering pyroptosis. In vivo studies validated the potent tumor-suppressive capability of PorRu, highlighting its potential to circumvent hypoxia-induced therapy resistance. This work not only presents PorRu as a promising agent for precise HCC targeting but also offers a novel strategy to enhance PDT efficacy against hypoxic tumors.

High-performance circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes (CP-OLEDs) with ultraviolet and deep-blue circularly polarized electroluminescence (CP-EL) are important for 3D displays, but designing short-wavelength circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) materials remains a significant challenge. Herein, a series of ultraviolet and deep-blue CPL materials was developed, successfully integrating high photoluminescence quantum yields with efficient high-level reverse intersystem crossing (hRISC) properties. Efficient ultraviolet and deep-blue CP-OLEDs are created by utilizing these chiral materials as emitters, providing maximum external quantum efficiencies (η_ext,maxs) of 6.7% at 398 nm (full-width at half-maximum [FWHM] = 44 nm) and 10.8% at 454 nm (FWHM = 68 nm) with obvious CP-EL. Furthermore, by adopting these chiral materials as sensitizers or functional layers, well-developed achiral multi-resonance thermally activated delayed fluorescence green and yellow emitters are enabled to generate obvious CP-EL with large dissymmetry factors and excellent EL performance (η_exts = 34.5% and 35.3%, FWHM = 42 and 40 nm). These results demonstrate that the developed new ultraviolet and deep-blue chiral materials can be used not only as emitters for ultraviolet and deep-blue CP-OLEDs, but also as sensitizers and functional layers to furnish a simple and universal way of achieving efficient narrow-spectrum CP-OLEDs with achiral emitters.

Aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens) have become a vital class of functional materials for optoelectronic and biomedical applications. Extending AIE behavior from single-component to two-component systems opens a new avenue for modulating emission through intermolecular interactions, yet it also introduces substantial complexity in understanding and controlling the aggregation process. In particular, elucidating how multicomponent molecular packing governs macroscopic photophysical behavior remains a central challenge. Herein, we constructed four distinct charge-transfer (CT) cocrystals through the coassembly of electron-rich dibenzo-heterocyclic donors and electron-deficient 1,2,4,5-tetracyanobenzene (TCNB) acceptors. The cocrystallization process allows precise manipulation of the dynamic aggregation pathway by tuning the DMSO/H₂O ratio. Intriguingly, the morphology evolves from amorphous aggregates to rod-like and finally to needle-like microcrystals, showing a nonmonotonic size variation with increasing water content, accompanied by a gradual enhancement of fluorescence intensity. The four CT complexes exhibit wide emission tunability from green to orange-red, and notably, the AIE-active DBT/TCNB pair enables a practical demonstration in water-jet rewritable encryption paper. Overall, this work establishes a simple yet effective paradigm for designing high-performance solid-state emitters, while unveiling fundamental principles that govern the controllable molecular assembly in multicomponent luminescent systems.

