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Electrochromic devices (ECDs) comprising visible/near‐infrared (NIR) transparent amorphous indium zinc oxide (a‐IZO) outermost layers and novel NIR‐emitting electrolytes are proposed for smart windows of buildings in cold climate regions. The electrolytes are composed of a di‐urethane cross‐linked poly(oxyethylene)(POE)/siloxane hybrid matrix (d‐Ut(600), 600 is the average molecular weight of the POE chains in gmol−1), 1‐butyl‐3‐methylimidazolium chloride ionic liquid, and the Er(tta)3(H2O)2 complex (tta− is 2‐thenoyltrifluoracetonate). The electrolytes, synthesized by sol‐gel route, were obtained as transparent, flexible, and hydrophilic monoliths with nanoscale surface roughness, exhibiting emission in the NIR wavelength region. The first electro‐optical tests, performed in 2019, with an archetypal ECD including amorphous tungsten oxide and crystalline nickel oxide as EC layers, a‐IZO as outermost layers, and d‐Ut(600)400Er(tta)3(H2O)2[Bmim]Cl (400 is the molar ratio of oxyethylene units/Er3+ ion) as the electrolyte, demonstrated rather low coloration efficiency (CEin/CEout) values of −4/+6 cm2 C−1 at 555 nm. After 3 years of storage at rest in the dark and at room temperature, the same device demonstrates a huge performance enhancement, leading to CEin/CEout values about two orders of magnitude higher, apart from higher optical density, and improved cycling stability. In addition, this device offers a bright hot, and semi‐bright warm dual modulation operation suitable for smart windows of skylights, roof lights, upper windows, inclined glazing, and privacy glazing of buildings located in cold climate regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Green, transparent and flexible electrolyte films composed of a Bombyx mori silk fibroin (SF) host biopolymer doped with glycerol (G), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO, D) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([Bmim]PF6) ionic liquid (IL), were synthesized. The materials were represented by the notation SF@GD@ILx (x = 15, 20 and 30 is the mass ratio of SF/[Bmim]PF6 in %). SF@, SF@G, SF@D and SF@GD samples were also prepared. DMSO was found to play a dual-role, acting as solvent of [Bmim]PF6, and enhancing ionic conductivity. DMSO, alone or combined with [Bmim]PF6, led to the increase of the mean roughness and induced the formation of more ordered Silk II conformations (ß-sheets). No structural modifications were detected in the SF@GD@ILx samples upon increasing the temperature up to 100 °C. The highest ionic conductivity was exhibited by the IL-rich sample SF@GD@IL30 (1.07 and 4.61 mS cm-1, at 22 and 100 °C, respectively). In the [Bmim]PF6-doped electrolytes "free" and coordinated PF6 - ions coexist. The weight losses occurring below 200 °C involved essentially the release of adsorbed water and DMSO. The suitable mechanical properties, high ionic conductivity and good electrochemical stability suggest that these electrolytes are attractive candidates for application in electrochemical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designing novel multifunctional materials from natural resources is a challenging goal that has increasingly attracted researchers. Recently, the great potential of silk fibers has been recognized. The target readers for this review are researchers from different backgrounds (i.e., non-specialists in silk research) with special interests on the physical-chemical characterization of silk fibers, since their knowledge is crucial for the improvement of existent silk-based biomaterials and the basis for the development of new products. Examples of usual applications of Bombyx mori silk fibers are given and some of the most recent and exciting progress in new technological fields, is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work addresses the question of the effect of the presence of Al(III) on the aggregation and micellization properties of sodium dodecyl sulfate in water. At SDS pre-micellar concentrations, and in the presence of Al(III), aggregation between Al(III) and dodecylsulfate occurs when the ionic concentration reaches equimolar values. Under this condition, the turbidity of the solution increases and is accompanied by a decrease of free SDS in solution and an increase of the bulk pH. This latter result, coupled with data from 27Al NMR spectroscopy, suggests that the DS- anion exchanges the hydroxyl ions from the coordination sphere of the hydrolyzed aluminium, and the interfacial pH will decrease upon increasing the DS- in solution; the formation of aggregates is also supported by the analysis of electrical conductivity data. At concentration ratios greater than around 5, which corresponds to the binding ratio (SDS:Al(III)) value, the dissolution of aggregates occurs upon increasing the SDS concentration. The effect of Al(III) on the micelle concentration was analyzed using an electrical conductivity technique by calculating the micellization thermodynamic parameters at different Al(III) concentrations and temperatures. It is possible to conclude that in the presence of Al(III) the free energy of micellization (ΔGm 0) increases; although the critical micelle concentrations of SDS in the presence of aluminium nitrate, for each temperature, are independent of the Al(III) concentration and are lower than the cmc, a drastic increase in the degree of micelle counter-ion dissociation is observed. By increasing the temperature, by a system with a constant Al(III) concentration, we have found a decrease in the ΔGm 0 , and as a general trend the dependence of ΔGm 0 on T decreases upon increasing the salt concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A sustainable use of energy in buildings demands energy‐efficient windows. A new design concept for electrochromic (EC) smart windows, easy to implement at the industrial level, is introduced here. It enables simultaneous control of visible and near‐infrared (NIR) solar radiation, thus contributing to reduce heating and cooling loads especially in buildings located in areas experiencing wide daily temperature ranges. The EC device comprises amorphous indium zinc oxide, a conducting oxide transparent in the visible and NIR spectral regions, as nonactive layer, and a sol–gel protonic ionic liquid‐doped di‐ureasil electrolyte displaying high transparency and proton conductivity. The device offers three voltage‐operated modes: bright hot (+3.0 V: transmittances of 70/83% at 555/1000 nm), semi‐bright warm (−2.0 V: transmittances of 37/35% at 555/1000 nm), and dark cold (−2.5 V: transmittances of 6/4% at 555/1000 nm). Its main figures of merit are: high switching efficiency (transmittance variations of 64/79% at 555/1000 nm), high optical density modulation (1.1/1.3 at 555/1000 nm), high optical contrast ratio in the visible region (lightness variation of ≈43), good cycling stability, and unprecedented coloration efficiency (−12538/−14818 cm2 C−1 and +2901/+3428 cm2 C−1 at 555/1000 nm), outstanding optical memory (transmittance variation loss of only 24% more than 4 months after coloration), and self‐healing ability following mechanical stress. An energy‐efficient electrochromic device enabling bright hot, semi‐bright warm, and dark cold modes through the application of +3.0 to ‐2.5 V is proposed for windows of buildings located in continental climatic regions. The system includes amorphous indium zinc oxide electrode and a protonic ionic liquid‐doped di‐ureasil–based electrolyte. The system demonstrates high coloration efficiency values, excellent optical memory, and self‐healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green synthesis of carbon dots (CDs) from natural sources is a challenging goal. Herein CDs are produced from Agapanthus africanus (L.) Hoffmann leaves by carbonization at 200/300 °C for 2/3 h. Samples are named CZ-X-Y, where Z, X, and Y represent carbonization, temperature, and time, respectively. CZ-200-3, CZ-300-2, and CZ-300-3 CDs have average sizes of 3.7 ± 0.7, 5.3 ± 1.2, and 5.1 ± 1.6 nm, respectively. Their surface, devoid of chlorophyll, contains ─OH, ─C═O, and ─C(═O)OH groups and sylvite. Isolated CZ-300-3 emits at 400 nm (excited at 260 nm) and exhibits an emission quantum yield (QY) value of 2 ± 1%. Embedding in the d-U(600)/d-(900) di-ureasil matrices resulted in transparent films with emission intensity maxima at 420/450 nm (360 nm), and QY values of 7 ± 1/16 ± 2% (400 nm). The enhancement of the QY value of the bare CDs agrees with an efficient passivation provided by the hybrid host. The hydrophilic CZ-300-3 CDs also exerted a marked surface modifying role, changing the surface roughness and the wettability of the hybrid films., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Luminescence thermometry presents precise remote temperature measurement capabilities but faces significant challenges in real-world applications, primarily stemming from the calibration's susceptibility to environmental factors. External factors can compromise accuracy, necessitating resilient measurement protocols to ensure dependable temperature (T) readings across various settings. We explore a novel three-dimensional (3D) approach based on time-gated (t) luminescence thermometric parameters, Δ ( T , t ), employing physical mixtures of surface-engineered carbon dots (CDs) based on dibenzoylmethane and rhodamine B. These CDs showcase enduring, temperature-responsive, and customizable phosphorescence, easily activated by low-power LEDs and distinguished by their prolonged emission time due to thermally activated delayed phosphorescence. Quantifying the thermal emission dependency is achievable through conventional spectrometer analyses or by capturing photographs with a smartphone's camera under flashlight illumination, yielding up to 30 time-gated ratiometric thermometric parameters per sample. Notably, within the temperature range of 23-45 °C, the maximum relative sensitivity of 7.9% °C -1 surpasses current state-of-the-art CD-based thermometers and ensures temperature readout with low-resolution portable devices as non-modified smartphones.

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a supramolecular composite comprised of carbon dots (CDots) embedded within net-poly[(α-cyclodextrin)-ν-(citric acid)] (α-CD/CA/CDots) for the removal and detection of toluene and xylene from aqueous media. The remarkable stability of CDots within the composite enables the preservation of photoluminescence properties for prolonged storage and extended UV-light irradiation. As demonstrated, following the adsorption of both organic compounds, the composite detected them in the aqueous medium due to a fluorescence quenching mechanism. Spectroscopic analyses reveal that the accessible Stern-Volmer quenching constants for toluene and xylene are K SVa  = 15.4 M -1 and K SVa  = 10.3 M -1 , respectively. As a result, the α-CD/CA/CDots composite were sensitive to the tested volatile organic compounds (LOD toluene  = 3.7 mg/L and LOD xylene  = 4.9 mg/L). Optimal conditions for toluene and xylene adsorption were found, allowing to achieve noticeable adsorption capabilities (q e(toluene)  = 68.9 and q e(xylene)  = 48.2 mg/g) and removal efficiencies exceeding 70%. Different characterization techniques confirmed the successful synthesis of the composite and elucidated the interaction mechanisms between the adsorbent and the tested compounds. In summary, the multifunctionality demonstrated by the α-CD/CA/CDots composite ranks it as an efficient and promising adsorbent and detection probe for this class of water contaminants., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)