Nature is capable of storing solar energy in chemical bonds via photosynthesis through a series of C–C, C–O and C–N bond-forming reactions starting from CO 2 and light. Direct capture of solar energy for organic synthesis is a promising approach. Lead (Pb)-halide perovskite solar cells reach 24.2% power conversion efficiency, rendering perovskite a unique type material for solar energy capture. We argue that photophysical properties of perovskites already proved for photovoltaics, also should be of interest in photoredox organic synthesis. Because the key aspects of these two applications are both relying on charge separation and transfer. Here we demonstrated that perovskites nanocrystals are exceptional candidates as photocatalysts for fundamental organic reactions, for example C–C, C–N and C–O bond-formations. Stability of CsPbBr 3 in organic solvents and ease-of-tuning their bandedges garner perovskite a wider scope of organic substrate activations. Our low-cost, easy-to-process, highly-efficient, air-tolerant and bandedge-tunable perovskites may bring new breakthrough in organic chemistry.

Cost-effective and efficient photocatalysis are highly desirable in chemical synthesis. Here we demonstrate that readily prepared suspensions of APbBr 3 (A = Cs or methylammonium (MA)) type perovskite colloids (ca. 2−100 nm) can selectively photocatalyze carbon−carbon bond formation reactions, i.e., α-alkylations. Specifically, we demonstrate α-alkylation of aldehydes with a turnover number (TON) of over 52,000 under visible light illumination. Hybrid organic/ inorganic perovskites are revolutionizing photovoltaic research and are now impacting other research fields, but their exploration in organic synthesis is rare. Our lowcost, easy-to-process, highly efficient and bandedgetunable perovskite photocatalyst is expected to bring new insights in chemical synthesis.

Synthesis and modification of ZIF-8 and its application in drug delivery, stimulus response-controlled drug release and tumor therapy.

Electrospun fibers have gained considerable attention in drug controlled release, biological dressings, tissue repair and enzyme immobilization fields.

Thermoresponsive hydrogel fibrous membranes showing directionally controlled movements and surface change with ultra‐fast speed are presented for the first time. They show reversible coiling, rolling, bending, and twisting deformations in different controllable directions for many cycles (at least 50 cycles tried) with inside‐out change in surfaces and shapes. Speed, reversibility, large‐scale deformations and, most importantly, control over the direction of deformation is required in order to make synthetic actuators inspired from natural materials or otherwise. A polymeric synthetic material combining all these properties is still awaited. This issue is addressed and provide a very simple system fulfilling all these requirements by combining porosity and asymmetric swelling/shrinking via orientation of hydrogel fibers at different angles in a fibrous membrane. Electrospinning is used as a tool for making membranes with fibers oriented at different angles.

Mesoporous NSCDs/CoS hybrid exhibits desired electrocatalytic activity for electrochemical hydrogen evolution reaction.

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Inspired by glucose-sensitive ion channels, herein we describe a biomimetic glucose-enantiomer-driven ion gate via the introduction of the chiral pillar[6]arene-based host–guest systems into the artificial nanochannels. The chiral nanochannels show a high chiral-driven ionic gate for glucose enantiomers and can be switched “off” by d-glucose and be switched “on” by l-glucose. Remarkably, the chiral nanochannel also exhibited a good reversibility toward glucose enantiomers. Further research indicates that the switching behaviors differed due to the differences in binding strength between chiral pillar[6]arene and glucose enantiomers, which can lead to the different surface charge within nanochannel. Given these promising results, the studies of chiral-driven ion gates may not only give interesting insight for the research of biological and pathological processes caused by glucose-sensitive ion channels, but also help to understand the origin of the high stereoselectivity in life systems.