A successful model for the design of efficient dyes for p-type dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) is presented. As an example, a novel and efficient organic dye containing a triphenylamine chromophore has been synthesized and successfully applied in a p-type DSSC. The highest incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) of 18% in the visible region has been obtained, which is the highest value so far in p-type DSSCs. This is remarkably high, considering that only 600 nm thin NiO mesoporous films were used as p-type DSSC electrodes.

Mesoporous NiO electrodes were used in photoelectrochemical cells using iodide/triiodide-based redox electrolytes. Cathodic photocurrents were found upon visible light excitation. These photocurrents were enhanced when coumarin 343 dye was adsorbed at the NiO surface or when a unanchored dye (coumarin 337) was added to the electrolyte. The proposed reaction for photocurrent generation is as follows: in the absence of dyes, excitation of triiodide leads to the generation of diiodide radicals, which subsequently accept electrons from the NiO electrode. Enhanced photocurrent generation in the presence of dyes is possibly due to energy transfer from excited dye molecules to triiodide. Charge transport studies of C343-sensitized NiO suggest that hole transport in mesoporous NiO is due to hopping of positive charge between Ni-surface atoms.

We report a facile, template-free and nontoxic one-pot solvothermal route of synthesizing submicrometersized yolk@shell hierarchical spheres, which possess a permeable shell self-assembled by ultrathin anatase TiO 2 Nanosheets (NSs) with nearly 90% of exposed {001} facets and mesoporous inner sphere with a high specific surface area. Compared to the {001} faceted TiO 2 NSs and standard Degussa P25, 10 the anatase TiO 2 yolk@shell hierarchical spheres (TiO 2 YSHSs) were obtained with surface area up to 245.1 m 2 ·g -1 and their submicrometer scale simultaneously promoted light scattering in visible region. A light to electricity conversion efficiency (η) of 6.01% was achieved for the DSSCs with TiO 2 YSHSs as its photoanode, under 100 mW cm -2 illumination, indicating 49.9% and 34.8% increases compared to the DSSCs with TiO 2 NSs (4.01%) and the standard Degussa P25 (4.46%) as photoanodes, respectively. The 15 enhancement can be mainly attributed to the higher dye loading on TiO 2 YSHSs (4.35×10 -5 mol·cm -2 ) than that of TiO 2 NSs(3.14×10 -5 mol·cm -2 ) and P25 (3.32×10 -5 mol·cm -2 ); longer lifetime of the injected electrons in TiO 2 YSHSs film (65.79 ms) than that of in TiO 2 NSs film (57.90 ms); and the good capability of light scattering of TiO 2 YSHSs in visible light region, which are confirmed by UV-vis spectrophotometer and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The growth mechanism of the 20 TiO 2 YSHSs has also been investigated in detail. † Electronic Supplementary Information (ESI) available: SEM and TEM 35 images of TiO2 NSs; SEM images and XRD patterns of the samples obtained after different reaction durations. See

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A series of anthranilic diamides analogs (3–11, 16–24) containing 1,2,4- or 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings were synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, MS and elemental analyses. The structure of 3-bromo-N-(2-(3-(4-bromophenyl)-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-4-chloro-6-methylphenyl)-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide (18, CCDC-) was determined by X-ray diffraction crystallography. The insecticidal activities against Plutella xylostella and Spodoptera exigua were evaluated. The results showed that most of title compounds displayed good larvicidal activities against P. xylostella, especially compound 3-bromo-N-(4-chloro-2-methyl-6-(5-(methylthio)-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl)phenyl)-1-(3-chloropyridin-2-yl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide (6), which displayed 71.43% activity against P. xylostella at 0.4 μg mL(-1) and 33.33% against S. exigua at 1 μg mL(-1). The structure-activity relationship showed that compounds decorated with a 1,3,4-oxadiazole were more potent than compounds decorated with a 1,2,4-oxadiazole, and different substituents attached to the oxadiazole ring also affected the insecticidal activity. This work provides some hints for further structure modification and the enhancement of insecticidal activity.

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Compound 3IIl may be used as a potential leading compound for further structural optimisation, and SARs and CoMFA models could provide reliable clues for further structural optimisation. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.

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