H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in organic solar cells

As H-and J-aggregation receive more and more attention in the research of organic solar cells(OSCs),especially in small molecular systems,deep understanding of aggregation behavior is needed to guide the design of conjugated small molecular structure and the fabrication process of OSC device.For this end,this review is written.Here,the review firstly introduced the basic information about H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in OSCs.Then,the characteristics of H-and J-aggregation and the methods to identify them were summarized.Next,it reviewed the research progress of H-and J-aggregation of conjugated small molecules in OSCs,including the factors influencing H-and J-aggregation in thin film and the effects of H-and J-aggregation on OPV performance.

Optimal and robust control of population transfer in asymmetric quantum-dot molecules

We present an optimal and robust quantum control method for efficient population transfer in asymmetric double quantum-dot molecules.We derive a long-duration control scheme that allows for highly efficient population transfer by accurately controlling the amplitude of a narrow-bandwidth pulse.To overcome fluctuations in control field parameters,we employ a frequency-domain quantum optimal control theory method to optimize the spectral phase of a single pulse with broad bandwidth while preserving the spectral amplitude.It is shown that this spectral-phase-only optimization approach can successfully identify robust and optimal control fields,leading to efficient population transfer to the target state while concurrently suppressing population transfer to undesired states.The method demonstrates resilience to fluctuations in control field parameters,making it a promising approach for reliable and efficient population transfer in practical applications.

Graphene effectively activating "dead" water molecules between manganese dioxide layers in potassium-ion battery

Aqueous potassium-ion batteries(APIBs),recognized as safe and reliable new energy devices,are considered as one of the alternatives to traditional batteries.Layered MnO_(2),serving as the main cathode,exhibits a lower specific capacity in aqueous electrolytes compared to organic systems and operates through a different reaction mechanism.The application of highly conductive graphene may effectively enhance the capacity of APIBs but could complicate the potassium storage environment.In this study,a MnO_(2) cathode pre-intercalated with K~+ions and grown on graphene(KMO@rGO) was developed using the microwave hydrothermal method for APIBs.KMO@rGO achieved a specific capacity of 90 mA h g^(-1) at a current density of 0.1 A g^(-1),maintaining a capacity retention rate of>90% after 5000 cycles at 5 A g^(-1).In-situ and exsitu characterization techniques revealed the energy-storage mechanism of KMO@rGO:layered MnO_(2)traps a large amount of "dead" water molecules during K~+ions removal.However,the introduction of graphene enables these water molecules to escape during K~+ ions insertion at the cathode.The galvanostatic intermittent titration technique and density functional theory confirmed that KMO@rGO has a higher K~+ions migration rate than MnO_(2).Therefore,the capacity of this cathode depends on the interaction between dead water and K~+ions during the energy-storage reaction.The optimal structural alignment between layered MnO_(2) and graphene allows electrons to easily flow into the external circuit.Rapid charge compensation forces numerous low-solvent K~+ions to displace interlayer dead water,enhancing the capacity.This unique reaction mechanism is unprecedented in other aqueous battery studies.

Role of self-assembled molecules’anchoring groups for surface defect passivation and dipole modulation in inverted perovskite solar cells

Inverted perovskite solar cells have gained prominence in industrial advancement due to their easy fabrication,low hysteresis effects,and high stability.Despite these advantages,their efficiency is currently limited by excessive defects and poor carrier transport at the perovskite-electrode interface,particularly at the buried interface between the perovskite and transparent conductive oxide(TCO).Recent efforts in the perovskite community have focused on designing novel self-assembled molecules(SAMs)to improve the quality of the buried interface.However,a notable gap remains in understanding the regulation of atomic-scale interfacial properties of SAMs between the perovskite and TCO interfaces.This understanding is crucial,particularly in terms of identifying chemically active anchoring groups.In this study,we used the star SAM([2-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)ethyl]phosphonic acid)as the base structure to investigate the defect passivation effects of eight common anchoring groups at the perovskite-TCO interface.Our findings indicate that the phosphonic and boric acid groups exhibit notable advantages.These groups fulfill three key criteria:they provide the greatest potential for defect passivation,exhibit stable adsorption with defects,and exert significant regulatory effects on interface dipoles.Ionized anchoring groups exhibit enhanced passivation capabilities for defect energy levels due to their superior Lewis base properties,which effectively neutralize local charges near defects.Among various defect types,iodine vacancies are the easiest to passivate,whereas iodine-substituted lead defects are the most challenging to passivate.Our study provides comprehensive theoretical insights and inspiration for the design of anchoring groups in SAMs,contributing to the ongoing development of more efficient inverted perovskite solar cells.

