Two series of (dfppy)(2)Ir(L(N^O)) with different substituents were designed and successfully synthesized and the effect of substitution at the ancillary ligand on the photophysical and electrochemical properties of (dfppy)(2)Ir(L(N^O)) were investigated. The results indicate that the electron-donating group of -OMe at L(N^O) increases the PL quantum efficiencies of (dfppy)(2)Ir(L(N^O)) and the electron-withdrawing groups of -CF(3) and -F lower the PL quantum efficiencies.

Five iridium(III) complexes with two N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligands and an ancillary ligand have been designed and successfully synthesized. With multicolor photoluminescence and low toxicity, these carbene complexes were tested, for the first time, as living cell imaging reagents and showed promise for application beyond the OLED (organic light emitting diode) area.

Electrogenerated chemiluminescence (ECL) with different emission colors is important in the development of multichannel analytical techniques. In this report, five new heteroleptic iridium(III) complexes were synthesized, and their photophysical, electrochemical, and ECL properties were studied. Here, 2-(2,4-difluorophenyl)pyridine (dfppy, complex 1), 2-phenylbenzo[d]thiazole (bt, complex 2), and 2-phenylpyridine (ppy, complex 3) were used as the main ligands to tune the emission color, while avobenzone (avo) was used as the ancillary ligand. For comparison, complexes 4 and 5 with 2-phenylpyridine and 2-phenylbenzo[d]thiazole as the main ligand, respectively, and acetyl acetone (acac) as the ancillary ligand were also synthesized. All five iridium(III) complexes had strong intraligand absorption bands (π–π*) in the UV region (below 350 nm) and a featureless MLCT (d−π*) transition in the visible 400–500 nm range. Multicolored emissions were observed for these five iridium(III) complexes, including green, orange, and red for complexes 4, 5, 2, 1, 3, respectively. Density functional theory calculations indicate that the electronic density of the highest occupied molecular orbital is entirely located on the C^N ligands and the iridium atom, while the formation of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) is complicated. The LUMO is mainly assigned to the ancillary ligand for complexes 1 and 3 but to the C^N ligand for complexes 2, 4, and 5. Cyclic voltammetry studies showed that all these complexes have a reversible oxidation wave, but no reduction waves were found in the electrochemical windows of CH2Cl2. The E1/2(ox) values of these complexes ranged from 0.642 to 0.978 V for complexes 3, 4, 2, 5, 1, (in increasing order) and are all lower than that of Ru(bpy)3(2+). Most importantly, when using tripropylamine as a coreactant, complexes 1–5 exhibited intense ECL signals with an emission wavelength centered at 616, 580, 663, 536, and 569 nm, respectively. In addition, complexes 1, 2, and 5 displayed approximately 2, 11, and 214 times higher ECL efficiencies than Ru(bpy)3(2+) under identical conditions.

Titanium has been widely used as a dimensionally stable anode in the electrolysis industry because of its excellent corrosion resistance, conductivity, and scalability. However, because of its poor biocompatibility and poor performance as a bioanode, it has drawn little attention in the field of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This study reports an efficient way to convert a titanium electrode into a high-performance anode for MFCs, in situ growth of titanium dioxide nanotubes (TNs) on its surface. After TN modification, the titanium surface became rougher, more hydrophilic, and more conducive for anodic biofilm formation. The maximal current density achieved on this TNmodified titanium electrode was 12.7 A m −2 , which was 190-fold higher than that of the bare titanium electrode and even higher than that of the most commonly used carbon felt electrode. Therefore, the high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and current density make the TN-modified titanium electrode a promising and scalable anode for MFCs.

A series of cyclometalated iridium(III) complexes with 2-phenylquinoline ligand (1-4) were designed and synthesized, which were thoroughly investigated by the photophysics, electrochemistry, theoretical calculations and electrochemiluminescence (ECL). By incorporating methyl groups into the 2-phenylquinoline, the corresponding complexes 2 and 3 displayed lower oxidative potential and higher HOMO energy levels. Most importantly, compared with tris(2,2'-bipyridyl)ruthenium(II) ([Ru(bipy)3](2+)), these iridium(III) complexes demonstrated more intense ECL in acetonitrile solutions.

An upconverted oil-in-water microemulsion containing a bimolecular system was first reported for the triplet–triplet annihilated upconversion by temperature effects.

By loading microemulsion containing both sensitizer and emitter into the treated eco-friendly hydrogel, a new solid-state material of triplet−triplet annihilation based upconversion (TTA-UC) material was first reported. This UC hydrogel has shown an excellent stable emission of the green-to-blue luminescence, owing to the honeycomb-like nanoporous structure of the hydrogel. Moreover, this emission of UC hydrogel was strongly dependent on the temperature. The UC fluorescence intensity is close to the linear growth from 30 to 60 °C. This thermoresponsive upconversion hydrogel, which could be easily molded into various shapes, has provided a new perspective in manufacturing a novel temperature indicator and as well other applications in stabilizing air-sensitive species in aerated systems.

The first indole C3 methyltransferase reported to catalyze pyrroloindoline cyclization in cyclic dipeptides, providing a feasible method to access diverse alkaloids.