Graphene-Based Fluorescence-Quenching-Related Fermi Level Elevation and Electron-Concentration Surge

Intermolecular p-orbital overlaps in unsaturated π-conjugated systems, such as graphene and fluorescent molecules with aromatic structure, serve as the electron-exchanged path. Using Raman-mapping measurements, we observe that the fluorescence intensity of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) is quenched by graphene, whereas it persists in graphene-absent substrates (SiO₂). After identifying a mechanism related to photon-induced electron transfer (PET) that contributes to this fluorescence quenching phenomenon, we validate this mechanism by conducting analyses on Dirac point shifts of FITC-coated graphene. From these shifts, Fermi level elevation and the electron-concentration surge in graphene upon visible-light impingements are acquired. Finally, according to this mechanism, graphene-based biosensors are fabricated to show the sensing capability of measuring fluorescently labeled-biomolecule concentrations

Förster Energy Transport in Metal–Organic Frameworks Is Beyond Step-by-Step Hopping

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with light-harvesting building blocks designed to mimic photosynthetic chromophore arrays in green plants provide an excellent platform to study exciton transport in networks with well-defined structures. A step-by-step exciton random hopping model made of the elementary steps of energy transfer between only the nearest neighbors is usually used to describe the transport dynamics. Although such a nearest neighbor approximation is valid in describing the energy transfer of triplet states via the Dexter mechanism, we found it inadequate in evaluating singlet exciton migration that occurs through the Förster mechanism, which involves one-step jumping over longer distance. We measured migration rates of singlet excitons on two MOFs constructed from truxene-derived ligands and zinc nodes, by monitoring energy transfer from the MOF skeleton to a coumarin probe in the MOF cavity. The diffusivities of the excitons on the frameworks were determined to be 1.8 × 10^–2 cm²/s and 2.3 × 10^–2 cm²/s, corresponding to migration distances of 43 and 48 nm within their lifetimes, respectively. “Through space” energy-jumping beyond nearest neighbor accounts for up to 67% of the energy transfer rates. This finding presents a new perspective in the design and understanding of highly efficient energy transport networks for singlet excited states

Exciton Migration and Amplified Quenching on Two-Dimensional Metal–Organic Layers

The dimensionality dependency of resonance energy transfer is of great interest due to its importance in understanding energy transfer on cell membranes and in low-dimension nanostructures. Light harvesting two-dimensional metal–organic layers (2D-MOLs) and three-dimensional metal–organic frameworks (3D-MOFs) provide comparative models to study such dimensionality dependence with molecular accuracy. Here we report the construction of 2D-MOLs and 3D-MOFs from a donor ligand 4,4′,4″-(benzene-1,3,5-triyl-tris­(ethyne-2,1-diyl))­tribenzoate (BTE) and a doped acceptor ligand 3,3′,3″-nitro-4,4′,4″-(benzene-1,3,5-triyl-tris­(ethyne-2,1-diyl))­tribenzoate (BTE-NO₂). These 2D-MOLs and 3D-MOFs are connected by similar hafnium clusters, with key differences in the topology and dimensionality of the metal–ligand connection. Energy transfer from donors to acceptors through the 2D-MOL or 3D-MOF skeletons is revealed by measuring and modeling the fluorescence quenching of the donors. We found that energy transfer in 3D-MOFs is more efficient than that in 2D-MOLs, but excitons on 2D-MOLs are more accessible to external quenchers as compared with those in 3D-MOFs. These results not only provide support to theoretical analysis of energy transfer in low dimensions, but also present opportunities to use efficient exciton migration in 2D materials for light-harvesting and fluorescence sensing

Förster Energy Transport in Metal–Organic Frameworks Is Beyond Step-by-Step Hopping

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) with light-harvesting building blocks designed to mimic photosynthetic chromophore arrays in green plants provide an excellent platform to study exciton transport in networks with well-defined structures. A step-by-step exciton random hopping model made of the elementary steps of energy transfer between only the nearest neighbors is usually used to describe the transport dynamics. Although such a nearest neighbor approximation is valid in describing the energy transfer of triplet states via the Dexter mechanism, we found it inadequate in evaluating singlet exciton migration that occurs through the Förster mechanism, which involves one-step jumping over longer distance. We measured migration rates of singlet excitons on two MOFs constructed from truxene-derived ligands and zinc nodes, by monitoring energy transfer from the MOF skeleton to a coumarin probe in the MOF cavity. The diffusivities of the excitons on the frameworks were determined to be 1.8 × 10^–2 cm²/s and 2.3 × 10^–2 cm²/s, corresponding to migration distances of 43 and 48 nm within their lifetimes, respectively. “Through space” energy-jumping beyond nearest neighbor accounts for up to 67% of the energy transfer rates. This finding presents a new perspective in the design and understanding of highly efficient energy transport networks for singlet excited states

Warm-White-Light-Emitting Diode Based on a Dye-Loaded Metal–Organic Framework for Fast White-Light Communication

A dye@metal–organic framework (MOF) hybrid was used as a fluorophore in a white-light-emitting diode (WLED) for fast visible-light communication (VLC). The white light was generated from a combination of blue emission of the 9,10-dibenzoate anthracene (DBA) linkers and yellow emission of the encapsulated Rhodamine B molecules. The MOF structure not only prevents dye molecules from aggregation-induced quenching but also efficiently transfers energy to the dye for dual emission. This light-emitting material shows emission lifetimes of 1.8 and 5.3 ns for the blue and yellow components, respectively, which are significantly shorter than the 200 ns lifetime of Y₃Al₅O₁₂:Ce³⁺ in commercial WLEDs. The MOF-WLED device exhibited a modulating frequency of 3.6 MHz for VLC, six times that of commercial WLEDs

Modeling Fe/N/C Catalysts in Monolayer Graphene

Pyrolyzed Fe/N/C is one of the most promising non-precious-metal catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which is supposed to boost the commercialization of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). However, the nature of the active sites of Fe/N/C is not clear and has long been debated. The challenges mainly come from highly heterogeneous structures formed during the pyrolysis process as well as no suitable surface probes. To elucidate the active sites, the most effective approach is building well-defined model catalysts as single-crystal planes in surface sciences. Herein, we designed a single-atomic-layer Fe/N/C model catalyst based on monolayer graphene (FeN-MLG) to explore the active sites. The model catalyst was prepared by 950 °C heat treatment of graphene with controlled defects under an FeCl₃(g)/NH₃ atmosphere. The as-prepared model catalyst exhibits ORR activity and SCN^– suppressive effect comparable to those of normal nanoparticle-like Fe/N/C catalysts, indicating that active sites are successfully created in the model catalyst. The effect of defect density, the layer number of graphene, and nitrogen species on the ORR activity has been investigated. The main content of nitrogen species on FeN-MLG is N_<i>x</i>-Fe, and quantitative correlation between N_<i>x</i>-Fe and ORR activity demonstrates that N_<i>x</i>-Fe species are the active site of Fe/N/C catalysts. The proposed model catalyst serves to simplify the catalyst structures and to simulate the topmost atomic layer of normal Fe/N/C, where ORR is catalyzed. This model system opens an opportunity to further understand the highly heterogeneous Fe/N/C catalysts