We design a new yellow phosphor with high quantum yield by immobilizing a preselected chromophore into a rigid framework. Coating a blue light-emitting diode (LED) with this compound readily generates white light with high luminous efficacy. The new yellow phosphor demonstrates great potential for use in phosphor-converted white LEDs.

Research has provided substantial evidences that heat shock proteins (HSPs) play essential roles in extreme physiological conditions. Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are important HSPs regulators, but their functions are poorly understood, particularly in Populus and Medicago. In this study, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the HSFs was performed in Populus trichocarpa and Medicago truncatula. Twenty-eight Populus HSFs and 16 Medicago HSFs were identified, and comparative analyzes of the two plants were carried out subsequently. HSFs were divided into three different classes and they were diverse and complicated transcription factors. The results of semi-quantitative RT-PCR in Populus suggested six genes (PtHSF-03, PtHSF-13, PtHSF-15, PtHSF-21, PtHSF-22 and PtHSF-23) were markedly increased by heat stress. The results presented here provide an important clue for cloning, expression and functional studies of the HSFs in Populus and Medicago.

Energy-efficient solid-state-lighting (SSL) technologies are rapidly developing, but the lack of stable, high-performance rare-earth free phosphors may impede the growth of the SSL market. One possible alternative is organic phosphor materials, but these can suffer from lower quantum yields and thermal instability compared to rare-earth phosphors. However, if luminescent organic chromophores can be built into a rigid metal-organic framework, their quantum yields and thermal stability can be greatly improved. This Forum Article discusses the design of a group of such chromophore-based luminescent metal-organic frameworks with exceptionally high performance and rational control of the important parameters that influence their emission properties, including electronic structures of chromophore, coligands, metal ions, and guest molecules.

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