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Bistable electrochromic materials have been explored as a viable alternative to reduce energy consumption in display applications. However, the development of ideal bistable electrochromic displays (especially multicolour displays) remains challenging due to the intrinsic limitations associated with existing electrochromic processes. Here, a bistable electrochromic device with good overall performance—including bistability (>52 h), reversibility (>12,000 cycles), colouration efficiency (≥1,240 cm2 C−1) and transmittance change (70%) with fast switching (≤1.5 s)—was designed and developed based on concerted intramolecular proton-coupled electron transfer. This approach was used to develop black, magenta, yellow and blue displays as well as a multicolour bistable electrochromic shelf label. The design principles derived from this unconventional exploration of concerted intramolecular proton-coupled electron transfer may also be useful in different optoelectronic applications.

Bistable display has been a long-awaited goal due to its zero energy cost when maintaining colored or colorless state and electrochromic material has been highly considered as a potential way to achieve bistable display due to its simple structure and possible manipulation. However, it is extremely challenging with insurmountable technical barriers related to traditional electrochromic mechanisms. Herein a prototype for bistable electronic billboard and reader with high energy efficiency is demonstrated with excellent bistability (decay 7% in an hour), reversibility (10 4 cycles), coloration efficiency (430 cm 2  C −1 ) and very short voltage stimulation time (2 ms) for color switching, which greatly outperforms current products. This is achieved by stabilization of redox molecule via intermolecular ion transfer to the supramolecular bonded colorant and further stabilization of the electrochromic molecules in semi-solid media. This promising approach for ultra-energy-efficient display will promote the development of switching molecules, devices and applications in various fields of driving/navigation/industry as display to save energy. For electrochromic materials to reach their full potential for high efficiency bistable displays, technical challenges related to their underlying mechanism must be addressed. Here, the authors, through intelligent molecular design, report a solid bistable device with state-of-the-art performance.

Lactate is not only the end product of glycolysis but also plays a key role in epigenetic regulation. Recently, lactate-derived histone lactylation has been identified as a novel epigenetic modification that can directly influence gene transcription. Histone lactylation has been associated with various pathological conditions and shows significant therapeutic potential. However, studies on histone lactylation in central nervous system diseases are still quite limited. In this review, we summarize the latest research progress on histone lactylation, detailing the specific mechanisms and sites of histone lactylation, including lactylation and delactylation. We also discuss the role of histone lactylation in Alzheimer’s disease (glycolysis/H4K12la/PKM2 feedback loop), depression (neuronal excitation), neuroinflammation (anti-inflammatory/pro-inflammatory balance of microglia), aging, stroke (infarct volume), and glioblastoma (activation of oncogenes), pointing out the research directions for the future. This may provide new ideas for the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases.

The technological revolution of long-awaited energy-saving and vision-friendly displays represented by bistable display technology is coming. Here we discuss methods, challenges, and opportunities for implementing bistable displays in terms of molecular design, device structure, further expansion, and required criteria, hopefully benefiting the light-related community.

Flexible circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) switching devices have been long‐awaited due to their promising potential application in wearable optoelectronic devices. However, on account of the few materials and complicated design of manufacturing systems, how to fabricate a flexible electric‐field‐driven CPL‐switching device is still a serious challenge. Herein, a flexible device with multiple optical switching properties (CPL, circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, color) is designed and prepared efficiently based on proton‐coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanism by optimizing the chiral structure of switching molecule. More importantly, this device can maintain the switching performance even after 300 bending‐unbending cycles. It has a remarkable comprehensive performance containing bistable property, low open voltage, and good cycling stability. Then, prototype devices with designed patterns have been fabricated, which opens a new application pattern of CPL‐switching materials. A brand‐new optical switching system based on the PCET mechanism, which firstly integrates electrochemical information and multiple optical properties (CPL, CD, fluorescence and color) in a single photoelectric device efficiently.

Boron-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exhibit excellent optical properties, and regulating their photophysical processes is a powerful strategy to understand the luminescence mechanism and develop new materials and applications. Herein, an electrochemically responsive B–O dynamic coordination bond is proposed, and used to regulate the photophysical processes of boron-nitrogen-doped polyaromatic hydrocarbons. The formation of the B–O coordination bond under a suitable voltage is confirmed by experiments and theoretical calculations, and B–O coordination bond can be broken back to the initial state under opposite voltage. The whole process is accompanied by reversible changes in photophysical properties. Further, electrofluorochromic devices are successfully prepared based on the above electrochemically responsive coordination bond. The success and harvest of this exploration are beneficial to understand the luminescence mechanism of boron-nitrogen-doped polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and provide ideas for design of dynamic covalent bonds and broaden material types and applications. Boron-doped polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with dynamic covalent bonds have interesting optical properties, but electricity-responsive bonds are less studied. Here, the authors report an electrochemically responsive B-O coordination bond with short switching time.

