Electrophoretic Deposition as a Versatile Low-Cost Tool to Construct a Synthetic Polymeric Solid-Electrolyte Interphase on Silicon Anodes: A Model System Investigation

The cycling of next-generation, high-capacity silicon (Si) anodes capable of 3579 mAh·g-1 is greatly hindered by the instability of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI). The large volume changes of Si during (de)lithiation cause continuous cracking of the SEI and its reconstruction, leading to loss of lithium inventory and extensive consumption of electrolyte. The SEI formed in situ during cell cycling is mostly composed of molecular fragments and oligomers, the structure of which is difficult to tailor. In contrast, ex situ formation of a synthetic SEI provides greater flexibility to deposit long-chain, polymeric, and elastomeric components potentially capable of maintaining integrity against the large ∼350% volume expansion of Si while also enabling electronic passivation of the surface for longer cycling and calendar life. Furthermore, polymers are amenable to structural modifications, and the desired elasticity can be targeted by selection of the SEI polymer feedstock. Herein, electrophoretic deposition (EPD) is used to apply chitosan as a synthetic SEI on model Si thin film electrodes. Comparison of synthetic SEIs obtained without (Si/Chit) and with CH3COOLi (Si/Chit+CH3COOLi) added during EPD is performed to demonstrate a facile route to tuning of the polymer SEI chemistry. Atomic force and scanning electron microscopy reveal that addition of CH3COOLi at EPD assists in conformal deposition of the synthetic SEI. During electrochemical cycling, the Chit+CH3COOLi coating nearly doubles the capacity retention versus the reference bare Si thin film. X-ray photoelectron and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy reveal that CH3COOLi caps the -NH2 groups of chitosan through amidation during EPD, which suppresses the catalytic reduction of the electrolyte. The presented approach demonstrates and validates EPD as a low-capital route to achieving and chemistry-tuning synthetic SEIs on Si electrodes. More broadly, the method is a promising avenue toward controlled and tailored polymeric SEIs on various conversion-type electrodes with high particle volumetric expansion.

Elucidating the Role of Antisolvents on the Surface Chemistry and Optoelectronic Properties of CsPbBrxI3-x Perovskite Nanocrystals

Colloidal lead-halide perovskite nanocrystals (LHP NCs) have emerged over the past decade as leading candidates for efficient next-generation optoelectronic devices, but their properties and performance critically depend on how they are purified. While antisolvents are widely used for purification, a detailed understanding of how the polarity of the antisolvent influences the surface chemistry and composition of the NCs is missing in the field. Here, we fill this knowledge gap by studying the surface chemistry of purified CsPbBr_xI_3-x NCs as the model system, which in itself is considered a promising candidate for pure-red light-emitting diodes and top-cells for tandem photovoltaics. Interestingly, we find that as the polarity of the antisolvent increases (from methyl acetate to acetone to butanol), there is a blueshift in the photoluminescence (PL) peak of the NCs along with a decrease in PL quantum yield (PLQY). Through transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy measurements, we find that these changes in PL properties arise from antisolvent-induced iodide removal, which leads to a change in halide composition and, thus, the bandgap. Using detailed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) measurements along with density functional theory calculations, we propose that more polar antisolvents favor the detachment of the oleic acid and oleylamine ligands, which undergo amide condensation reactions, leading to the removal of iodide anions from the NC surface bound to these ligands. This work shows that careful selection of low-polarity antisolvents is a critical part of designing the synthesis of NCs to achieve high PLQYs with minimal defect-mediated phase segregation.

Contemporary Synthesis of Ultrasmall (sub-10 nm) Upconverting Nanomaterials

Due to their unique photophysical properties, upconverting nanoparticles (UCNPs), i. e. particles capable of converting near-infrared (NIR) photons into tunable emissions in the range of ultraviolet (UV) to NIR, have great potential for use in various biomedical fields such as bioimaging, photodynamic therapy and bioanalytical applications. As far as biomedical applications are concerned, these materials have a number of advantageous properties such as brilliant luminescence and exceptional photostability. Very small "stealth" particles (sub-10 nm), which can circulate in the body largely undetected by the immune system, are particularly important for in vivo use. The fabrication of such particles, which simultaneously have a defined (ultrasmall) size and the required optical properties, is a great challenge and an area that is in its infancy. This minireview provides a concise overview of recent developments on appropriate synthetic methodologies to produce such UCNPs. Particular attention was given to the influence of both surfactants and dopants used to precisely adjust size, crystalline phase and optical properties of UCNPs.

