Amphiphilic Fluorescent Aggregate for Highly Selective Detection of Trifluoroacetic Acid in Water Yuxin Li, Qiuju Li, Xingyu Wu, Xin Shen, Shun Mao Advanced Functional Materials, 2026 Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA), the shortestchain perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA), is one of the main per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the environment, posing a growing threat to public health and water safety. The selective detection of TFA, especially in aqueous media, remains a big challenge due to its high polarity, small molecular size, and structural simplicity. Herein, a supramolecular amphiphilic fluorescent probe is synthesized through surfactant‐induced assembly of fluorinated amino acid‐grafted cyclodextrin (CD‐DFP·CTAB) for TFA sensing. Based on rich F···F interaction, hydrogen interaction, and hydrophilic‐hydrophobic interaction, TFA is selectively incorporated into the hydrophilic region of the aggregate and triggers aggregation‐induced fluorescence. Comparatively, other long‐chain PFCAs (e.g., PFOA) will insert the hydrophobic core, disrupting chromophore clustering and diminishing fluorescence. With this novel probe, the sensor achieves selective TFA detection over a wide concentration range (0–500 ppm) with a detection limit of 0.25 ppm. The high recovery rates in real water sample analysis further demonstrate the promising detection performance of TFA analysis in complicated water matrix. To the best of current knowledge, the amphiphilic probe reported in this study is the first fluorescent probe leveraging hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity differentiation for TFA detection, which opens up a new approach for PFAS monitoring in the environment.
Synergistic Two-Color Photochemical Polymer Network Formation and Lithography Jan Hobich, Xingyu Wu, Florian Feist, Willie Scheibel, Natalia Herdt, et al. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025 We introduce synergistic two‐color lithography as an advanced wavelength‐gated strategy for spatially and temporally controlling polymer network formation. Our photoresist entails two photoswitches, i.e., diarylindenone epoxide (DIO) and strained azobenzene (SA), each activated at a judiciously selected wavelength, i.e., 375 or 430 nm. Under specific conditions of photon flux, simultaneous irradiation at both wavelengths induces a (3 + 2) cycloaddition between the photoactivated DIO′ and SA′ species, generating covalently crosslinked networks, whereas under these specifically determined conditions, single‐wavelength exposure does not induce solidification. Kinetic analysis highlights the potential of synergistic activation to enable advanced additive manufacturing. We implemented the two‐color activated covalent bond forming system in a dual‐laser lithographic platform enabling the fabrication of well‐defined structures, including segmented ring and butterfly architectures by simply activating and deactivating one of the colors of light.
Precision Photochemistry: Every Photon Counts Fred Pashley‐Johnson, Xingyu Wu, Joshua A. Carroll, Sarah L. Walden, Hendrik Frisch, et al. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2025 Photochemistry is undergoing a precision transformation. Through technological advancements, such as the advent of light emitting diodes and monochromatic lasers, chemists are now able to use photons not only as an energy source but also as a tool for directing photochemical processes with both wavelength and spatiotemporal precision. Enabled by these technologies, the discovery that photochemical action often does not align with molar extinction has catalysed the growth of the research field that we coin Precision Photochemistry. We explain how precision photochemistry stands on four fundamental pillars: molar extinction, wavelength‐dependent quantum yield, concentration of the chromophores, and the length of the irradiation. Each of these four pillars are intrinsically linked and dictate the experimental conditions that should be used (e.g., wavelength, light intensity, and solvent system), as we demonstrate through simulations of a photochemical uncaging system. Building on these pillars, we propose a concrete definition for Precision Photochemistry and highlight important fields within chemistry that will benefit from careful consideration of them. Finally, we address key experimental considerations that must be taken into account when conducting precision photochemistry including the light source, the reaction setup, and the method for determining (wavelength‐dependent) quantum yields. These factors are critical in furthering the development of the field of Precision Photochemistry.
