Water-dispersed organic base nanoparticles are utilized for the highly stable n-type doping of single-walled carbon nanotubes in aqueous dispersion. Long-term stability is often a critical challenge in the application of n-type organic conductors. The present n-type organic materials exhibit almost no degradation in the thermoelectric properties over months, in air.

Photoinduced morphological changes in phosphatidylcholine vesicles are triggered by a Malachite Green leuconitrile derivative dissolved in the lipidic membrane, and are observed at Malachite Green derivative/lipid ratios <5 mol %. This Malachite Green derivative is a photoresponsive compound that undergoes ionization to afford a positive charge on the molecule by UV irradiation. The Malachite Green derivative exhibits amphiphilicity when ionized photochemically, whereas it behaves as a lipophilic compound under dark conditions. Cryo-transmission electron microscopy was used to determine vesicle morphology. The effects of the Malachite Green derivative on vesicles were studied by dynamic light scattering and fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Irradiation of vesicles containing the Malachite Green derivative induces nonspherical vesicle morphology, fusion of vesicles, and membrane solubilization, depending on conditions. Furthermore, irradiation of the Malachite Green derivative induces the release of a vesicle-encapsulated compound.

This study investigates the hydride-mediated electron transfer doping of single-walled carbon nanotubes using absorption spectroscopy and thermoelectric measurements. Specific solvent basicity is found to be important for the efficient n-type doping of carbon nanotubes. This progress is an essential requirement for the future development of electronic and energy devices.

Vinyl polymers incorporating a crowned spirobenzopyran moiety at the side chain were synthesized, and their alkali metal-ion complexation, photochromism, and photoresponsive ion-conducting behaviors were studied in comparison with similar polymers incorporating crown ether and spirobenzopyran moieties independently. The metal-ion complexation by their crown ether moiety significantly affected the photochromism of their spirobenzopyran moiety. The crowned spirobenzopyran polymers are similar to their corresponding monomeric analogue in their metal-ion complexing property and photochromism, with some difference induced by polymer effect. Almost no significant aggregation of the photoinduced merocyanine moiety was found in the crowned spirobenzopyran polymer, unlike the polymers carrying spirobenzopyran and crown ether moiety independently. The crowned spirobenzopyran polymers were applied successfully as components of photoresponsive ion-conducting materials.