Recent advances of lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles for biological applications

Near infrared (NIR) excited lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are emerging as a new type of fluorescent tag for biological applications, which can emit multi-photon ultraviolet, visible or NIR luminescence for imaging or activation of photosensitive molecules. Here, we present a comprehensive review on recent advances of UCNPs for a manifold of biological applications, including upconversion mechanisms, building bright multicolor upconversion nanocrystals, single nanoparticle and super resolution imaging, in vivo optical and multimodal imaging, photodynamic therapy, light-controlled drug release, biosensing, and toxicities. Our perspectives on the future development of UCNPs are also described.

Electrophilic substitution reaction as a facile and general approach for reactive removal of native ligands from nanocrystals surface

Surface property that strongly affects physical and chemical performances of inorganic nanocrystals (NCs) is a key enabler for NCs applications. Here, we report a facile, versatile and general strategy for reactive removal of NCs surface ligands based on electrophilic substitution reaction, in which an electrophile directly reacts with the electron-rich coordinating headgroup of surface-tethered ligands to form a non-coordinating product. This process leads to the break of NC-ligand bond, thereby achieving reactive removal of surface ligands. Based on this strategy, various hydrophobic NCs with different compositions and morphologies can be transferred into polar and hydrophilic media while preserving their size and shape. More importantly, the treated NCs present a great improvement in catalytic and biological performances in comparison with the untreated counterparts. This work not only provides a versatile ligand removal strategy for NCs surface modification but also opens up more opportunities for applications in the fields of electronics, catalysis and biotechnology.

Extremely Stretchable, Stable, and Durable Strain Sensors Based on Double-Network Organogels

Stretchable strain sensors offer great potential for diverse applications in modern electronics. However, it is still difficult to fabricate strain sensors with extreme stretchability, high stability, and superior durability because of the challenge in elastic matrix. In this work, the first example of extremely stretchable and highly stable double-networks ethylene glycol (EG) organogel is developed for the fabrication of wearable strain sensors with high performances. It is shown that the formation of hybrid physically and chemically cross-linked double-networks endows the EG organogel with an extraordinarily stretchability as high as 21 000%, which is the highest value for gels reported in the literature. Meanwhile, the low vapor pressure of EG gives the organogel high ambient stability. Benefiting from the intrinsic stretchability and stability of EG organogel, the strain sensors are fabricated easily by incorporating graphene as electrically conductive filler, which display extremely wide strain-sensing range (>10 500% fracture strain) with a gauge factor of 2.3. More importantly, the sensor can withstand >50 000 loading-unloading cycles in air, exhibiting high stability and superior durability. It is demonstrated that these sensors can track joint movements and muscle vibrations (such as human joint motions, drinking, saying, breathing, and slight cough) of human body and even distinguish the deformations of different directions and the touches of a hair. This work not only provided a new elastic matrix platform for the fabrication of extremely stretchable, stable, and durable strain sensors but also demonstrates their applications as wearable electronic devices for tracking both large and tiny motions of human body, which could be further extended to the practical applications in electronic skin, human-machine interactions, and personalized health monitoring.

Current progress in the controlled synthesis and biomedical applications of ultrasmall (<10 nm) NaREF4 nanoparticles

The design and fabrication of rare earth upconversion nanoparticle (UCNP)-based nanomedical platforms have evoked increasing interest. However, their bio-safety is always the most worrisome problem. Most nanoparticles can accumulate in the internal organs, leading to acute toxicity, a long-term inflammatory response, or even fibrosis and cancer. In contrast, ultrasmall (sub-10 nm) nanoparticles have minimal safety risk because they can escape from macrophages, pass biological barriers, and be easily degraded or excreted from the body. In this review, we mainly introduce new progress in preparation strategies, imaging and drug delivery with regards to ultrasmall UCNPs, with an emphasis on rare earth fluorides, NaREF₄. Finally, we discuss the future outlook and challenges relating to ultrasmall UCNPs.

Fine-tuning of multiple upconversion emissions by controlling the crystal phase and morphology between GdF3:Yb3+,Tm3+ and GdOF:Yb3+,Tm3+ nanocrystals

Fine-tuning of multi-color emission characteristics of upconversion lanthanide-ion-doped nanocrystals is of high importance for 3-D color displays, multi-color bio-imaging, and multiplexed cellular labeling.

