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A huge interest shows that optical contrast agents to probe biological specimen both functionally and structurally with deeper action depth and better spatial resolution is closely related with the development of near-infrared (NIR) light excitation and nonlinear optics and new imaging methods. This review will go beyond the state-of-the-art by revisiting the up-to-date progress in developing smart NIR-to-NIR and upconverted nanomaterials for in vivo bioapplications. The latest advances in the development of novel NIR-to-NIR linear and nonlinear optical nanomaterials and their potential applications in cancer targeting, diagnosis and therapeutics and deep-tissue imaging are described.
We demonstrate full-color reflection with first- and second-order Bragg reflections in a GO dispersion, and we use two fundamental approaches to manipulate GO photonic crystals, namely, bottom-up and top-down manipulation by controlling the Debye length and using shear or surface fields, respectively. Direct observation of the GO alignments using confocal microscopy reveals excellent layer-to-layer packing assembly and poor in-layer assembly, elucidating the nematic nature of GO rather than its lamellar mesophase. In addition, modulations of the local GO density and alignment enable us to demonstrate full-range color paintings, including chromatic and achromatic colors.
Stretchable resistive memories were created using donor–acceptor rod-coil diblock copolymers, poly(polyfluorene)-b-poly(pendent isoindigo), with different block ratios. Reliable and reproducible electrical characteristics of volatile SRAM- and nonvolatile WORM-type memories were exhibited under applied tensile strains ranging from 0 to 50 %, demonstrating the potential to serve as promising candidates for high-performance wearable devices.
Photo-patternable and transparent cellulose hybrid films as flexible and stretchable substrates exhibit outstanding mechanical, optical and thermal properties. Exploiting the photo-patternability of the hybrid film, reversibly foldable and stretchable forms of the substrate can be produced by integrating patterns of this hybrid film with elastomeric joints. Flexible touchscreen panels and transparent organic light-emitting diodes using hybrid films are demonstrated.
Multilevel structured porous polymer particles, consisting of submicron hollow cavities and crosslinked shell with interconnected mesopores, are specially designed, prepared and served as super-adsorbent materials. As a proof of concept, we applied the carboxylate-functionalized hollow particles as selective adsorbent for the removal of basic dye methylene blue. Because of their extremely high functional group density and unique strucutre, the as-designed particles show super adsorption capacity (1603 mg g−1 for methylene blue), ultra fast adsorption/desorption rates, facile separation and easy regeneration.
Strong correlation between the local strain state and the electronic properties at orthorhombic–rhombohedral (O-R) phase boundaries in mixed-phase BFO thin films leads to electronic conductivity at these boundaries. This rather unusual electrical feature might find applications in nanotechnology.
Three kinds of Ni3S2 nanostructures, namely Ni3S2 nanorods, Ni3S2 nanosheet@nanorods and Ni3S2 multi-connected nanorods were prepared using a one-step hydrothermal process via controlling the temperature. Owing to the good mechanical adhesion and electrical connection with the substrate, high contact area with the electrolyte and alleviated structural pulverization during the ion insertion/desertion process, Ni3S2 nanosheet-onto-Ni3S2 nanorods exhibited excellent rate capability and cycling stability. Asymmetric supercapacitor consisting of Ni3S2 nanosheet @nanorods electrode and activated carbon (AC) electrode displayed a volumetric energy density of 1.96 mWh cm−3, which can be used to bridge the performance gap between thin-film Li batteries and commercial AC//AC supercapacitors.