Critical Solvation Structures Arrested Active Molecules for Reversible Zn Electrochemistry

Aqueous Zn-ion batteries(AZIBs)have attracted increasing attention in next-generation energy storage systems due to their high safety and economic.Unfortunately,the side reactions,dendrites and hydrogen evolution effects at the zinc anode interface in aqueous electrolytes seriously hinder the application of aqueous zinc-ion batteries.Here,we report a critical solvation strategy to achieve reversible zinc electrochemistry by introducing a small polar molecule acetonitrile to form a“catcher”to arrest active molecules(bound water molecules).The stable solvation structure of[Zn(H_(2)O)_(6)]^(2+)is capable of maintaining and completely inhibiting free water molecules.When[Zn(H_(2)O)_(6)]^(2+)is partially desolvated in the Helmholtz outer layer,the separated active molecules will be arrested by the“catcher”formed by the strong hydrogen bond N-H bond,ensuring the stable desolvation of Zn^(2+).The Zn||Zn symmetric battery can stably cycle for 2250 h at 1 mAh cm^(-2),Zn||V_(6)O_(13) full battery achieved a capacity retention rate of 99.2%after 10,000 cycles at 10 A g^(-1).This paper proposes a novel critical solvation strategy that paves the route for the construction of high-performance AZIBs.

Large-scale interplant exchange of macromolecules between soybean and dodder under nutrient stresses

Parasitic plants and their hosts communicate through haustorial connections.Nutrient deficiency is a common stress for plants,yet little is known about whether and how host plants and parasites communicate during adaptation to such nutrient stresses.In this study,we used transcriptomics and proteomics to analyze how soybean(Glycine max)and its parasitizing dodder(Cuscuta australis)respond to nitrate and phosphate deficiency(-N and-P).After-N and-P treatment,the soybean and dodder plants exhibited substantial changes of transcriptome and proteome,although soybean plants showed very few transcriptional responses to-P and dodder did not show any transcriptional changes to either-N or-P.Importantly,large-scale interplant transport of mRNAs and proteins was detected.Although the mobile mRNAs only comprised at most 0.2%of the transcriptomes,the foreign mobile proteins could reach 6.8%of the total proteins,suggesting that proteins may be the major forms of interplant communications.Furthermore,the interplant mobility of macromolecules was specifically affected by the nutrient regimes and the transport of these macromolecules was very likely independently regulated.This study provides new insight into the communication between host plants and parasites under stress conditions.

Emerging molecules,tools,technology,and future of surgical knife in gastroenterology

The 21^(st) century has started with several innovations in the medical sciences,with wide applications in health care management.This development has taken in the field of medicines(newer drugs/molecules),various tools and technology which has completely changed the patient management including abdominal surgery.Surgery for abdominal diseases has moved from maximally invasive to minimally invasive(laparoscopic and robotic)surgery.Some of the newer medicines have its impact on need for surgical intervention.This article focuses on the development of these emerging molecules,tools,and technology and their impact on present surgical form and its future effects on the surgical intervention in gastroenterological diseases.

Therapies for Tau-associated neurodegenerative disorders:targeting molecules,synapses,and cells

Advances in experimental and computational technologies continue to grow rapidly to provide novel avenues for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. Despite this, there remain only a handful of drugs that have shown success in late-stage clinical trials for Tau-associated neurodegenerative disorders. The most commonly prescribed treatments are symptomatic treatments such as cholinesterase inhibitors and N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor blockers that were approved for use in Alzheimer's disease. As diagnostic screening can detect disorders at earlier time points, the field needs pre-symptomatic treatments that can prevent, or significantly delay the progression of these disorders(Koychev et al., 2019). These approaches may be different from late-stage treatments that may help to ameliorate symptoms and slow progression once symptoms have become more advanced should early diagnostic screening fail. This mini-review will highlight five key avenues of academic and industrial research for identifying therapeutic strategies to treat Tau-associated neurodegenerative disorders. These avenues include investigating(1) the broad class of chemicals termed “small molecules”;(2) adaptive immunity through both passive and active antibody treatments;(3) innate immunity with an emphasis on microglial modulation;(4) synaptic compartments with the view that Tau-associated neurodegenerative disorders are synaptopathies. Although this mini-review will focus on Alzheimer's disease due to its prevalence, it will also argue the need to target other tauopathies, as through understanding Alzheimer's disease as a Tau-associated neurodegenerative disorder, we may be able to generalize treatment options. For this reason, added detail linking back specifically to Tau protein as a direct therapeutic target will be added to each topic.

