The bandgap (E_g) of conjugated materials effects a variety of critical properties such that efforts to control the bandgap have become a basic tenet in the design of conjugated polymers. One goal of such efforts is to minimize the E_g with the goal of producing technologically useful low bandgap (E_g < 1.5 eV) polymers. This perspective will introduce the two primary approaches to low E_g polymers (i.e., quinoidal systems and donor-acceptor frameworks) and discuss important new directions for both design principles.

Extensive auxiliary density functional theory (ADFT) computations were performed to study the most stable structures, stabilities and chemical reactivity toward O₂ of bimetallic Ni_mCu_n (m + n ≤ 6) clusters. The shape of the most stable structures changes as the number of Ni and Cu atoms of the system under study increases with a consequent change of the energy, magnetic and reactivity properties. All obtained minimum-energy structures for these bimetallic systems composed with three and four atoms possess triangular and rhombic structures, respectively. According to our computations, the most stable structures for Ni₄Cu, Ni₃Cu₂, and Ni₂Cu₃ clusters are trigonal-bipyramidal, while, for the NiCu₄ cluster, two structures were identified as the most stable (with planar and trigonal-bipyramidal structures, respectively). The most stable structure for the Ni₅Cu cluster is octahedral, while for the Ni₄Cu₂, Ni₃Cu₃, Ni₂Cu₄, and NiCu₅ clusters, an incomplete pentagonal bipyramid was found as the ground-state structure. For all cluster sizes, as the number of Cu atoms in the system increases, the magnetic moment per atom tended to decrease. The O₂ adsorption on bimetallic Ni_mCu_n (m + n = 6) clusters is more favored when O₂ binds by a bridge-type bond. Moreover, our computations indicate that O₂ is preferentially adsorbed on the Ni atoms of bimetallic Ni_mCu_n (m + n = 6) clusters.

A two-dimensional layered metal-organic framework, [Eu(C₂₆H₁₅NO₄)Cl]_n (EuCDDB), was synthesized by the reaction of EuCl₃·6H₂O and 4,4'-(9H-carbazole-3,6-diyl)dibenzoic acid (H₂CDDB) through one-pot solvothermal process, and characterized by several technologies of single-crystal X-ray diffraction, powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectrum. The crystal structure reveals that hydrogen bonding interaction happens between NH groups and coordinated chloride ions from the adjacent coordination layers, meanwhile, well-opened one-dimensional channel allows the accommodation of water molecules. These characteristics endow EuCDDB with a considerable proton conductivity of 3.70 × 10^-6 S cm^-1 under 90 °C and relative humidity of 90%. In addition, EuCDDB also exhibits turn-on luminescent sensing on DMF molecules by enhanced Eu³⁺ red emission resulting from efficient ligand-to-metal energy transfer process.

The results of the first tests aimed to assess antifouling activity of new AquaSun sol-gel paint coated on shipbuilding steel immersed in highly polluted port seawaters, compared to a state-of-the-art self-polishing commercial silyl acrylate antifouling topcoat containing high amounts of cuprous oxide and copper pyrithione, are promising.