Electrofluorochromic (EFC) materials and devices with controllable fluorescence properties show great application potential in advanced anticounterfeiting, information storage and display. However, the low color purity caused by the broad emission spectra and underperforming switching time of the existing EFC materials limit their application. Through biomimetic exploration and the study of reversible electrochemical responsive coordination reactions, boron–nitrogen embedded polyaromatics (B,N‐PAHs) with narrow‐band emission and high color purity have been successfully integrated into EFC systems, which also help to better understand the role of boron in biological activity. The EFC device achieve good performance containing quenching efficiency greater than 90% within short switching time (ton: 0.6 s, toff: 2.4 s), and nearly no performance change after 200 cycles test. Three primary color (red, green, and blue) EFC devices are successfully prepared. In addition, new phenomena are obtained and discussed in this biomimetic exploration of related boron reactions. The success and harvest of this exploration are expected to provide new ideas for optimizing properties and broadening applications of EFC materials. Moreover, it may provide ideas and reference significance for further exploring and understanding the function of boron compounds in biological systems. Here, an idea for designing narrow‐band EFC materials based on biomimetic electrochemically switchable coordination is utilized, and B,N‐PAHs are introduced into the EFC system. The EFC devices have been fabricated, which exhibit a narrow FWHM of 30 nm, a quenching efficiency greater than 90% within a short switching time (ton: 0.6 s, toff: 2.4 s).

Light‐responsive color‐switching materials (LCMs) are long‐lasting hot fields. However, non‐ideal comprehensive performance (such as color contrast and retention time cannot be combined, unsatisfactory repeatability, and non‐automated coloring mode) significantly hinder their development toward high‐end products. Herein, the development of LCMs that exhibit long retention time, good color contrast, repeatability, and the property of automatic coloring is reported. The realization of this goal stems from the adoption of a bio‐inspired multi‐component collaborative step‐by‐step coloring strategy. Under this strategy, a conventional one‐step photochromic process is divided into a “light+heat” controlled multi‐step process for the fabrication of the desired LCMs. The obtained LCMs can effectively resist the long‐troubled ambient‐light interference and avoid its inherent yellow background, thereby achieving the longest retention time and good repeatability. Multiple colors are generated and ultra‐fast imaging compatible with the laser‐printing technology is also realized. The application potential of the materials in short‐term reusable identity cards, absorptive readers, billboards, and shelf labels is demonstrated. The results reported herein can potentially help in developing and designing various high‐performance, switchable materials that can be used for the production of high‐end products. High‐performance light‐driven color‐switching material (LCM) is developed exploiting the step‐controllable light‐induced proton transfer process occurring between highly sensitive photoacids and “inert” acidochromic dyes. The excellent performance of the fabricated LCM makes it a suitable candidate that can be used for the development of reusable display and erasable ink.

Reconstructing the visible spectra of real objects is critical to the spectral camouflage from emerging spectral imaging. Electrochromic materials exhibit unique superiority for this goal due to their subtractive color‐mixing model and structural diversity. Herein, a simulation model is proposed and a method is developed to fabricate electrochromic devices for dynamically reproducing the visible spectrum of the natural leaf. Over 20 kinds of pH‐dependent leuco dyes have been synthesized/prepared through molecular engineering and offered available spectra/bands to reconstruct the spectrum of the natural leaf. More importantly, the spectral variance between the device and leaf is optimized from an initial 98.9 to an ideal 10.3 through the simulation model, which means, the similarity increased nearly nine‐fold. As a promising spectrum reconstruction approach, it will promote the development of smart photoelectric materials in adaptive camouflage, spectral display, high‐end encryption, and anti‐counterfeiting. With the emergence of spectral imaging, it is urgent to develop a camouflage method to confront this highly accurate detecting technology. Herein, a model and prototype electrochromic device reconstructing the visible spectra of leaves is demonstrated, which is achieved by the electroacid/base method, benefiting from the ability to regulate spectra finely and independently. This approach shows potential in spectral camouflage.

HighlightsDirect photolithography of electrochromic WOx nanoparticles via in situ photo-induced ligand exchange is proposed and demonstrated.The highest resolution among inorganic electrochromics (< 4 µm) is achieved, which is promising in high-resolution non-emissive displays.The as-prepared device exhibits highly remarkable performance including rapid response, high coloration efficiency and durability.High-resolution non-emissive displays based on electrochromic tungsten oxides (WOx) are crucial for future near-eye virtual/augmented reality interactions, given their impressive attributes such as high environmental stability, ideal outdoor readability, and low energy consumption. However, the limited intrinsic structure of inorganic materials has presented a significant challenge in achieving precise patterning/pixelation at the micron scale. Here, we successfully developed the direct photolithography for WOx nanoparticles based on in situ photo-induced ligand exchange. This strategy enabled us to achieve ultra-high resolution efficiently (line width < 4 µm, the best resolution for reported inorganic electrochromic materials). Additionally, the resulting device exhibited impressive electrochromic performance, such as fast response (< 1 s at 0 V), high coloration efficiency (119.5 cm2 C−1), good optical modulation (55.9%), and durability (> 3600 cycles), as well as promising applications in electronic logos, pixelated displays, flexible electronics, etc. The success and advancements presented here are expected to inspire and accelerate research and development (R&D) in high-resolution non-emissive displays and other ultra-fine micro-electronics.