The twisted spiro-type SAM 4PA-spiro effectively suppresses molecular aggregation and ensures appropriate energy levels, providing an efficiency of 25.28 and 21.87% for the p–i–n PSCs (0.05 cm²) and modules (29.0 cm²).

At present, the crisis of declining energy resources and environmental pollution has become a major global challenge. In this case, photocatalysis is a very efficient technology for the production of renewable energy and the degradation of pollutants. Among the various photocatalysts, zinc oxide-based photocatalysts have emerged as some of the most promising photocatalysts due to their stability and environmentally friendly nature, and they have a wide range of applications in pollutant degradation, photocatalytic water splitting for hydrogen production, CO₂ reduction, etc. Although a lot of research has been conducted to enhance the performance of photocatalysts, there is still a large gap in the exploration of heterojunctions and their effects on photocatalytic efficiency. In this paper, we aim to fill this gap via in-depth analysis of the influence of different heterojunction structures in zinc oxide-based photocatalysts on various applications. Additionally, other effective strategies to improve their photocatalytic performance are summarized, providing important insights for promoting the development of photocatalytic efficiency.

In this paper, dye-doped polymer-dispersed liquid crystalline (DDPDLC) films were prepared with high mechanical properties and low driving voltage by doping different dichroic anthraquinone dyes. The effects of various dye and doping concentrations on microscopic morphology, electro-optical characteristics, and mechanical characteristics were investigated. The optimal doping concentrations of different dyes were also explored. The results show that the addition of all dyes decreased the contrast ratio (CR) and the transmittance and mechanical properties of the polymer-dispersed liquid crystalline (PDLC) films. Similar mechanisms underlie the effects of solvent red 111 and solvent blue 104, which lower the driving voltages of the PDLC films. With the increasing concentration of the dye, the haze of the films first decreased and then increased after the content of the dye reached a certain level. For PDLC films doped with solvent green 28, the driving voltage and haze increased with the increasing content of the dye. According to different influencing factors, the dye content corresponding to the best performance of solvent red 111, solvent green 28 and solvent blue 104 is 0.8 wt%, 2.0 wt% and 0.3 wt%. Electrochromic PDLC films have been prepared based on the research results of dye content. The mechanical properties, electro-optical properties and microstructures of the films have been studied. The results show that the DDPDLC films could change color by tuning the applied voltages. The research provides a theoretical basis for obtaining PDLC films with a wider color gamut and supports the practical application of visible light camouflage technology in the military.

In this work, hydroxylated compounds are applied to prepare polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) films and the role of the hydroxy group is studied in detail by comparing the effects of the hydroxylated acrylate monomer, the hydroxylated mesogenic component and their corresponding non-hydroxylated components. It is revealed that the hydroxylated acrylate monomer plays a more important role in modifying the morphology of the polymer matrix and thereby the electro-optical performance of the PDLC films. Parameters of the polymer matrix, such as size and density of voids, can be affected by various components, but only the hydroxylated acrylate monomer can alter its type from the typical Swiss-cheese type to the polymer-microsphere type. Essentially, the hydroxylated mesogenic component takes effect through changing the ratio of the liquid crystal phase, while the hydroxylated acrylate monomer can participate in the polymerization and impact the development of the polymer matrix. It is anticipated that this research can help in understanding the role of the hydroxy group in PDLC films.

With the rapid development of electrical energy storage technologies, traditional battery systems are limited in practical applications by insufficient energy density and short cycle life. This review provides a comprehensive and critical summary of MXene or MXene-based composites as electrode materials for high-performance energy storage devices. By integrating the synthesis techniques of MXenes that have been studied, this paper systematically illustrates the physicochemical properties, synthesis strategies, and mechanisms of MXenes, and analyzes the bottlenecks in their large-scale preparation. Meanwhile, it collates the latest research achievements of MXenes in the field of metal–ion batteries in recent years, focusing on integrating their latest progress in lithium–ion, sodium–ion, lithium–sulfur, and multivalent ion (Zn²⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺) batteries, and reveals their action mechanisms in different electrode material cases. Combining DFT analysis of the effects of surface functional groups on adsorption energy with experimental studies clarifies the structure–activity relationships of MXene-based composites. However, the development of energy storage electrode materials using MXenes and their hybrid compounds remains in its infancy. Future development directions for MXene-based batteries should focus on understanding and regulating surface chemistry, investigating specific energy storage mechanisms in electrodes, and exploring and developing electrode materials related to bimetallic MXenes.