Two non-fullerene small molecule acceptors based on CF₃-4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacene (BODIPY) as the central acceptor core and different donor terminal triphenylamine and carbazole units denoted as CF₃-BDP-TPA and CF₃-BDP-Cz, respectively, were designed and synthesized, and their optical and electrochemical properties were investigated. Both CF₃-BDP-TPA and CF₃-BDP-Cz showed a narrow bandgap, similar to the well-known Y6 acceptor. The molecular dipole moment of CF₃-BDP-Cz is 5.53 D, which is significantly larger than that of CF₃-BDP-TPA (3.347 D) and leads to strengthening the intramolecular (C–H⋯π) interaction, thereby enhancing molecular packing. We have used conjugated polymer PBDB-T as the donor (HOMO = −5.22 eV and LUMO = −3.45 eV), having complementary absorption spectra to both CF₃-BDP-TPA and CF₃-BDP-Cz. The optimized polymer solar cells based on CF₃-BDP-TPA and CF₃-BDP-Cz attained power conversion efficiencies of 9.89% and 13.07%, respectively. The higher PCE for the CF₃-BDP-Cz-based device is linked with the larger dipole moment of CF₃-BDP-Cz compared to that of CF₃-BDP-TPA, which leads to a lower exciton binding energy and apparently increases both short circuit current and open circuit voltage. The increased value of the fill factor for the CF₃-BDP-Cz-based device compared to that of CF₃-BDP-TPA counterpart is associated with the balanced charge transport and suppressed recombination processes.

The A₂B type Cu(iii)triarylcorroles withmeso-aryl push–pull substituents demonstrate that these compounds are highly efficient catalysts for modulating electrocatalyzed hydrogen evolution reactions (HERs).

We herein report the synthesis and pH-sensing properties of novel gallium corrole derivatives based on 8-hydroxyquinoline. The free base corrole and its gallium corrole derivatives were fully characterized using NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Their photophysical and electrochemical properties were also investigated using UV/Vis spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, MCD spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. A Ga-corrole derivative showed a good fluorescence response to change in pH in a wide pH range, from pH 1 to 12. Specifically, its fluorescence gradually diminished, from a high intensity at neutral pH, as the pH was either decreased or increased, i.e., into acidic and basic conditions, respectively. These results indicated that the Ga-corrole derivative would be able to serve as an efficient “off–on–off” fluorescent sensor of pH in the solution state.

Catalysis of fuel-producing reactions can be transferred from homogeneous solution to a surface via attachment of the molecular catalyst. A pyrene–pyridine hybrid (Py–Py) was used as an axial ligand to bridge Co(II)tetraphenylporphyrin which was finally immobilized on carbon nanotubes via noncovalent interactions and further deposited on glassy carbon. This noncovalent immobilization of Co(II)porphyrin through axial coordination provides significantly enhanced electrochemically catalyzed oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution, illustrating a new insight into understanding surface catalysis.

The post-functionalization of six novel symmetric and asymmetric meso-expanded Co(III) corroles through Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reactions has been successfully accomplished and is reported along with their structural characterization. An analysis of the structure–property relationships of the optical and redox properties of the corroles has been carried out by comparing their optical spectra and their electrochemical properties. The results demonstrate that post-functionalized meso-expanded Co(III) triarylcorroles exhibit enhanced electrocatalyzed oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity and that their reactivity can be controlled by modulating the electronic structure, the functionalization and the number of coupled meso-substituents.

Herein, a series of five C₂ symmetric H₂porphyrins with meso-borneol and meso-carbazole units have been synthesized and isolated. Their electronic structures, photophysical properties and anticancer activity were investigated.