Recent Progress of Surface Passivation Molecules for Perovskite Solar Cell Applications

Due to the solution processable nature,the prepared perovskite films are polycrystalline with considerable number of defects.These defects,especially defects at interface accelerate the carrier recombination and reduce the carrier collection.Besides,the surface defects also affect the long-term stability of the perovskite solar cells(PVSCs).To solve this problem,surface passivation molecules are introduced at selective interface(the interface between perovskite and carrier selective layer).This review summarizes recent progress of small molecules used in PVSCs.Firstly,different types of defect states in perovskite films are introduced and their effects on device performance are discussed.Subsequently,surface passivation molecules are divided into four categories,and the interaction between the functional groups of the surface passivation molecules and selective defect states in perovskite films are highlighted.Finally,we look into the prospects and challenges in design noble small molecules for PVSCs applications.

MOLECULES AND NEW INTERACTIONAL STRUCTURES FOR A(2+1)-DIMENSIONAL GENERALIZED KONOPELCHENKO-DUBROVSKY-KAUP-KUPERSHMIDT EQUATION

Soliton molecules(SMs)of the(2+1)-dimensional generalized KonopelchenkoDubrovsky-Kaup-Kupershmidt(gKDKK)equation are found by utilizing a velocity resonance ansatz to N-soliton solutions,which can transform to asymmetric solitons upon assigning appropriate values to some parameters.Furthermore,a double-peaked lump solution can be constructed with breather degeneration approach.By applying a mixed technique of a resonance ansatz and conjugate complexes of partial parameters to multisoliton solutions,various kinds of interactional structures are constructed;There include the soliton molecule(SM),the breather molecule(BM)and the soliton-breather molecule(SBM).Graphical investigation and theoretical analysis show that the interactions composed of SM,BM and SBM are inelastic.

First-principles study on the co-adsorption of water and oxygen molecules on chalcopyrite(112)-M surface

Chalcopyrite is a common copper-bearing mineral with antiferromagnetic properties.However,this property has rarely been considered in previous studies for detailed adsorption behaviors of molecules on chalcopyrite.Based on density functional theory(DFT),new adsorption pathways by H_(2)O and O_(2)on the chalcopyrite metal terminated(112)surface((112)-M)is found in this work.First,through simulating the adsorption of an isolated water molecule and monolayer water molecules,it is confirmed that H_(2)O molecules tend to adsorb on the surface Fe atoms more than on the surface Cu atoms.Then,we studied various adsorption behaviors of the O_(2)molecule.It is found that the adsorption on the hollow FeAFe site is the most stable case;however,O_(2)is undissociated.Two adsorption cases will happen when H_(2)OAO_(2)adsorb simultaneously on the surface.For the S site,the H_(2)O molecule thoroughly dissociated and formed SAO species,and the other case is H_(2)O undissociated adsorbing at the Cu site.For the former case,it is interesting that H_(2)O is dissociated before O_(2).

Bioactive molecules from terrestrial and seafood resources in hypertension treatment:focus on molecular mechanisms and targeted therapies

