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  1. Abstract

    Template‐free fabrication of non‐spherical polymeric nanoparticles is desirable for various applications, but has had limited success owing to thermodynamic favorability of sphere formation. Herein we present a simple way to prepare cubic nanoparticles of block copolymers by self‐assembly from aqueous solutions at room temperature. Nanocubes with edges of 40–200 nm are formed spontaneously on different surfaces upon water evaporation from micellar solutions of triblock copolymers containing a central poly(ethylene oxide) block and terminal trimethylene carbonate/dithiolane blocks. These polymers self‐assemble into 28±5 nm micelles in water. Upon drying, micelle aggregation and a kinetically controlled crystallization of central blocks evidently induce solid cubic particle formation. An approach for preserving the structures of these cubes in water by thiol‐ or photo‐induced crosslinking was developed. The ability to solubilize a model hydrophobic drug, curcumin, was also explored.

     
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  2. Abstract

    Unusual photophysical properties of organic–inorganic hybrid perovskites have not only enabled exceptional performance in optoelectronic devices, but also led to debates on the nature of charge carriers in these materials. This study makes the first observation of intense terahertz (THz) emission from the hybrid perovskite methylammonium lead iodide (CH3NH3PbI3) following photoexcitation, enabling an ultrafast probe of charge separation, hot‐carrier transport, and carrier–lattice coupling under 1‐sun‐equivalent illumination conditions. Using this approach, the initial charge separation/transport in the hybrid perovskites is shown to be driven by diffusion and not by surface fields or intrinsic ferroelectricity. Diffusivities of the hot and band‐edge carriers along the surface normal direction are calculated by analyzing the emitted THz transients, with direct implications for hot‐carrier device applications. Furthermore, photogenerated carriers are found to drive coherent terahertz‐frequency lattice distortions, associated with reorganizations of the lead‐iodide octahedra as well as coupled vibrations of the organic and inorganic sublattices. This strong and coherent carrier–lattice coupling is resolved on femtosecond timescales and found to be important both for resonant and far‐above‐gap photoexcitation. This study indicates that ultrafast lattice distortions play a key role in the initial processes associated with charge transport.

     
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