The exploration of the synthetic space of halide perovskites hinges on an enormous number of parameters requiring time-consuming experimentation to decouple and optimize. Here, the formation of the prototype material CH 3 NH 3 PbI 3 (MAPbI 3 ) is investigated at different time and length scales using multimodal in situ measurements to monitor the evolution of crystalline phases, morphology, and photoluminescence as a function of the lead precursors. Kinetically fast formation of crystalline precursor phases already during the spin-coat deposition is observed using lead iodide (PbI 2 ) or lead chloride (PbCl 2 ) routes. These precursor phases most likely template final MAPbI 3 film morphology. In particular, the emergence of the "needle-like" structure is shown to appear before film annealing. In situ photoluminescence measurements suggest nanoscale nucleation followed by rapid nuclei densification and growth. Using this multimodal in situ approach, different formation pathways can be identified either via precursor phases in the PbI 2 and PbCl 2 routes or direct perovskite formation from molecular building blocks as observed in the lead acetate (PbAc 2 ) route. Correlation of in situ results with photovoltaic device performance demonstrates the power of in situ multimodal techniques, paves the way to a fast screening of synthetic parameters, and ultimately leads to controlled synthetic procedures that yield high-efficiency devices.

Wide bandgap mixed halide perovskites such as MAPb(I 1-x Br x) 3 sparked great research interest due to their outstanding optoelectronic properties, ease of fabrication and bandgap tunability. Their application thus far is however limited by light-induced halide segregation in which microscopic clusters with high iodide content are formed and act as recombination centers. The key mechanism(s) underlying this halide segregation process are still debated. Here we present a study on the photoluminescence evolution in MAPb(I 1.5 Br 1.5) perovskites with varying microstructure under constant illumination at room temperature and at elevated temperature. Our findings reveal a more complicated picture of the segregation mechanism occurring in three stages instead of two as commonly reported. The process starts with a flash formation of I-rich nanodomains. Following is a rapid blue shift before the gradual and typically observed red shift occurs. The evolution of the three stages is fully reversible in the dark and is also present at elevated temperatures (50 °C). We explain the existence of multiple stages during light-induced halide segregation by natural compositional fluctuations of the halides and the formation of halide clusters with a dynamically changing distribution in I-Br content. The variation in I-Br ratio depends on the grain size and film heterogeneity. These findings add further details in the quest of

Multimaterial thermally drawn fibers are becoming important building blocks in several foreseen applications in surgical probes, protective gears, or medical textiles. Here, the influence of the thermal drawing parameters on the degree of polymer chain orientation, the related thermal shrinkage behavior, and the mechanical properties of the final fibers is investigated via thermo–mechanical testing and small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) analyses. This study on polyetherimide fibers reveals that the drawing stress, which depends on the drawing speed and temperature, controls the thermal shrinkage behavior and mechanical properties. Furthermore, SAXS and WAXS analyses show that the degree of chain orientation increases with drawing stresses below 8 MPa and then saturates, which correlates with the amount of observed shrinkage. The use of this process‐dependent polymer chain alignment to tune the mechanical and shrinkage properties of the fibers is highlighted and controlled bending multimaterial fibers made of two polymethyl methacrylates having different molecular weights are developed. Finally, a heat treatment procedure is proposed to relax the chain alignment and increase the dimensional stability of devices such as temperature sensors. This deeper understanding can serve as a guide for the processing of complex fibers requiring specific mechanical properties or enhanced thermal stability.

No abstract

Platinum-catalyzed electrochemical reduction of dissociable protons at low potentials was used to investigate proton dissociation equilibria of freely diffusing and peptide-incorporated charged amino acids. We first demonstrate with five charged essential amino acids and their analogs that the electrochemically induced deprotonation of each amino acid occurs at distinct formal reduction potential. Moreover, the observed direct reduction for all the charged species, excluding arginine, occurs at low potentials suitable for investigation under aqueous conditions (−0.4 to −0.9 V vs Ag/AgCl). The direct proton reduction was resolved via deconvolution of the observed differential pulse voltammogram (DPV) from background hydronium reduction and water electrolysis. A linear correlation was found between the formal reduction potentials and the pK a values of the dissociable protons hosted by various molecular moieties in the amino acids and their analogs and further verified with tripeptides. DPV of poly(L-lysine) decamer (Lys 10 ) distinctively resolved the pK a values of the amino groups in the side chains and Nterminus, at a resolution not possible by conventional acid−base titration. This work demonstrates selective electrochemical titration of dissociable protons in charged amino acids in the free state and as residues in biomolecules, as well as the utility of DPV to indirectly interrogate local electrostatic environments that are essential to the stability and function of biomolecules.

No abstract

Neuronally triggered phosphorylation drives the calibrated and cyclable assembly of the reflectin signal transducing proteins, resulting in their fine tuning of colours reflected from specialized skin cells in squid for camouflage and communication. In close parallel to this physiological behaviour, we demonstrate for the first time that electrochemical reduction of reflectin A1, used as a surrogate for charge neutralization by phosphorylation, triggers voltage-calibrated, proportional and cyclable control of the size of the protein's assembly. Electrochemically triggered condensation, folding and assembly were simultaneously analysed using in situ dynamic light scattering, circular dichroism and UV absorbance spectroscopies. The correlation of assembly size with applied potential is probably linked to reflectin's mechanism of dynamic arrest, which is controlled by the extent of neuronally triggered charge neutralization and the corresponding fine tuning of colour in the biological system. This work opens a new perspective on electrically controlling and simultaneously observing reflectin assembly and, more broadly, provides access to manipulate, observe and electrokinetically control the formation of intermediates and conformational dynamics of macromolecular systems.

Reversible electrochemical triggering of the random coil to α-helix conformational transition of polylysine, and secondary folding of reflectin A1, was accomplished at a Pt electrode at potentials < |1| V vs. Ag/AgCl. Direct electroreduction of the N-terminus vs. ε-amino groups in lysine (Lys) sidechains, imidazolium groups of histidine-containing reflectin A1, as well as hydronium reduction and electrolysis, could be easily distinguished and deconvolved using differential pulse voltammetry. Electrochemistry was coupled with in situ UV absorbance, circular dichroism, and dynamic light scattering to dynamically follow the evolution of secondary folding and assembly of polylysine and reflectin at different potentials. Isotope experiments in H2O vs. D2O unequivocally confirm that direct electroreduction of ε-NH3 +/ND3 + groups in Lys sidechains, rather than electrochemically generated pH gradient-induced deprotonation, leads to subsequent α-helix formation in polylysine. The site-selective electrochemistry and optical methodologies to be presented herein can be generalized and extended to interrogate other protonation-sensitive biomolecular systems, and potentially provide access to early intermediates and control over the dynamic structural evolution of peptides and proteins. [1] E. Masquelier, S.P. Liang, L. Sepunaru, D. E. Morse, M. J. Gordon, "Reversible Electrochemical Triggering and Optical Interrogation of Polylysine α-helix formation " Bioelectrochemistry vol. 144, p. 108007, 04/2020 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.108007 [2] S. P. Liang, R. Levenson, B. Malady, M. J. Gordon, D. E. Morse, and L. Sepunaru, "Electrochemistry as a surrogate for protein phosphorylation: voltage-controlled assembly of reflectin A1," J R Soc Interface, vol. 17, no. 173, Dec 23 2020, doi: 10.1098/rsif.2020.0774.