Pattern-based sensing of triple negative breast cancer cells with dual-ligand cofunctionalized gold nanoclusters

Early detection of breast cancer is a critical component in patient prognosis and establishing effective therapy regimens. Here, we developed an easily accessible yet potentially powerful sensor to detect cancer cell targets by utilizing seven dual-ligand cofunctionalized gold nanoclusters (AuNCs) as both effective cell recognition elements and signal transducers. On the basis of this AuNC multichannel sensor, we have successfully distinguished healthy, cancerous and metastatic human breast cells with excellent reproducibility and high sensitivity. Triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBCs), which exhibit low expression of the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2, were identified. The high accuracy of the blind breast cell sample tests further validates the practical application of the sensor array. In addition, the versatility of the sensor array is further justified by identifying amongst distinct cell types, different cell concentrations and cell mixtures. Notably, the drug-resistant cancer cells can also be efficiently discriminated. Furthermore, the dual-ligand cofunctionalized AuNCs can efficiently differentiate different cells from the peripheral blood of tumor-free and tumor-bearing mice. Taken together, this fluorescent AuNCs based array provides a powerful cell analysis tool with potential applications in biomedical diagnostics.

Tuning upconversion through a sensitizer/activator-isolated NaYF₄ core/shell structure

The ability to tune the emission color of upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) will greatly enhance the scope of their applications, ranging from infrared solar cells to volumetric multiplexed bioimaging. Conventional methods to tune upconversion are to vary the type and/or the concentration of doped rare-earth ions in these nanoparticle formulations. Here, we introduce a different approach to vary the emission colors of the frequently used sensitizer/activator pairs of Yb(3+)/RE(3+) (RE = Ho, Er, Tm) via utilization of a sensitizer/activator-isolated NaYF4 core-shell structure. We show that the typical green, yellow, and blue luminescent colors from Yb(3+)/Ho(3+)-, Yb(3+)/Er(3+)-, and Yb(3+)/Tm(3+)-co-doped NaYF4 UCNPs can be converted into the quasi-white, green, and pink blue, when corresponding core-shell structures of NaYF4:Yb(3+) @NaYF4:Ho(3+), NaYF4:Yb(3+) @NaYF4:Er(3+) and NaYF4:Yb(3+) @NaYF4:Tm(3+) are built. Time-resolved spectra indicate that decay lifetimes of the emission bands from the sensitizer/activator-isolated core-shell structure significantly vary from that of the sensitizer/activator-codoped NaYF4 UCNPs, verifying the strain-induced modulation of emission channels in the core-shell structure. These sensitizer-activator-isolated core-shell UCNPs have implications for a range of biophotonic or photonic applications.

Probing the nature of upconversion nanocrystals: instrumentation matters

Understanding upconversion nanocrystals: this review intends to summarize instrumental matters related to the characterization of upconversion nanocrystals from surface structures to intrinsic properties to ultimate challenges in nanocrystal analysis at single-particle levels.

Lanthanide-doped upconversion nano-bioprobes: electronic structures, optical properties, and biodetection

The latest advances in lanthanide-doped upconversion nanoparticles were comprehensively reviewed, which covers from their fundamental photophysics to biodetection.

NaYF4:Yb,Er–MoS2: from synthesis and surface ligand stripping to negative infrared photoresponse

The synthesis, surface ligand stripping (SOCl₂/DMF treatment), and unusual negative infrared photoresponse of new NaYF₄:Yb,Er–MoS₂ sheet nanocomposites were reported.

Synergetically enhanced near-infrared photoresponse of reduced graphene oxide by upconversion and gold plasmon

A new route to improve responsivity of reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-based near-infrared photodetectors is reported by coupling upconversion and gold plasmon. Near-infrared light is converted by upconversion nanoparticle into shorter wavelengths that can readily be absorbed by rGO. Further coupling of plasmonic layer increased upconversion emissions and rGO absorption, resulting in an overall enhancement of photo-responsivity by 10 times.