Hypertension(HTN),a complex cardiovascular disease(CVD),significantly impacts global health,prompting a growing interest in complementary and alternative therapeutic approaches.This review article seeks to provide an up-to-date and thorough summary of modern therapeutic techniques for treating HTN,with an emphasis on the molecular mechanisms of action found in substances found in plants,herbs,and seafood.Bioactive molecules have been a significant source of novel therapeutics and are crucial in developing and testing new HTN remedies.Recent advances in science have made it possible to understand the complex molecular mechanisms underlying blood pressure(BP)-regulating effects of these natural substances better.Polyphenols,flavonoids,alkaloids,and peptides are examples of bioactive compounds that have demonstrated promise in influencing several pathways involved in regulating vascular tone,reducing oxidative stress(OS),reducing inflammation,and improving endothelial function.The article explains the vasodilatory,diuretic,and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system(RAAS)modifying properties of vital plants such as garlic and olive leaf.Phytochemicals from plants are the primary in traditional drug development as models for novel antihypertensive drugs,providing diverse strategies to combat HTN due to their biological actions.The review also discusses the functions of calcium channel blockers originating from natural sources,angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE)inhibitors,and nitric oxide(NO)donors.Including seafood components in this study demonstrates the increased interest in using bioactive chemicals originating from marine sources to treat HTN.Omega-3 fatty acids,peptides,and minerals obtained from seafood sources have anti-inflammatory,vasodilatory,and antioxidant properties that improve vascular health and control BP.Overall,we discussed the multiple functions of bioactive molecules and seafood components in the treatment of HTN.

Experimental verification of nanonization enhanced solubility for poorly soluble optoelectronic molecules

Solubility enhancement has been a priority to overcome poor solubility with optoelectronic molecules for solution-processable devices. This study aims to obtain experimental data on the effect of particle sizes on the solubility properties of several typical optoelectronic molecules in organic solvents, including the solubility results of 1,3-bis(9-carbazolyl)benzene(m CP), 1,3,5-tris(1-phenyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)ben zene(TPBi) and 2-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-5-(4-biphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole(PBD) in ethanol and acetonitrile,respectively. Nanoparticles of m CP, TPBi and PBD with sizes from dozens to several hundred nanometers were prepared by solvent antisolvent precipitation method and their solubility were determined by using isothermal saturation method. The saturation solubility of nanoparticles of three kinds of optoelectronic molecules exhibited increase of 12.9%-25.7% in comparison to the same raw materials in the form of microparticles. The experimental evidence indicates that nanonization technology is a feasible way to make optoelectronic molecules dissolve in liquids with enhanced solubility.

Soliton molecules,T-breather molecules and some interaction solutions in the(2+1)-dimensional generalized KDKK equation

By employing the complexification method and velocity resonant principle to N-solitons of the(2+1)-dimensional generalized Konopelchenko–Dubrovsky–Kaup–Kupershmidt(KDKK)equation,we obtain the soliton molecules,T-breather molecules,T-breather–L-soliton molecules and some interaction solutions when N≤6.Dynamical behaviors of these solutions are discussed analytically and graphically.The method adopted can be effectively used to construct soliton molecules and T-breather molecules of other nonlinear evolution equations.The results obtained may be helpful for experts to study the related phenomenon in oceanography and atmospheric science.

Generation of a blue-detuned optical storage ring by a metasurface and its application in optical trapping of cold molecules

A scheme for storage of cold molecules in a hollow optical ring generated by a metasurface grating is proposed.The characteristics and intensity distribution related to the ring’s structural parameters and fabrication error tolerance are theoretically studied. The optical potential and dipole force required for the ring to trap magnesium monofluoride(MgF)molecules are also calculated. The dynamic behavior of MgF molecules in the storage ring is simulated by a Monte Carlo method, which shows that a metasurface-based optical storage ring can be used to trap molecules and is an interesting platform for research into ultracold quantum gases and their quantum-state manipulation.

Development of small molecule drugs targeting immune checkpoints

Immune checkpoint inhibitors(ICIs)are used to relieve and refuel anti-tumor immunity by blocking the interaction,transcription,and translation of co-inhibitory immune checkpoints or degrading co-inhibitory immune checkpoints.Thousands of small molecule drugs or biological materials,especially antibody-based ICIs,are actively being studied and antibodies are currently widely used.Limitations,such as anti-tumor efficacy,poor membrane permeability,and unneglected tolerance issues of antibody-based ICIs,remain evident but are thought to be overcome by small molecule drugs.Recent structural studies have broadened the scope of candidate immune checkpoint molecules,as well as innovative chemical inhibitors.By way of comparison,small molecule drug-based ICIs represent superior oral bioavailability and favorable pharmacokinetic features.Several ongoing clinical trials are exploring the synergetic effect of ICIs and other therapeutic strategies based on multiple ICI functions,including immune regulation,anti-angiogenesis,and cell cycle regulation.In this review we summarized the current progression of small molecule ICIs and the mechanism underlying immune checkpoint proteins,which will lay the foundation for further exploration.

