Organic X-Ray Image Sensors Using a Medium Bandgap Polymer Donor with Low Dark Current

The development of portable X-ray detectors is necessary for diagnosing fractures in unconscious patients in emergency situations.However,this is quite challenging because of the heavy weight of the scintillator and silicon photodetectors.The weight and thickness of X-ray detectors can be reduced by replacing the silicon layer with an organic photodetectors.This study presents a novel bithienopyrroledione-based polymer donor that exhibits excellent photodetection properties even in a thick photoactive layer(~700 nm),owing to the symmetric backbone and highly soluble molecular structure of bithienopyrroledione.The ability of bithienopyrroledione-based polymer donor to strongly suppress the dark current density(Jd~10−10 A cm^(−2))at a negative bias(−2.0 V)while maintaining high responsivity(R=0.29 A W−1)even at a thickness of 700 nm results in a maximum shot-noise-limited specific detectivity of D_(sh)^(*)=2.18×10^(13)Jones in the organic photodetectors.Printed organic photodetectors are developed by slot-die coating for use in X-ray detectors,which exhibit D_(sh)^(*)=2.73×10^(12)Jones with clear rising(0.26 s)and falling(0.29 s)response times upon X-ray irradiation.Detection reliability is also proven by linear response of the X-ray detector,and the X-ray detection limit is 3 mA.

A new Keggin-type polyoxometallate-based bifunctional catalyst for trace detection and pH-universal photodegradation of phenol

The widespread application of phenolic substances in the field of food,medicine and industry,is harmful to the environment and human health.Therefore,it is very important to develop a con-venient and effective method to detect and degrade phenolic compounds.Herein,we report a new keggin-type polyoxometallate-based metal-organic complex self-assembled under solvothermal condition,{[Cu(dap)(3-PA)]4(SiW_(12)O_(40))(H_(2)O)_(2)}·2H_(2)O(1,dap=1,2-diaminopropane,3-HPA=3-pyridineacrylic acid).1 shows an interesting 1D ladder-like structure.As a bifunctional catalyst,1 can be employed as a colori-metric sensor toward phenol with the relatively low detection limit(LOD)of 0.36μmol/L(S/N=3)in the wide range(0.001-0.1 mmol/L).The title colorimetric sensor is applied to determine phenol in various water environment with good recoveries ranging from 95%-105%.In addition,1 also exhibits excellent photocatalytic degradation toward phenol under visible light with the highest removal efficiency at 96%for 100 min and wide pH universality.The selectivity,stability and reliability of the detection of 1 towards phenol,as well as the detection for 4-chlorophenol,o-cresol,4-nitrophenol and phloroglucinol were stud-ied.Furthermore,the photocatalytic reaction kinetics and the mechanisms of photodegradation of phenol were also investigated in detail.

Ultrasensitive polarized-light photodetectors based on 2D hybrid perovskite ferroelectric crystals with a low detection limit

Polarized-light photodetectors are the indispensable elements for practical optical and optoelectronic device applications.Two-dimensional(2D)hybrid perovskite ferroelectrics,in which the coupling of spontaneous polarization(P_(s))and light favors the dissociation of photo-induced carriers,have taken a booming position within this portfolio.However,polarized-light photodetectors with a low detectionlimit remain unexplored in this 2D ferroelectric family.In this work,the high-quality individual crystals of a 2D perovskite ferroelectric,BA_(2)CsPb_(2)Br_(7)(1,where BA^(+)is n-butylammonium),were used to fabricate ultrasensitive polarized-light detectors.Its unique bilayered structural motif results in quite strong electric and optical anisotropy with a large absorption ratio of a_(c)/α_(a)≈3.2(λ=405 nm).Besides,the presence of ferroelectric Psalso endows high built-in electric field along the polar c-axis that favors photoelectric activities.Under an extremely low detectable limit of 40 n W/cm^(2),the detector of 1 exhibits a notable dichroism ratio(I_(ph)^(c)/I_(ph)^(a)≈1.5),a large responsivity of~39.5 m A/W and a specific detectivity of~1.2×10^(12)Jones.Moreover,crystal-based devices of 1 also exhibit a fast response speed(~300μs)and excellent anti-fatigue merits.This work highlights great potentials of hybrid perovskite ferroelectrics toward polarized-light photodetection.

A novel off-on fluorescent probe for specific detection and imaging of cysteine in live cells and in vivo

Cysteine(Cys)plays a pivotal role in many physiological and pathological processes,including detoxification and protein synthesis.The abnormal levels of Cys are linked to many diseases.In this study,a novel red-emitting off-on fluorescent probe Cys-TCF was masterly constructed for discriminative detection of Cys.After a series of experimental assessment,Cys-TCF displayed higher selectivity and sensitivity for Cys over other biothilols with a low detection limit(0.04μmol/L).More notably,the probe was also successfully applied to image Cys in live cells and live zebrafishes with low cytotoxicity.

