Energetic hot electrons generated in Mn-doped quantum dots (QDs) via exciton-to-hot-electron upconversion possess long-range transfer capability. The long-range hot electron transfer allowed for superior efficiency in various photocatalytic reduction reactions compared to conventional QDs, which solely rely on the transfer of band edge electrons. H3B-120 CPSase inhibitor Here we show that the synergistic action of the interfacial hole transfer to the initial reactant and subsequent long-range hot electron transfer to an intermediate species enables highly efficient redox-neutral photocatalytic reactions, thereby extending the benefits of Mn-doped QDs beyond reduction reactions. The photocatalytic conversion of formate (HCOO-) to carbon monoxide (CO), which is an important route to obtain a key component of syngas from an abundant source, is an exemplary redox-neutral reaction that exhibits a drastic enhancement of catalytic efficiency by Mn-doped QDs. Mn-doped QDs increased the formate to CO conversion rate by 2 orders of magnitude compared to conventional QDs with high selectivity. Spectroscopic study of charge transfer processes and the computational study of reaction intermediates revealed the critical role of long-range hot electron transfer to an intermediate species lacking binding affinity to the QD surface for efficient CO production. Specifically, we find that the formate radical (HCOO)•, formed after the initial hole transfer from the QD to HCOO-, undergoes isomerization to the (HOCO)• radical that subsequently is reduced to yield CO and OH-. Long-range hot electron transfer is particularly effective for reducing the nonbinding (HOCO)• radical, resulting in the large enhancement of CO production by overcoming the limitation of interfacial electron transfer.Defects and impurities in silicon limit carrier lifetimes and the performance of solar cells. This work explores the use of fluorine to passivate defects in silicon for solar cell applications. We present a simple method to incorporate fluorine atoms into the silicon bulk and interfaces by annealing samples coated with thin thermally evaporated fluoride overlayers. It is found that fluorine incorporation does not only improve interfaces but can also passivate bulk defects in silicon. The effect of fluorination is observed to be comparable to hydrogenation, in passivating grain boundaries in multicrystalline silicon, improving the surface passivation quality of phosphorus-doped poly-Si-based passivating contact structures, and recovering boron-oxygen-related light-induced degradation in boron-doped Czochralski-grown silicon. Our results highlight the possibility to passivate defects in silicon without using hydrogen and to combine fluorination and hydrogenation to further improve the overall passivation effect, providing new opportunities to improve solar cell performance.Developing non-noble metal catalysts with superior catalytic activity and excellent durability is critically essential to promote electrochemical water splitting for hydrogen production. Morphology control as a promising and effective strategy is widely implemented to change the surface atomic coordination and thus enhance the intrinsic catalytic performance of current electrocatalysts. Herein, a series of cobalt phosphide (CoP) electrocatalysts with tunable morphologies of nanosheets, nanowires, nanorods, and nanoblocks have been prepared for the enhanced hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) by only adjusting the amount of ammonium fluoride (NH4F) in the hydrothermal process. Benefiting from the large active area, high surface activity, and favorable ion and gas diffusion channels, the clustered CoP nanorods obtained at a concentration of 0.15 M NH4F show the best HER performance with only an overpotential of 71 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm-2 and a low Tafel slope of 60.75 mV dec-1 in 1 M KOH. After 3000 CV cycles and 24 h durability tests, there is only a very slight degradation of performance owing to its outstanding stability and robust substrate adhesion.Rapid identification and quantification of opioid drugs are of significant importance and an urgent need in drug regulation and control, considering the serious social and economic impact of the opioid epidemic in the United States. Unfortunately, techniques for accurate detection of these opioids, particularly for fentanyl, an extremely potent synthetic drug of abuse and a main perpetrator in the opioid crisis, are often not readily accessible. Therefore, a fast, highly sensitive, and preferably quantitative technique, with excellent portability, is highly desirable. Such a technique can potentially offer timely and crucial information for drug control officials, as well as health professionals, about drug distribution and overdose prevention. We therefore propose a portable surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) approach by pairing an easy to perform yet reliable SERS protocol with a compact Raman module suitable for rapid, on-site identification and quantification of trace fentanyl. Fentanyl spiked in urine control was successfully detected at concentrations as low as 5 ng/mL. Portable SERS also enabled detection of trace fentanyl laced in recreational drugs at mass concentrations as low as 0.05% (5 ng in 10 μg total) and 0.1% (10 ng in 10 μg total) in heroin and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), respectively. Drug interaction with the nanoparticle surface was simulated through molecular dynamics to investigate the molecular adsorption mechanism and account for SERS signal differences observed for opioid drugs. Furthermore, resolution of fentanyl in binary and ternary opioid mixtures was readily achieved with multivariate data analysis. In sum, we developed a rapid, highly sensitive, and reliably quantitative method for trace fentanyl analysis by synergizing a streamlined SERS procedure and a portable Raman module at low cost.Recent global events have distinctly demonstrated the need for fast diagnostic analysis of targets in a liquid sample. However, microfluidic lab-on-a-chip devices for point-of-care diagnostics can suffer from slow analysis due to poor mixing. Here, we experimentally explore the mixing effect within a microfluidic chamber, as obtained from superparamagnetic beads exposed to an out-of-plane (vertical) rotating magnetic field. Various magnetic protocols are explored, and the level of sample homogeneity is measured by determining the mixing efficiency index. In particular, we introduce a method to induce effective mixing in a microfluidic chamber by the actuation of the same beads to perform global swarming behavior, a collective motion of a large number of individual entities often seen in nature. The microparticle swarming induces high fluid velocities in initially stagnant fluids, and it can be externally controlled. The method is pilot-tested using a point-of-care test featuring a bioluminescent assay for the detection of antibodies.