NaYF4 nanocrystals with TOPO ligands: synthesis-dependent structural and luminescent properties

A comprehensive characterization of NaYF4 nanocrystals synthesized in trioctylphosphine oxide has been reported in order to present an effective method of monodisperse, small, hexagonal nanocrystal synthesis in a high boiling organic solvent via a co-thermolysis pathway. We observed the influence of temperature, Na/Y precursors ratio and time of the synthesis on the nanocrystals size, shape and crystal structure. For that purpose, we characterized the structure of as-synthesized nanocrystals by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Moreover, all nanocrystals were doped with Eu(3+) ions, which were used as an optical crystal field probe. We applied photoluminescence, PL excitation and absorbance spectra to determine the influence of crystal symmetry, surface to volume ratio and ligands on the optical properties of doped Eu(3+) ions. It was found that trioctylphosphine oxide reduces the free-energy barrier and stimulates the NaYF4 crystallization in the hexagonal phase, even at relatively low temperature. A similar effect was observed when the excess of sodium trifluoroacetate precursors was used. Moreover, the presented nanocrystal evolution within synthesis time confirmed that at suitable conditions NaYF4 crystallized in the hexagonal phase within less than 5 min. Optical spectroscopy investigations confirmed the high quality of small β-NaYF4:Eu(3+) nanocrystals, which are promising candidates for e.g. optical markers in the visible wavelength range.

Multicolor tunability and upconversion enhancement of fluoride nanoparticles by oxygen dopant

The ability to manipulate the upconversion luminescence of lanthanide-ion doped fluoride upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) is particularly important and highly desired due to their wide applications in color displays, multiplexing bioassays and multicolor imaging. Here, we developed a strategy for simultaneously tuning color output and enhancing upconversion emission of Yb/Er doped fluoride UCNPs, based on adjusting the oxygen doping level. The synthesis of multicolored multifunctional NaGdF4:Yb,Er UCNPs was used as the model host system to demonstrate this protocol. Ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) was used as the oxygen source and added into the reaction system at the beginning stage of nucleation and growth process of fluoride UCNPs, which facilitates the formation of enough oxygen atoms and the diffusion of these into the fluoride host matrix. The results revealed that multicolour output and upconversion enhancement mainly resulted from the variation of phonon energy and crystal field symmetry of the host lattice, respectively. This strategy can be further expanded to other fluoride host matrices. As an example of an application, multicolored UCNPs were used as a color converter in light emitting diodes, which can effectively convert near-infrared light into visible light. It is expected that these multicolored UCNPs will be promising for applications in multiplexing biodetection, bioimaging (optical and magnetic resonance imaging) and other optical technologies, and the present method for the control of O(2-) doping may also be used in other functional nanomaterials.

Controlled synthesis of uniform LaF3 polyhedrons, nanorods and nanoplates using NaOH and ligands

A facile and productive method has been developed to synthesize uniform LaF3 nanocrystals with controllable shapes, including polyhedrons, nanorods and nanoplates. By tuning the amount of NaOH and ligands (oleic acid and octadecylamine), we can finely tailor the shapes and sizes of LaF3 nanocrystals. Three prepared LaF3 nanostructures were well characterized, followed by a series of control experiments to propose a mechanism for the shape control. Based on the success in materials synthesis, controlled patterning of LaF3 nanoplates on substrates has also been achieved. After Yb/Er or Yb/Tm was co-doped in these LaF3 nanostructures, they could serve as nanoparticulate host matrices to give strong upconversion luminescence, showing great potential in biomedical applications considering their small sizes and well-defined shapes.

Controlled synthesis and single-particle imaging of bright, sub-10 nm lanthanide-doped upconverting nanocrystals

Phosphorescent nanocrystals that upconvert near-infrared light to emit at higher energies in the visible have shown promise as photostable, nonblinking, and background-free probes for biological imaging. However, synthetic control over upconverting nanocrystal size has been difficult, particularly for the brightest system, Yb(3+)- and Er(3+)-doped β-phase NaYF(4), for which there have been no reports of methods capable of producing sub-10 nm nanocrystals. Here we describe conditions for the controlled synthesis of protein-sized β-phase NaYF(4): 20% Yb(3+), 2% Er(3+) nanocrystals, from 4.5 to 15 nm in diameter. The size of the nanocrystals was modulated by varying the concentration of basic surfactants, Y(3+):F(-) ratio, and reaction temperature, variables that also affected their crystalline phase. Increased reaction times favor formation of the desired β-phase nanocrystals while having only a modest effect on nanocrystal size. Core/shell β-phase NaYF(4): 20% Yb(3+), 2% Er(3+)/NaYF(4) nanoparticles less than 10 nm in total diameter exhibit higher luminescence quantum yields than comparable >25 nm diameter core nanoparticles. Single-particle imaging of 9 nm core/shell nanoparticles also demonstrates that they exhibit no measurable photobleaching or blinking. These results establish that small lanthanide-doped upconverting nanoparticles can be synthesized without sacrificing brightness or stability, and these sub-10 nm nanoparticles are ideally suited for single-particle imaging.