Single crystals of a cyclodextrin-based metal-organic framework (MOF) infused with an ionic electrolyte and flanked by silver electrodes act as memristors. They can be electrically switched between low and high conductivity states that persist even in the absence of an applied voltage. In this way, these small blocks of nanoporous sugar function as a non-volatile RRAM memory elements that can be repeatedly read, erased, and re-written. These properties derive from ionic current within the MOF and the deposition of nanometer-thin passivating layers at the anode flanking the MOF crystal. The observed phenomena are crucially dependent on the sub-nanometer widths of the channels in the MOF, allowing the passage of only smaller ions. Conversely, with the electrolyte present but no MOF, there are no memristance or memory effects.

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The single crystal structure of a micrometre-scale copper hexadecafluoro-phthalocyanine (F(16)CuPc) ribbon synthesized by vaporization-condensation-recrystallization (VCR) process was resolved by using a synchrotron X-ray diffractometer.

Zinc oxide is a promising candidate as an interfacial layer (IFL) in inverted organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells due to the n-type semiconducting properties as well as chemical and environmental stability. Such ZnO layers collect electrons at the transparent electrode, typically indium tin oxide (ITO). However, the significant resistivity of ZnO IFLs and an energetic mismatch between the ZnO and the ITO layers hinder optimum charge collection. Here we report that inserting nanoscopic copper hexadecafluorophthalocyanine (F(16)CuPc) layers, as thin films or nanowires, between the ITO anode and the ZnO IFL increases OPV performance by enhancing interfacial electron transport. In inverted P3HT:PC(61)BM cells, insertion of F(16)CuPc nanowires increases the short circuit current density (J(sc)) versus cells with only ZnO layers, yielding an enhanced power conversion efficiency (PCE) of ∼3.6% vs ∼3.0% for a control without the nanowire layer. Similar effects are observed for inverted PTB7:PC(71)BM cells where the PCE is increased from 8.1% to 8.6%. X-ray scattering, optical, and electrical measurements indicate that the performance enhancement is ascribable to both favorable alignment of the nanowire π-π stacking axes parallel to the photocurrent flow and to the increased interfacial layer-active layer contact area. These findings identify a promising strategy to enhance inverted OPV performance by inserting anisotropic nanostructures with π-π stacking aligned in the photocurrent flow direction.

Under non-equilibrium conditions, liquid droplets coupled to their environment by sustained flows of matter and/or energy can become "active" systems capable of various life-like functions. When "fueled" by even simple chemical reactions, such droplets can become tactic and can perform "intelligent" tasks such as maze solving. With more complex chemistries, droplets can support basic forms of metabolism, grow, self-replicate, and exhibit evolutionary changes akin to biological cells. There are also first exciting examples of active droplets connected into larger, tissue-like systems supporting droplet-to-droplet communication, and giving rise to collective material properties. As practical applications of droplets also begin to appear (e.g., in single-cell diagnostics, new methods of electricity generation, optofluidics, or sensors), it appears timely to review and systematize progress in this highly interdisciplinary area of chemical research, and also think about the avenues (and the roadblocks) for future work.