High performance ethylene sensor based on palladium-loaded tin oxide:Application in fruit quality detection

Ethylene(C2 H4),as a plant hormone,its emission can be served as an indicator to measure fruit quality.Due to the limited physiochemical reactivity of C2 H4,it is a challenge to develop high performance C2 H4 sensors for fruit detection.Herein,this paper presents a resistive-type C2 H4 sensor based on Pd-loaded tin oxide(SnO2).The C2 H4 sensing performance of proposed sensor are tested at optimum operating temperature(250℃)with ambient relative humidity(51.9%RH).The results show that the response of Pd-loaded SnO2 sensor(11.1,Ra/Rg)is about 3 times higher than that of pristine SnO2(3.5)for 100 ppm C2 H4.The response time is also significantly shortened from 7 s to 1 s compared with pristine SnO2.Especially,the Pd-loaded SnO2 sensor possesses good sensitivity(0.58 ppm 1)at low concentration(0.05-1 ppm)with excellent linearity(R2=0.9963)and low detection limit(50 ppb).The high sensing performance of Pd-loaded SnO2 are attributed to the excellent adsorption and catalysis effects of Pd nanoparticle.Meaningfully,the potential applications of C2 H4 sensor are performed for monitoring the maturity and freshness of fruits,which presents a promising prospect in fruit quality evaluation.

Amidinium sulfonate hydrogen-bonded organic framework with fluorescence amplification function for sensitive aniline detection

Although the construction of specific functional crystalline materials is still challenging,the multi-component molecular assembly has become a key solution for the design of functional materials.Here,we report a hydrogen-bonded organic framework(HOF)material FJU-360 constructed from disodium 6‑hydroxy-5-[(4-sulfophenyl)azo]-2-naphthalenesulfonate(SSY)and terephthalimidamide.The charge-assisted hydrogen bonding between amidinium and sulfonate makes FJU-360 produce much stronger fluorescence than SSY,and can be used as a luminescence sensor to rapidly quench aniline through luminescence quenching.FJU-360 is sensitive and highly selective for the detection of aniline,and the detection limit reached 3.2 nmol/L,which is the lowest value reported currently.The mechanism of aniline response was analyzed through the aniline@FJU-360 single crystal structure,and the luminescence mechanism was clarified through density function theory calculations.This work is an important step towards the rational synthesis and assembly of sensing materials.

A turn-on fluorescent probe for Au^(3+) based on rodamine derivative and its bioimaging application

A new fluorescent probe RY was synthesized for the detection of Au3+ions based on a rhodamine B derivative.The fluorescent probe showed good selectivity and sensitivity to Au3+ions.Obvious color and fluorescence changes could be observed with the naked eye while the fluorescent probe reacted with the Au3+ions.The detection limit of the probe was determined to be 36 ppb by the fluorescence titration.The excellent linear relationship suggests that the probe is potentially useful for quantitative detection of Au3+in vitro.We also demonstrated its bioimaging application in both living cells and mice.This was the first time that a fluorescent probe was successfully applied to imaging Au3+in living animals.

Facile synthesis of Ni-doped SnO_(2) nanorods and their high gas sensitivity to isopropanol

In this work,pure SnO_(2) and Ni-doped SnO_(2) nanorods were synthesized through a one-step template-free hydrothermal method and then used to detect isopropanol.Sensors fabricated with the Ni-doped SnO_(2) nanocomposites showed the best gas sensing performance when the Ni doping amount was 1.5 mol.%.The response reached 250 at 225℃,which was approximately 8.3 times higher than that of the pure SnO_(2) nanorods.The limit of detection for isopropanol was as low as 10 ppb at the optimum working temperature.In addition,it also displayed good selectivity and excellent reproducibility.It is believed that the enhanced isopropanol sensing behavior benefit from the increased oxygen defects and larger specific surface area by Ni doping.

A highly selective solid-contact electrode for Ag^+ based on a monoazathiacrown ether ionophore

A new solid-contact Ag~＋-selective electrode was prepared with 9,10,12,13,24,25-hexahydro-5H,15H,23H-dibenzo [b,q][1,7,10,13,19,4,16]-entathiadiazacyclodocosine-6,16（7H,17H）-dione as ionophore,and cc,a-dihexylsexithiophene（DH- 6T） ion-to-electron transducer.The sensor exhibited a working concentration range of 10~8 to 10^（-3） mol/L,with a near-Nernstian slope of 55.1±0.2 mV/dec and detection limit of 1.7×10^（-9） mol/L.The fabricated electrodes demonstrated excellent selectivity over the most common monovalent and divalent cations.