Two Material Properties from One Wavelength-Orthogonal Photoresin Enabled by a Monochromatic Laser Integrated Stereolithographic Apparatus (Mono LISA) Xingyu Wu, Katharina Ehrmann, Ching Thye Gan, Benjamin Leuschel, Fred Pashley‐Johnson, et al. Advanced Materials, 2025 Multi‐material printing has experienced critical advances in recent years, yet material property differentiation capabilities remain limited both with regard to the accessible properties – typically hard versus soft – and the achievable magnitude of differentiation. To enhance multi‐material printing capabilities, precise photochemical control during 3D printing is essential. Wavelength‐differentiation is a particularly intriguing concept yet challenging to implement. Notably, dual‐wavelength printing to fabricate hard and soft sections within one object has emerged, where one curing process is insensitive to visible light, while UV irradiation inevitably activates the entire resin, limiting true spatio‐temporal control of the material properties. Until now, pathway‐independent wavelength‐orthogonal printing has not been realized, where each wavelength exclusively triggers only one of two possible reactions, independent of the order in which the wavelengths are applied. Herein, a multi‐wavelength printing technique is introduced employing a tunable laser to monochromatically deliver light to the printing platform loaded with a fully wavelength‐orthogonal resin. Guided by photochemical action plots, two distinct wavelengths – each highly selective toward a specific photocycloaddtion reaction – are utilized to generate distinct networks within the photoresin. Ultimately, together with the printing technique, this orthogonally addressable photoresin allows fabricating multi‐material objects with degradable and non‐degradable properties, in a single fabrication step.
Color and fluorescence switchable 2D and 3D printed hybrid materials Matthias Steurer, Xingyu Wu, Agnes C. Morrissey, Konstantin Faershteyn, Magdalena Fladung, et al. Materials Horizons, 2025 We introduce a light-driven 3D printing ink that consists of electrostatically stabilized inorganic–organic hybrid nanoparticles, a crosslinking monomer and a photoinitiator, enabling the printing of color- and fluorescence-switchable 3D objects.
Surface Modification of 3D-Printed Micro- and Macro-Structures via In Situ Nitroxide-Mediated Radical Photopolymerization Xingyu Wu, Benjamin Leuschel, Nguyen Hoai Nam, Yohann Guillaneuf, Didier Gigmes, et al. Advanced Functional Materials, 2024 Photo‐controlled reversible‐deactivation radical polymerization (RDRP) has recently emerged in light‐based 3D printing at macro‐ and micro‐scales, enabling the elaboration of objects with (re‐)configurable surface properties. The authors' previous work exploits nitroxide‐mediated radical photopolymerization (NMP2) in 3D micro‐printing and subsequent surface modification, by employing analkoxyamine‐based photoresist via 3D direct laser writing (DLW). However, this photoresist suffers from its low photosensitivity to wavelengths above 760 nm, limiting its suitability for commercial 3D DLW setups. To tackle these issues, a new strategy—in situ NMP2 based on a photoresist containing acommercial photoinitiator and a photosensitive‐nitroneis proposed. This photoresist is well‐suited for wavelengths commonly used by 3D DLW systems to obtain well‐defined 3D microstructures. Importantly, the in‐situ formation of alkoxyamine during fabrication allows photo‐induced surface modification of microstructures, highlighted by precise and successive surface patterning. Thesurface modification can be conducted at 800 nm or at wavelengths up to 860 nm. Subsequently, the impact of light wavelength and intensity isinvestigated to understand surface modification. The simple preparation of this novel photoresist allows facile adaptation to digital light processing for 3D macro‐printing. This work broadens the scope of photo‐controlled RDRP in 3D printing and greatly facilitates “living” 3D micro‐ and macro‐printing.
Investigation of the 4th dimension of PEGDA hydrogel architected by Digital Light Processing 3D printing Q Bauerlin, X Wu, T Roland, D Favier, A Egelé, C Gauthier, B Leuschel, ... Additive Manufacturing, 105235 , 2026 2026
Two Material Properties from One Wavelength‐Orthogonal Photoresin Enabled by a Monochromatic Laser Integrated Stereolithographic Apparatus (Mono LISA) X Wu, K Ehrmann, CT Gan, B Leuschel, F Pashley‐Johnson, ... Advanced Materials 37 (13), 2419639 , 2025 2025 Citations: 16