Confinement effect, by strengthening interactions between structural components, provides an effective strategy for precisely regulating functional units, which is critical for properties associated with microscopic accumulation effects, such as second harmonic generation (SHG) and ferroelectricity. Here, we propose a molecular dipole management strategy through confinement effect to enhance the SHG and ferroelectricity properties in a new hybrid germanium perovskite system. Utilizing the cyclohexylammonium (Cy) cation, we successfully synthesize three polar phases, including one-dimensional (1D) hexagonal (Cy)GeI₃, a step-like two-dimensional (2D) (Cy)₄Ge₃I₁₀ phase, and a 2D (CyF)₂GeI₄ phase (CyF = 4,4-difluorocyclohexanammonium). All three phases exhibit photoresponses, characteristic of semiconductors. The metastable 1D (Cy)GeI₃ phase has the highest local dipole moment (LDM) of 14.07 Debye along the c-axis, resulting in a strong SHG response, and a high octahedral distortion parameter (D_i = 0.10). The step-like 2D (Cy)₄Ge₃I₁₀ phase exhibits ferroelectric properties, where the remanent polarization of 0.34 µC/cm² has been confirmed by PFM and P-E hysteresis loop measurements. To achieve both high phase stability and SHG intensity, we introduce a fluorine group into the organic cation, forming strong C─H···F─C hydrogen bonds that align polar units uniformly, increasing D_i to 0.11. The 2D (CyF)₂GeI₄ phase achieves a high SHG of 4 × KH₂PO₄. Furthermore, its phase transition temperature also increases by 88 K compared to the (Cy)₄Ge₃I₁₀ phase. Raman spectra and DFT calculations further reveal intensified confinement effect in the (CyF)₂GeI₄ phases, consistent with its stronger structural rigidity. Our work provides comprehensive perspective and design strategies for tuning and optimizing hybrid perovskite-based nonlinear optical materials.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world, exhibiting persistently high mortality rates due to delayed diagnosis and imprecise lesion localization. Leveraging the prevalent hypoxic microenvironment characteristic of CRC lesions, this study innovatively developed a PEGylated iridium-based near-infrared (NIR) hypoxia nanoprobe, Ir-PEG. This nanoprobe can be activated in situ under hypoxic conditions, providing high-contrast imaging of colonic lesions, even though the intestine is inherently a low oxygen environment. In vitro evaluation demonstrated that Ir-PEG had excellent oxygen sensitivity, water solubility, and deep tissue penetration capability. These properties enabled Ir-PEG to achieve precise imaging of CRC in the native colonic microenvironment. Remarkably, in both in vitro and in vivo models, Ir-PEG achieved highly sensitive detection of cancer cell populations, and could detect as few as 10⁴ CT26 cells in vivo. In addition, the nanoprobe could successfully identify different tumor types based on differential oxygen consumption rates across various cancer cells, suggesting its potential to identify intratumoral heterogeneity. As a molecular imaging tool, Ir-PEG enabled early non-invasive detection of CRC with high sensitivity and specificity, and holding significant promise for clinical translation.

As environmental concerns and the transition to a carbon-neutral society gain importance, proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) using hydrogen as a fuel have attracted significant attention as eco-friendly energy technology. Although Pt is the primary catalyst for PEMFC anodes, its high cost and limited availability pose major barriers to commercialization. To address these challenges, non-Pt catalysts, alloy catalysts, and core-shell structured catalysts have been extensively studied; nevertheless, performance degradation and structural instability remain significant issues. In this study, we design Pt-lean Pt₁Co₄ alloy nanoparticles encapsulated with an ultrathin carbon shell derived from the carbon sources of the metal precursor ligands. Notably, after synthesizing the carbon-incorporated alloy nanoparticles, heat treatment under a carbon monoxide (CO) atmosphere induces selective surface segregation of Pt atoms due to their strong CO binding affinity, occurring before the carbonization temperature is reached for carbon shell formation, resulting in a Pt-enriched surface structure. The carbon shell imparts a nano-confinement effect that effectively suppresses particle growth and aggregation during heat treatment, thereby significantly enhancing electrochemical stability. Remarkably, despite a 55% reduction in Pt content, the combination of surface segregation and near-surface alloying allows the Pt-lean alloy catalyst to maintain hydrogen oxidation reaction activity comparable to a bare Pt catalyst while providing superior durability. Owing to this dual function of heat treatment, the design of the Pt-lean alloy catalyst structure offers a promising strategy for developing highly efficient and cost-effective anode catalysts for PEMFCs.

Atomically precise metal nanoclusters (MNCs) have emerged as tailorable luminescent materials with visible to near-infrared emission modulated by core (kernel) size, metal composition, and ligand engineering. These ultrasmall clusters exhibit discrete quantum-confined electronic states with strong spin–orbit coupling (SOC), enabling diverse emission pathways. Current research focuses on elucidating emission mechanisms and developing strategies to enhance fluorescence quantum yields. In this review, we emphasize structure–photoluminescence (PL) correlations and the underlying excited-state origins of luminescence: (i) coinage-metal clusters display multiple emissive channels—including prompt fluorescence, room-temperature phosphorescence, and TADF; (ii) the electronic gap and thus emission energy is directly governed by core size and metal identity, with core shrinkage and enhanced SOC generally inducing red-shifts; and (iii) ligand shell properties (identity/rigidity/packing) control charge-transfer pathways and nonradiative decay, while heterometal doping or rigidification modulates state ordering to brighten emission without necessarily shifting band positions. Importantly, many clusters exhibit dual-emission behavior. We propose a coupled core–shell emissive-state model in which one band originates from metal-core excitation and the other from a ligand- or motif-centered charge-transfer state. Finally, we outline future challenges: dissecting core versus shell contributions to PL and boosting quantum efficiency through targeted control of cluster composition and ligand shell. Progress on these fronts is crucial for the rational design of next-generation cluster emitters.

