Three fluorenone-derived two-photon fluorescent probes (TK) targeting the lysosomes (TK-Lyso) and mitochondria (TK-Mito1 and TK-Mito2) were synthesized by introducing different diphenylamine moieties into the fluorenone core. The TK dyes showed high biocompatibility and long-term retention, low cytotoxicity, large Stokes shift and good fluorescence quantum yield. The results of the present work disclose a class of organic dyes with potential wide applications as specific and efficient probes for lysosomes and mitochondria in the study of various biological processes.

In this work, we investigate the optical and structural properties of the well-known triplet emitter bis(4?,6?-difluorophenylpyridinato)-iridium(III) picolinate (FIrpic), showing that its ability to pack in two different ordered crystal structures promotes attractive photophysical properties that are useful for solid-state lighting applications. This approach allows the detrimental effects of the nonradiative pathways on the luminescence performance in highly concentrated organic active materials to be weakened. The remarkable electro-optical behavior of sky-blue phosphorescent organic light-emitting diodes incorporating crystal domains of FIrpic, dispersed into an appropriate matrix as an active layer, has also been reported as well as the X-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance, electro-ionization mass spectrometry, and scanning electron microscopy analyses of the crystalline samples. We consider this result as a crucial starting point for further research aimed at the use of a crystal triplet emitter in optoelectronic devices to overcome the long-standing issue of luminescence self-quenching.

A platform is described for the first time for the facile synthesis of oligo- and polythiophene-S-oxides and the corresponding -S,S-dioxides in short times, mild conditions, high yields. Employing ultrasound assistance, brominated thiophenes are selectively mono- or dioxygenated at room temperature. These building blocks are then combined with metalated thiophenes via microwave-assisted cross-coupling reactions through a "Lego-like" strategy to afford unprecedented oligo/polythiophene-S-oxides and mixed -S-oxides/-S,S-dioxides. It is demonstrated that depending on the number, type, and sequence alternation of nonoxygenated, monooxygenated, and dioxygenated thiophene units a very wide property-function tuning can be achieved spanning from frontier orbital energies and energy gaps, to charge transport characteristics and supramolecular H-bonding interactions with specific proteins inside live cells.

We present a new in-plane magnetically actuated microfluidic valve. Its simple design includes a circular area joining two channels lying on the same plane. The area is parted by a septum lying on and adhering to a magneto-active polymeric 'floor' membrane, keeping the channels normally separated (valve closed). Under the action of a magnetic field, the membrane collapses, letting the liquid flow below the septum (valve open). The valve was extensively characterized experimentally, and modeled and optimized theoretically. The growing interest in lab on chips, especially for diagnostics and precision medicine, is driving researchers towards smart, efficient and low cost solutions to the management of biological samples. In this context, the valve developed in this work represents a useful building-block for microfluidic applications requiring precise flow control, its main features being easy and rapid manufacturing, biocompatibility and low cost.

We present a large area trifunctional glass prototype combining a photo-electrochromic (PEC) device and an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), interfaced through a properly designed electronic control system. A 12x17 cm(2) PEC glass-on-glass module was realized, containing four dyesensitized solar cells (DSSCs) and a central electrochromic (EC) section deposited on the same glass panel. All PEC layers are screen-printed, including the mesoporous electrochromic layer, obtained from a custommade tungsten paste. DSSCs show an efficiency of 2.4%, while the coloration efficiency of the EC section reaches a value of 40 cm(2)C(-1) at 700 nm. A 10x8 cm(2) transparent white OLED was also realized, designed and tailored in order to unbalance the emission of light, i.e. maximizing the bottom emission. The efficiency of large area OLED section reaches 8 cd A-1 in the operative conditions and without light outcoupling enhancement systems. The OLED device is clamped on the back of the PEC module and all sections are electrically connected to an external electronic control system. The energy collected by the DSSCs is stored in supercapacitors and used when requested, either applied to the EC section to produce a light shading effect in the daytime, or to the OLED for illumination at night.

A bottom contact/top gate ambipolar " p-i-n " layered light emitting field effect transistor with the active medium inserted between two doped transport layers, is reported. The doping profile results crucial to the capability of emitting light, as well as to the electrical characteristics of the device. In this sense, high output current at relative low applied gate/drain voltage and light emission along the whole large area transistor channel are observed, putting the basis to full integration of organic light emitting field effect transistors in planar complex devices. © 2010 American Institute of Physics.

An organic light emitting diode (OLED) emitting light downward through a transparent substrate (240) is described. The OLED embeds a microcavity (220) formed between a cathode (210) and an anode (230) and includes a plurality of organic layers comprising a light emitting layer (225). It is characterized in that the plurality of organic layers includes at least a first layer (229) made of an organic doped material aimed at enhancing the transport of holes; the plurality of organic layers also includes at least a second layer (221) made of an organic doped material aimed at enhancing the transport of electrons. The OLED is further characterized in that the anode i (230) is obtained by deposition of a semi transparent layer of silver (Ag) over the transparent substrate to be directly in contact with the first doped organic layer (229). Then, thicknesses of the first and second doped organic layers can be freely adapted to best adjust the optical characteristics of the microcavity for the wavelength of monochromatic light to be produced by the OLED.

L’invenzione fa riferimento ad un nuovo concetto di finestra intelligente in cui le funzionalità di oscuramento, produzione di energia ed illuminazione artificiale sono integrate su un unico subtrato (vetro o plastica). Grazie all’impiego di materiali multifunzionali e un design innovativo dell’architettura, la seguente tecnologia è pertanto in grado di produrre energia per conversione fotovoltaica, modulare in modo dinamico le proprietà termiche ed il cambiamento di colore e trasparenza della vetrata per effetto elettrocromico, ed infine produrre luce artificiale mediante la tecnologia OLED. L’originalità e la peculiarità di questa invenzione risiede inoltre nella possibilità di fabbricare la tecnologia su un unico substrato mediante processi a basso impatto ambientale e di essere installata su qualsiasi tipo di finestra senza essere sostituita.