Synthesis of novel D–π–A-based photosensitive alkoxyamine: application of two-photon polymerization via nitroxide-mediated photopolymerization NH Nguyen, X Wu, Y Guillaneuf, A Spangenberg, D Gigmes, JL Clément Polymer Chemistry 16 (11), 1248-1255 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
Surface Modification of 3D‐Printed Micro‐and Macro‐Structures via In Situ Nitroxide‐Mediated Radical Photopolymerization X Wu, B Leuschel, NH Nam, Y Guillaneuf, D Gigmes, JL Clément, ... Advanced Functional Materials 34 (13), 2312211 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Customizable and Reconfigurable Surface Properties of Printed Micro‐objects by 3D Direct Laser Writing via Nitroxide Mediated Photopolymerization M Belqat, X Wu, J Morris, K Mougin, T Petithory, L Pieuchot, Y Guillaneuf, ... Advanced Functional Materials 33 (39), 2211971 , 2023 2023 Citations: 42
Fluorescence-readout as a powerful macromolecular characterisation tool X Wu, C Barner-Kowollik Chemical Science 14 (45), 12815-12849 , 2023 2023 Citations: 30
On‐Demand Editing of Surface Properties of Microstructures Made by 3D Direct Laser Writing via Photo‐Mediated RAFT Polymerization X Wu, B Gross, B Leuschel, K Mougin, S Dominici, S Gree, M Belqat, ... Advanced Functional Materials 32 (14), 2109446 , 2022 2022 Citations: 43
Investigation of two-photon polymerized microstructures using fluorescence lifetime measurements X Wu, M Belqat, B Leuschel, G Noirbent, F Dumur, K Mougin, ... Polymer Chemistry 13 (20), 2902-2906 , 2022 2022 Citations: 4
Tuning nanomechanical properties of microstructures made by 3D direct laser writing M Belqat, X Wu, LPC Gomez, JP Malval, S Dominici, B Leuschel, ... Additive Manufacturing 47, 102232 , 2021 2021 Citations: 26
Water‐soluble photoinitiators from dimethylamino‐substituted monoacylphosphine oxide for hydrogel and latex preparation CMQ Le, T Petitory, X Wu, A Spangenberg, J Ortyl, M Galek, L Infante, ... Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 222 (19), 2100217 , 2021 2021 Citations: 26
Two‐Photon Initiating Efficiency of a Ditopic Alkoxynitrostilbene Reacting through a Self‐Regenerative Mechanism N Hobeika, H Chaumeil, R Mhanna, M Jin, X Wu, A Spangenberg, ... ChemPhysChem 21 (20), 2301-2310 , 2020 2020 Citations: 8
D–p–A-type Sulfonium Salt Photoinitiators for Photopolymerizations Under Near-UV and Visible Light-emitting Diodes X WU, M JIN Photopolymerisation Initiating Systems 29, 479 , 2018 2018
D–π–A-type Sulfonium Salt Photoinitiators for Photopolymerizations Under Near-UV and Visible Light-emitting Diodes X Wu, M Jin 2018 Citations: 1
Bis‐substituted thiophene‐containing oxime sulfonates photoacid generators for cationic polymerization under UV–visible LED irradiation X Sun, M Jin, X Wu, H Pan, D Wan, H Pu Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 56 (7), 776-782 , 2018 2018 Citations: 30
Visible light‐emitting diode‐sensitive thioxanthone derivatives used in versatile photoinitiating systems for photopolymerizations X Wu, M Jin, JP Malval, D Wan, H Pu Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 55 (24), 4037-4045 , 2017 2017 Citations: 48
Molecular Engineering of UV/Vis Light‐Emitting Diode (LED)‐Sensitive Donor–π–Acceptor‐Type Sulfonium Salt Photoacid Generators: Design, Synthesis, and Study of Photochemical … X Wu, M Jin, J Xie, JP Malval, D Wan Chemistry–A European Journal 23 (62), 15783-15789 , 2017 2017 Citations: 26
Visible lightâÄêemitting diodeâÄêsensitive thioxanthone derivatives used in versatile photoinitiating systems for photopolymerizations X Wu, M Jin, JÄP Malval, D Wan, H Pu Journal of polymer science , 2017 2017
Effects of conjugated systems on UV-visible light-sensitive D- π -A type sulfonium salt photoacid generators X Wua, M Jin, J Xie, D Wan, JP Malval Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 34 (12), 1456-1468 , 2016 2016 Citations: 30
One/two-photon cationic polymerization in visible and near infrared ranges using two-branched sulfonium salts as efficient photoacid generators X Wu, M Jin, J Xie, JP Malval, D Wan Dyes and Pigments 133, 363-371 , 2016 2016 Citations: 32
Dual roles for promoting monomers to polymers: A conjugated sulfonium salt photoacid generator as photoinitiator and photosensitizer in cationic photopolymerization M Jin, X Wu, JP Malval, D Wan, H Pu Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 54 (17), 2722-2730 , 2016 2016 Citations: 35