To overcome the limitations of batch-to-batch variations and donor material robustness in polymer solar cells (PSCs), we designed quaternary (H1–H9), ternary (H10–H15), and binary (PM6, PBQ10, PBDS-T) polymer donors via precise monomer ratio modulation. Due to the synergistic coordination among multiple components, the H4-based blend film demonstrated enhanced intermolecular interactions and provides additional low-energy-barrier pathways for efficient charge carrier transport. After blending with L8-BO, the H4-based films displayed a more desirable morphology and effective charge carrier transport than the categories. As a result, the H4:L8-BO-based PSCs achieved impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.66% for binary device and 20.34% for ternary device. Besides, the introduced functional groups disrupt the regularity of the matrix polymer main chain, leading to stable and robust film morphologies. Consequently, the H4:L8-BO-based blend film not only demonstrates improved mechanical robustness, with a crack onset strain (COS) of 17.8%, and maintains a PCE of 16.35% in flexible devices, but also exhibits excellent batch-to-batch stability with significant variations in molecular weight. This work presents a strategy to simultaneously enhance device performance, mechanical robustness, and reproducibility through quaternary copolymerization, enabling controlled crystallinity and additional multichannel charge transport.

Active sites in proteins account for a small proportion but are crucial for their enhanced binding affinity and specificity, making related biomimetic structures a research hotspot. However, current structures greatly depended on rigid inorganic frameworks for high-certainty assembly, which introduced interfering inorganic groups and interactions not present in proteins. To address this, we utilized organic crystal rigidity to achieve high-certainty assembly conformations. Thus periodic active sites at crystal interface can be precisely assembled by pure organic units. Our three-step strategy for designing artificial super-receptors includes: (1) Learning active site model from proteins; (2) Imitating active sites in crystal cell unit; (3) Exceeding natural performance with periodic active sites at the crystal interface. Practically, by mimicking the human dopamine transporter (amphetamine drug receptor), our artificial super-receptor acted as super-sensor. It achieved a limit of detection down to 480 pM, 64,580 times lower than the natural receptor. It also showed revolutionary broad-spectrum specificity for amphetamine drugs, including chiral methamphetamine, ecstasy, and even potential novel amphetamine derivative illicit drugs, allowing active preventing detection for the drug abuse problem. The customized designing strategy was also validated by high dopamine sensitivity (2.8 nM) and selectivity of d-DAT inspired PySO₃H artificial super-receptor. Such strategy can be further extended to other functional proteins for various super-performance, from sensor, catalyst, medicine, agriculture to therapeutic applications, etc.

To overcome the intrinsic drawbacks of conventional viologens, such as slow optical response and poor radical stability, we synthesized a series of viologen derivatives (BTV, NTV, and STV) by incorporating thiazolo[5,4-d]thiazole units into bipyridine cores, followed by N-substitution with benzyl, naphthylmethyl, and propanesulfonate groups. These derivatives self-assemble into donor–acceptor ion-pair charge-transfer organic nanoparticles (IPCT-ONs) that exhibit redshifted UV–Vis absorption and fluorescence emission, thereby extending the visible-light response. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and DFT results confirmed electron transfer from tetraphenylborate anions to viologen moieties. The IPCT-ONs display rapid and reversible photochromism, with distinct color transitions occurring within 30 s under 365 nm irradiation in an Ar atmosphere (BTV/NTV: yellow → green → blue; STV: yellow → purple), which remain effective even when embedded in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films. They demonstrate dual-mode amine sensing, wherein ethylenediamine induces both a colorimetric shift (yellow → blue–violet) and fluorescence quenching at 470 nm, enabling sensitive and selective detection of toxic amines. Additionally, this IPCT nanoparticle platform offers applications in real-time light intensity monitoring, anti-counterfeiting measures, and ink-free printing.

