6,8,15,17-Tetraaza-1.18,4.5,9.10,13.14-tetrabenzoheptacene (TTH, 1) has been prepared and characterized by single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. A phototransistor device based on TTH single crystal demonstrated that TTH showed a good performance in signal amplification under the photoconductive effect as well as photocontrolled switches.

Two novel heteroacenes 2,3,9,10-tetra(furan-2-yl)-1,4,8,11-tetraaza-6,13-dioxapentacene (FAOP, 1) and 2,3,9,10-tetra(thiophen-2-yl)-1,4,8,11-tetraaza-6,13-dioxapentacene (TAOP, 2) was successfully synthesized through a one-step condensation reaction, which have been fully characterized by (1)H NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance), (13)C NMR, FT-IR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy), and HRMS (high-resolution mass spectrum). The sandwich-structure memory devices have been fabricated using FAOP (1) and TAOP (2) as active layers, showing a typical bipolar resistive switching (RS) behavior in positive and negative regions.

Mesoporous Ni0.85Se nanospheres grown on graphene were synthesized via the hydrothermal approach. Because of the exceptional electron-transfer pathway of graphene and the excellent catalytic ability of the mesoporous Ni0.85Se nanospheres, the nanocomposites exhibited excellent electrocatalytic property as the counter electrode (CE) of dye-sensitized solar cells. More catalytic active sites, better charge-transfer ability and faster reaction velocity of Ni0.85Se@RGO (RGO = reduced graphene oxide) CE led to faster and more complete I3(-) reduction than Pt, Ni0.85Se, and RGO CEs. Furthermore, the power conversion efficiency of Ni0.85Se@RGO CE reached 7.82%, which is higher than that of Pt CE (7.54%). Electrochemical impedance spectra, cyclic voltammetry, and Tafel polarization were obtained to demonstrate positive synergetic effect between Ni0.85Se and RGO, as well as the higher catalytic activity and the better charge-transfer ability of Ni0.85Se@RGO compared with Pt CE.

A series of 3-[(alpha-hydroxy-substituted) benzylidene]pyrrolidine-2,4-dione derivatives were synthesized as candidate herbicides by reacting different aroyl acetates with N-substituted glycine esters. The new compounds were identified by 1H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analyses. Their herbicidal activities were evaluated. Some compounds exhibited excellent herbicidal activities at a dose of 187.5 g/ha. A suitable electron-donating substituent at the 2- and/or 4-position of the phenyl ring was essential for high herbicidal activity, a result that has not been reported before. It was also found that the title compound's structure-activity relationships were different from those of other similar kinds of earlier compounds, a result that may depend on the enol structure difference.

A series of novel alpha,alpha,alpha-trifluoro-m-tolyl pyridazinone derivatives was synthesised. Herbicidal activities of the two intermediate compounds and 15 pyridazinone derivatives were evaluated through barnyardgrass and rape cup tests and Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Schleiden tests. Selected compounds were also evaluated under greenhouse conditions. Bleaching activities were observed at 10 microg ml(-1) and some compounds exhibited herbicidal activities at a rate of 300 g ha(-1). The relationship between crystal structures and herbicidal activities is discussed through a comparison of two compounds (5a and 5f).