Discovering physicochemical principles for simultaneous harvesting of multiform energy from the environment will advance current sustainable energy technologies. Here we explore photochemical phase transitionsa photochemistry−thermophysics coupled regimefor coharvesting of solar and thermal energy. In particular, we show that photon energy and ambient heat can be stored together and released on demand as high-temperature heat, enabled by room-temperature photochemical crystal↔liquid transitions of engineered molecular photoswitches. Integrating the two forms of energy in single-component molecular materials is capable of providing energy capacity beyond that of traditional solar or thermal energy storage systems based solely on molecular photoisomerization or phase change, respectively. Significantly, the ambient heat that is harvested during photochemical melting into liquid of the low-melting-point, metastable isomer can be released as high-temperature heat by recrystallization of the high-melting-point, parent isomer. This reveals that photon energy drives the upgrading of thermal energy in such a hybrid energy system. Rationally designed small-molecule azo switches achieve high gravimetric energy densities of 0.3–0.4 MJ/kg with long-term storage stability. Rechargeable solar thermal battery devices are fabricated, which upon light triggering provide gravimetric power density of about 2.7 kW/kg and temperature increases of >20 °C in ambient environment. We further show their use as deicing coatings. Our work demonstrates a new concept of energy utilizationcombining solar energy and low-grade heat into higher-grade heatwhich unlocks the possibility of developing sustainable energy systems powered by a combination of natural sunlight and ambient heat.

With the fast development of organic electronics, organic semiconductors have been extensively studied for various optoelectronic applications, among which organic phototransistors recently emerged as one of the most promising light signal detectors. However, it is still a big challenge to endow organic phototransistors with both high mobility and high light-sensitivity because the low mobility of most organic photoresponsive materials limits the efficiency of transporting and collecting charge carriers. We herein report band-like charge transport in vacuum-deposited small-molecule thin films for organic phototransistor arrays which can be operated at very low dark currents (~10−12 A). Both high mobility and excellent optical figures of merit including photosensitivity, photoresponsivity and detectivity are achieved, wherein, unprecedentedly, a detectivity greater than 1017 cm Hz1/2 W−1 is obtained. All these key parameters are superior to state-of-the-art organic phototransistors, implying a great potential in optoelectronic applications.

Polymeric dielectrics play a key role in the realization of flexible organic electronics, especially for the fabrication of scalable device arrays and integrated circuits. Among a wide variety of polymeric dielectric materials, aromatic polyimides (PIs) are flexible, lightweight, and strongly resistant to high‐temperature processing and corrosive etchants and, therefore, have become promising candidates as gate dielectrics with good feasibility in manufacturing organic electronic devices. More significantly, the characteristics of PIs can be conveniently modulated by the design of their chemical structures. Herein, from the perspective of structure optimization and interface engineering, a brief overview of recent progress in PI‐based dielectrics for organic electronic devices and circuits is provided. Also, an outlook of future research directions and challenges for polyimide dielectric materials is presented.

An anthracene derivative, 2,6-diphenyl anthracene (DPA), was successfully synthesized with three simple steps and a high yield. The compound was determined to be a durable high performing semiconductor with thin film device mobility over 10 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1). The efficient synthesis and high performance indicates its great potential in organic electronics.