Circularly polarized luminescence (CPL)-active nanoclusters hold great promise for advanced photonic applications, yet the improvement of the |g_lum| has always been the core challenge in this field for a long time. Herein, we report the enantiomeric pairs of homometallic cationic (R/S)-[Ag₂₁(S₂PO₂C₁₇H₁₄)₁₂]⁺ (R/S-Ag₂₁) and heterometallic neutral (R/S)-[PtAg₂₀(S₂PO₂C₁₇H₁₄)₁₂] (R/S-PtAg₂₀) clusters stabilized by a bis-thiophosphinate spiro ligand and featuring eight free electrons. R/S-Ag₂₁ exhibits a single emission with a |g_lum| value of 4.7 × 10⁻⁴, whereas R/S-PtAg₂₀ with only one atom changed exhibits visible-near-infrared (NIR) dual emission CPL behavior, with a visible-light emission |g_lum| value of 6.4 × 10⁻⁴ and an NIR emission |g_lum| value of 1.3 × 10⁻²—among the highest reported for metal clusters. Research has revealed that the luminescence of R/S-PtAg₂₀ originates from two independent triplet excited states: a core-based charge transfer (CT) state and a ligand-to-core CT state, which are bridged by a direct CT process mediated by ligand vibrations. The high |g_lum| value of R/S-PtAg₂₀ in the NIR region stems from the strong correlation between its electronic cloud and the peripheral chiral ligands. Furthermore, guest-induced modulation of ligand rigidity enables tunable emission modes—visible-only, NIR-only, or dual-visible-NIR. This work presents a novel strategy for constructing DECPL-active metal clusters, offering fundamental insights into the design principles governing CPL efficiency and paving the way for multifunctional photonic systems, such as optical encryption.

Protein aggregation is an important pathological feature of cardiovascular disease. Therein, thrombin-mediated fibrin aggregation is one of the mechanisms of thrombosis, accurate monitoring of which is significant for the research of thrombosis. In this study, the optical properties and theoretical calculations confirmed that the AIE probe could specifically illuminate fibrin aggregates without interference, and its signal response was positively correlated with thrombin activity. Therefore, the biosensing technique can realize in situ monitoring of the coagulation process and rapid identification of active substances in complex systems. Furthermore, to detect anticoagulant active monomers, a biosensing targeted affinity screening (BioSTAS) technology was established by combining the above biosensing technique with the affinity chromatography technique. The rapid identification of active substances was achieved through biosensing, and then active monomers were captured by affinity chromatography. As a result, two agents with anticoagulant activity, rhein and oleanolic acid, were discovered via the screening of more than 30 kinds of natural products and commercial preparations. This study not only provides a new idea for the application of AIE probes in the dynamic monitoring of protein aggregation but also establishes an innovative strategy for screening active agents from a complex system through the integration of biosensing and affinity chromatography technologies.

Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) have proven to be highly efficient hole-transporting layers (HTLs) due to their advantages, including low cost, minimal material consumption, ease of synthesis, negligible optical loss, and exceptional stability. Recently, carbazole-based SAM HTLs have considerably improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of organic solar cells (OSCs) and perovskite solar cells (PSCs)—with PCEs reaching 21% and 27%, respectively. This review begins with a concise overview of the chemical structure of SAMs, emphasizing the recent advancements achieved by carbazole-based SAMs in the photovoltaics (PVs) sector. We then systematically summarize the modifications made to the chemical structure of carbazole-based SAMs to optimize their interface dipole, surface wettability, and interface defects. Especially for functional group, the modification techniques are categorized into four main types: methoxylation, conjugation, halogenation, and asymmetrization. Finally, several challenges, including solubility, film quality, and stability, along with potential solutions for these issues are discussed. We hope this review serves as a valuable guide and source of inspiration for the design of SAM HTLs, ultimately enhancing the performance of PV devices.

Intrinsic milk photoluminescence (PL), though empirically observed, remains insufficiently explored in terms of mechanism and application. This work illustrates the general dual-emission characteristics of milk and elucidates their distinct origin: blue emission at 390–460 nm from casein and whey protein aggregates via clustering-triggered emission and yellow-green emission at around 530 nm from riboflavin. Crucially, microbial metabolism during spoilage induces pronounced physicochemical transformations: lactic acid accumulation that drops the pH from 6.69 to 4.79 within 72 h, extensive protein degradation with a 200-fold increase in free proline, and colloidal reorganization from uniform particles to polydisperse aggregates. These changes dynamically modulate PL signatures: early-stage (<12 h) riboflavin decay induces blueshifted emission, while advanced spoilage (24–72 h) disrupts protein aggregation, reducing quantum yield (Φ) by >80% and further blueshifting the emission toward the blue-violet region. Exploiting this correlation, we establish a dual-mode milk freshness assessment strategy: (1) visual colorimetry under 365 nm UV excitation, where fresh milk appears bright yellow-green and spoiled milk turns dim blue, and (2) quantitative (Φ/%) scaling that differentiates fresh samples above 3.5 from spoiled samples below 2.4. Validated against physicochemical benchmarks, this noncontact strategy enables real-time, field-deployable milk quality visualization for supply chain and consumer applications. This study not only reveals the underlying mechanism of milk luminescence but also provides a facile dual-mode approach for rapid quality assessment.

Electrocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds provides a green strategy to produce value-added chemicals from easily accessible molecules with low values at ambient conditions. The low overpotentials of these reactions also make them excellent alternatives to replace the conventional anodic oxygen evolution reaction in water splitting to reduce the electrical energy consumption of the electrolyser and simultaneously realize the co-production of fine chemicals and hydrogen. However, the electrocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds suffers from slow kinetics and complex reaction pathways, which lead to poor catalytic activity and selectivity, hindering its practical applications in green production of value-added chemicals. Recently, intermetallic compound (IMC) nanomaterials have shown great promise as catalysts for electrocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds. Their atomically ordered structures enable the precise control over the configurations of active sites, making it feasible to finely modulate the adsorption of reactants and intermediates on catalyst surface for achieving high electrocatalytic performance. This review provides a brief overview of the development of IMC nanomaterials as catalysts for electrocatalytic oxidation of organic compounds to produce value-added chemicals. The main strategies for preparing IMC nanomaterials are summarized, followed by an overview of their applications in electrocatalytic oxidation of furan compounds, glycerol, and plastic waste. Besides, the hybrid water splitting systems coupling electrocatalytic oxidation reactions with hydrogen evolution reaction utilizing IMC nanomaterials as catalysts are also highlighted. Finally, the existing challenges and future research opportunities in this research area are discussed.

Muscle contraction and cellular motility depend on the complex interplay between myosin, actin, and associated proteins. Disruptions in these interactions are linked to various human diseases, including muscular dystrophies and cardiac conditions. In this study, we developed a tissue-extraction protocol to purify the actin–tropomyosin–myosin (ATM) complex and filamentous actin (F-actin) directly from human and mouse left ventricles, as well as from rat skeletal muscles. Utilizing cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we resolved the structures of the ATM complexes and F-actin derived from these tissues. Additionally, we extracted ATM complexes from mice carrying the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) mutation R404Q and demonstrated how this mutation alters the formation of ATM complexes and the structural configuration in myosin. Our approach offers a general method for isolating intact ATM complexes directly from various mammalian tissues, providing insights into the structural basis of ATM complex formation and regulation in muscle function and disease.

The Aβ peptide contributes to Alzheimer's disease through various mechanisms, including cell membrane disruption. While the fibrillar structure of Aβ_1–42 in aqueous medium has been elucidated, its oligomer structure remains elusive. We have combined Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), solid-state NMR (ssNMR), and molecular dynamics (MD) approaches to achieve a structural model for Aβ_1–42 octamer in lipid bilayers. FTIR data identify conformational transitions of Aβ_1–42 to a stable β-sheet structure. ssNMR analysis allows assignment of 38 out of 42 Aβ_1–42 residues, with three additional inter-residue contacts to define the tertiary fold. Combined, MD simulations produce a structural model of Aβ_1–42 octamers in a novel sushi-roll fold of in-register cross-β motif with a lipid-filled internal cavity. The membrane-embedded structure of Aβ_1–42 and the mode of peptide-lipid interactions provide a better understanding of Aβ neurotoxicity.

Photodynamic immunotherapy holds great promise in tumor treatment by activating immune memory to surveil and eradicate recurrent/metastatic tumor cells. However, its efficacy against hypoxic solid tumors remains significantly limited due to oxygen dependency, apoptosis resistance, and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). Herein, a facile strategy of anion-π⁺ interactions was proposed to fabricate Type I photosensitizers (PSs) to achieve ferroptosis-driven photodynamic immunotherapy against hypoxic solid tumors. By introducing anion-π⁺ interaction, aggregation-induced emission (AIE)-active TMTPA with near-infrared emission was developed and encapsulated into nanoparticles (NPs). Under 635 nm laser irradiation, TMTPA NPs demonstrated superior Type I reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and exceptional mitochondrial targeting, causing lipid peroxidation accumulation and triggering ferroptosis. This further promoted dendritic cell (DC) maturation and stimulated T cell proliferation, thereby amplifying systemic antitumor immunity. Ultimately, TMTPA NPs achieved 86% inhibition of the primary tumor and effective suppression of lung metastasis. This work presents a novel anion-π⁺ Type I PS that induces ferroptosis and reprograms the immunosuppressive TME, offering a promising strategy for combating hypoxic solid tumors.