Mixed-field effect at the hyperfine level of^(127)I^(79)Br in its rovibronic ground state:Toward field manipulation of cold molecules

The mixed-field effect at the hyperfine level of the rovibronic ground state of the^(127)I^(79)Br(X^(1)Σ,v=0,J=0)molecule is computed on the J-I uncoupled basis of|JM_(J)I_(1)M_(1)I_(2)M_(2)>,where J is the molecular total angular momentum excluding nuclear spin,M_J is the projection number of J,I_(1) and I_(2) are the nuclear spins of the iodine and bromine atoms,and M_(1) and M_(2) are the projection numbers of I_(1) and I_(2),respectively.When the two applied electric and magnetic fields are parallel,the perturbations are rare and only one perturbation is observed in a relatively large field regime in our computation range.However,when the two fields are off-parallel,the perturbations increase significantly and some sublevels show the Feshbach-like resonance phenomenon.Therefore,such sublevels transit between weak-field seeking and strong-field seeking repeatedly,which can be utilized to enhance or suppress cold molecular collision and chemical reaction rates.Such behavior of the molecular hyperfine structure in the mixed off-parallel fields may also be utilized to construct an electric-field-assisted anti-Helmholtz magnetic trap for cold molecules and to realize evaporative cooling of cold molecules(sub-mK)into the ultracold regime(μK).

Research progress of immune checkpoint molecules in pregnancy

In recent years,immune checkpoint molecules have made breakthroughs in the fields of inducing graft tolerance,tumor immune escape and preventing autoimmunity.These immunoregulatory factors,when combined with ligand,can transduce the inhibitory signal into cells to negatively regulate the immune response,which brings new enlightenment for the immune research of pregnancy and pregnancy complications.In this review,we reviewed the immunomodulatory effects of CTLA-4,PD-1 and Tim-3 in pregnancy,in order to evaluate their potential effects in pregnancy,and to provide a new direction for the immunotherapy of pregnancy complications.

Resonant interactions among two-dimensional nonlinear localized waves and lump molecules for the(2+1)-dimensional elliptic Toda equation

The(2+1)-dimensional elliptic Toda equation is a high-dimensional generalization of the Toda lattice and a semidiscrete Kadomtsev–Petviashvili I equation.This paper focuses on investigating the resonant interactions between two breathers,a breather/lump and line solitons as well as lump molecules for the(2+1)-dimensional elliptic Toda equation.Based on the N-soliton solution,we obtain the hybrid solutions consisting of line solitons,breathers and lumps.Through the asymptotic analysis of these hybrid solutions,we derive the phase shifts of the breather,lump and line solitons before and after the interaction between a breather/lump and line solitons.By making the phase shifts infinite,we obtain the resonant solution of two breathers and the resonant solutions of a breather/lump and line solitons.Through the asymptotic analysis of these resonant solutions,we demonstrate that the resonant interactions exhibit the fusion,fission,time-localized breather and rogue lump phenomena.Utilizing the velocity resonance method,we obtain lump–soliton,lump–breather,lump–soliton–breather and lump–breather–breather molecules.The above works have not been reported in the(2+1)-dimensional discrete nonlinear wave equations.

Double open mouse-like terpyridine parts based amphiphilic ionic molecules displaying strengthened chemical adsorption for anticorrosion of copper in sulfuric acid solution

In this study,the benign target double terpyridine parts based amphiphilic ionic molecules(AIMs 1,2)and the reference single terpyridine segment included AIMs(AIMs 3,4)were synthesized through a multi-step method,and the molecular structures were fully characterized.The excellent anticorrosion of the target AIMs for copper surface in H_(2)SO_(4) solution was demonstrated by the electrochemistry analysis,which was more superior over those of the reference AIMs.The standard adsorption free energy changes of the target AIMs calculated by the adsorption isotherms were lower than -40 kJ·mol^(-1),suggesting an intensified chemical adsorption on metal surface.The molecular modeling and molecular dynamic computation of the studied AIMs were performed,demonstrating that the target AIMs exhibited lower highest occupied molecular orbital-lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy gaps and greater adsorption energies than the reference ones.The chemical adsorption of the AIMs on metal surface was revealed by various spectroscopic methods including scanning electron microscopy,atomic force microscopy,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy,Raman and X-ray diffraction.