Fulgide Derivative-Based Solid-State Reversible Fluorescent Switches for Advanced Optical Memory

Solid-state fluorescent switches with reversible luminescence characteristics have attracted considerable attention because of their broad applications in advanced photonics,such as anticounterfeiting inks,optical writing and erasing,and biological imaging.Herein,we have fabricated a solid-state reversible fluorescent switch under alternating UV(365 nm)and visible light treatments based on a fulgide(FUL)-functionalized tetraphenylethylene(TPE)derivative(TPE-FUL)containing a photochromic group FUL and aggregation-induced emission(AIE)luminogen TPE.TPE-FUL exhibited excellent reversible absorption and luminescence owing to the interconversion between open TPE-FUL(O-TPE-FUL)and closed TPE-FUL(C-TPE-FUL).Photophysical and theoretical investigations revealed that the luminescence of O-TPE-FUL is based on the local excited state of the TPE moiety,whereas the fluorescence quenching of C-TPE-FUL originates from the intramolecular charge transfer from the TPE to the FUL moiety.The excellent reversible photoswitching properties of TPE-FUL in the solid state allows for its potential use in advanced optical memory applications,such as anticounterfeiting,optical writing and erasing,and information encryption.

A Stiffness-Tunable Composite with Wide Versatility and Applicability Based on Low-Melting-Point Alloys

Flexible materials are essential in bionic fields such as soft robots.However,the lack of stiffness limits the mechanical performance of soft robots and makes them difficult to develop in many extreme working conditions,such as lifting and excavation operations.To address this issue,we prepared a stiffness-tunable composite by dispersing low-melting-point alloy into thermosetting epoxy resin.A dramatic and rapid change in stiffness was achieved by changing the state of matter at lower temperatures,and accurate control of the composite modulus was achieved by controlling the temperature.When the alloy content is at 30vol%,the tensile modulus changes 41.6 times,while the compressive modulus changes 58.9 times.By applying the composite to a flexible actuator,the initial stiffness of the actuator was improved by 124 times,reaching 332 mN/mm.In addition,the use of stiffness-tunable materials in the wheel allowed for timely changes in the grounding area to improve friction.These flexible materials with manageable mechanical properties have wide applicability in fields including bionics,robotics,and sensing.Our findings provide a new approach to designing and developing flexible materials with improved stiffness and controllability.

Polymeric Complex Nanoparticles Enable the Fabrication of Mechanically Superstrong and Recyclable Poly(aryl ether sulfone)-based Polymer Composites

It is a long-term pursuit,and also,a challenge to significantly improve the mechanical strength of thermoplastic polymers using readily dispersed polymers as nanofillers.In this study,we demonstrated that in situ formed carboxylic acid-functionalized poly(aryl ether sulfone)(PAES-COOH)/polyvinylpyrrolidone(PVPON)complex nanoparticles can significantly enhance the mechanical strength of PAES-COOH by mixing PAES-COOH with a small fraction of PVPON.The PAES-COOH/PVPON10%composite,which contained∼10 wt%PVPON,exhibited a tensile strength of∼104.8 MPa and Young’s modulus of∼932.2 MPa,which were∼2.0 and∼1.7 times higher than those of the PAES-COOH,respectively.The PAES-COOH/PVPON nanoparticles which were uniformly dispersed in PAES-COOH matrices and had strong hydrogen-bonding interactions with PAES-COOH,served as nanofillers to reinforce the mechanical strength of the PAES-COOH.The PAES-COOH/PVPON_(10%)composites possessed excellent solvent-assisted healability,and the fractured composites could be healed to restore their original mechanical strength.Meanwhile,the PAES-COOH/PVPON_(10%)composites could be recycled multiple times,and yet retained their shape integration and their original mechanical strength.

Precise Detection and Visualization of Cyclooxygenase-2 for Golgi Imaging by a Light-Up AggregationInduced Emission-Based Probe

Precision-targeted detection of cancer in a rapid and sensitive fashion remains a significant challenge in prevention,management,and in particular,treatment.Herein,we have designed and synthesized a unique cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2)fluorescence probe,dimethylamine-9,10-distyrylanthracene-indomethacin(NDSA-IMC),that could visualize the site of highly expressed COX-2 in the Golgi apparatus of cancer cells,using 9,10-diatyrylanthracene derivative as the luminous unit and a selective inhibitor,indomethacin(IMC),as the recognizing moiety for COX-2.In an aqueous solution,the free state NDSA-IMC showed a weak emission in the absence of COX-2 but enhanced emission in the presence of the enzyme due to the restriction of intramolecular motion of aggregation-induced emission-active NDSA-IMC when bound to COX-2.Cell imaging and flow cytometry experiments indicated that NDSA-IMC could discriminate between cancer and normal cells and visualize the Golgi apparatus of cancer cells via specific targeting of COX-2.Therefore,NDSA-IMC might potentially detect early cancer lesions and ultimately mitigate the population of cancer burden in society.