Although alkyne-based polymerizations have significant potential for advanced materials, achieving efficient and spatiotemporally controlled polymerizations under mild, additive-free conditions remains a challenge. In this work, we report a facile light-induced click polymerization between activated alkynes and 2-methylbenzaldehydes (o-MBAS). This polymerization can be completed within 1 h at room temperature without any catalysts or additives, and features high atom economy, spatiotemporal controllability, and operational simplicity. Under optimized conditions, a series of soluble and thermally stable poly(naphthalene)s, poly(anthracene), and poly(phenanthrene) with high molecular weights (M_w up to 46,800 Da) were obtained in excellent yields (up to 99%). The resulting polymers exhibit outstanding photophysical properties. The poly(anthracene) can specifically label lipid droplets in cells. In addition, introducing the tetraphenylethylene (TPE) moiety into the polymer backbones endows the resultant polymers with unique aggregation-induced emission (AIE) properties, enabling the preparation of fluorescent patterns. Moreover, the precise spatiotemporal nature of this polymerization also supports the fabrication of well-defined 2D and 3D polymer architectures. This work not only expands the scope of alkyne-based polymerizations but also provides a useful and flexible platform for the spatiotemporally controlled synthesis of polymers.

As a vital component of innate immunity, the cGAS-STING pathway has attracted widespread attention in cancer therapy, among which Mn²⁺ has emerged as a promising antitumor agent. Combining cGAS-STING agonists with chemotherapy or cancer vaccines represents an effective strategy to enhance their therapeutic efficacy. In this study, we construct simple manganese chloride nanosheets (MnCl₂ NSs) that achieve combined effects resembling those of cGAS-STING activation, chemotherapy, and in situ vaccination without requiring additional drugs or energy input. The synthesized MnCl₂ NSs release high concentrations of Mn²⁺ into tumor cells, causing a storm of Mn²⁺. Through the combined effects of osmotic pressure, chemodynamic therapy (CDT), and cGAS-STING activation, they significantly enhance the cytotoxicity of MnCl₂ and induce DNA damage, thereby achieving chemotherapy-like combined therapeutic effects. Concurrently, tumor cells undergo PANoptosis, leading to the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and tumor antigens, which effectively generate an in situ tumor vaccine, ultimately activating both innate (cGAS-STING) and adaptive (PANoptosis) immune responses. Our study proposes a novel strategy to synergistically enhance immunotherapy by inducing tumor cell PANoptosis while concurrently activating the cGAS-STING pathway, offering valuable guidance for the design of immunotherapeutic nanomaterials.

Copper is one of the most abundant and less toxic transition metals in nature, which exhibits rich oxidation states and versatile catalytic activity using O₂ as an oxidant. To date, enormous efforts in crystallographic and spectroscopic analyses have explicitly disclosed the pivotal role of polynuclear copper aggregates in the biological and organocatalytic redox processes. Notably, most biological Cu–O active sites often have unsymmetrical coordination environments for each copper ion, which finally account for the differentiated redox properties and biological functions. Inspired by the structural biology advances, numerous synthetic model complexes as enzyme mimics and organocatalytic active species have been established to identify enzymatic reaction intermediates and clarify the catalytic mechanisms. However, those synthetic models often show identical or similar coordination environments for individual copper ions because of the extensive application of synthetically accessible symmetrical ligands. In this Perspective, we endeavor to summarize the composition and structural details of Cu–O active species in several important copper-containing enzymes and pay special attention to the coordination environments of individual copper ions therein. Mechanistic studies on the biased functions of individual copper centers and the cooperative effect among them have been comprehensively surveyed. Recent progress of the synthetic Cu–O model complexes with unsymmetrical coordination environments, including the distinctive bi-cluster [alkynyl–copper–oxygen] aggregate, is discussed in detail to clarify the distinctive structure–property relationship of nonequivalent copper ions. We hope that this Perspective reiterates the unsymmetrical structural features of polynuclear copper aggregates in copper-catalytic systems and highlights the unique effect of coordination unequivalence in redox process, and provides new inspiration for the rational design of novel multimetallic catalysts.