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
Visible light‐emitting diode‐sensitive thioxanthone derivatives used in versatile photoinitiating systems for photopolymerizations X Wu, M Jin, JP Malval, D Wan, H Pu Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 55 (24), 4037-4045 , 2017 2017 Citations: 48
On‐Demand Editing of Surface Properties of Microstructures Made by 3D Direct Laser Writing via Photo‐Mediated RAFT Polymerization X Wu, B Gross, B Leuschel, K Mougin, S Dominici, S Gree, M Belqat, ... Advanced Functional Materials 32 (14), 2109446 , 2022 2022 Citations: 43
Customizable and Reconfigurable Surface Properties of Printed Micro‐objects by 3D Direct Laser Writing via Nitroxide Mediated Photopolymerization M Belqat, X Wu, J Morris, K Mougin, T Petithory, L Pieuchot, Y Guillaneuf, ... Advanced Functional Materials 33 (39), 2211971 , 2023 2023 Citations: 42
One/two-photon-sensitive photoacid generators based on benzene oligomer-containing D–π–A-type aryl dialkylsulfonium salts M Jin, X Wu, J Xie, JP Malval, D Wan RSC Advances 5 (68), 55340-55347 , 2015 2015 Citations: 39
D-π-A-type aryl dialkylsulfonium salts as one-component versatile photoinitiators under UV/visible LEDs irradiation X Wu, J Malval, D Wan, M Jin Dyes and Pigments 132, 128-135 , 2016 2016 Citations: 37
Dual roles for promoting monomers to polymers: A conjugated sulfonium salt photoacid generator as photoinitiator and photosensitizer in cationic photopolymerization M Jin, X Wu, JP Malval, D Wan, H Pu Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 54 (17), 2722-2730 , 2016 2016 Citations: 35
One/two-photon cationic polymerization in visible and near infrared ranges using two-branched sulfonium salts as efficient photoacid generators X Wu, M Jin, J Xie, JP Malval, D Wan Dyes and Pigments 133, 363-371 , 2016 2016 Citations: 32
Fluorescence-readout as a powerful macromolecular characterisation tool X Wu, C Barner-Kowollik Chemical Science 14 (45), 12815-12849 , 2023 2023 Citations: 30
Bis‐substituted thiophene‐containing oxime sulfonates photoacid generators for cationic polymerization under UV–visible LED irradiation X Sun, M Jin, X Wu, H Pan, D Wan, H Pu Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry 56 (7), 776-782 , 2018 2018 Citations: 30
Effects of conjugated systems on UV-visible light-sensitive D- π -A type sulfonium salt photoacid generators X Wua, M Jin, J Xie, D Wan, JP Malval Chinese Journal of Polymer Science 34 (12), 1456-1468 , 2016 2016 Citations: 30
Near UV–vis LED-excitable two-branched sensitizers for cationic, radical, and thiol-ene photopolymerizations B Fang, M Jin, X Wu, Y Zhang, D Wan Dyes and Pigments 126, 54-61 , 2016 2016 Citations: 30
Tuning nanomechanical properties of microstructures made by 3D direct laser writing M Belqat, X Wu, LPC Gomez, JP Malval, S Dominici, B Leuschel, ... Additive Manufacturing 47, 102232 , 2021 2021 Citations: 26
Water‐soluble photoinitiators from dimethylamino‐substituted monoacylphosphine oxide for hydrogel and latex preparation CMQ Le, T Petitory, X Wu, A Spangenberg, J Ortyl, M Galek, L Infante, ... Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics 222 (19), 2100217 , 2021 2021 Citations: 26
Molecular Engineering of UV/Vis Light‐Emitting Diode (LED)‐Sensitive Donor–π–Acceptor‐Type Sulfonium Salt Photoacid Generators: Design, Synthesis, and Study of Photochemical … X Wu, M Jin, J Xie, JP Malval, D Wan Chemistry–A European Journal 23 (62), 15783-15789 , 2017 2017 Citations: 26
Two Material Properties from One Wavelength‐Orthogonal Photoresin Enabled by a Monochromatic Laser Integrated Stereolithographic Apparatus (Mono LISA) X Wu, K Ehrmann, CT Gan, B Leuschel, F Pashley‐Johnson, ... Advanced Materials 37 (13), 2419639 , 2025 2025 Citations: 16
Two‐Photon Initiating Efficiency of a Ditopic Alkoxynitrostilbene Reacting through a Self‐Regenerative Mechanism N Hobeika, H Chaumeil, R Mhanna, M Jin, X Wu, A Spangenberg, ... ChemPhysChem 21 (20), 2301-2310 , 2020 2020 Citations: 8
Surface Modification of 3D‐Printed Micro‐and Macro‐Structures via In Situ Nitroxide‐Mediated Radical Photopolymerization X Wu, B Leuschel, NH Nam, Y Guillaneuf, D Gigmes, JL Clément, ... Advanced Functional Materials 34 (13), 2312211 , 2024 2024 Citations: 7
Investigation of two-photon polymerized microstructures using fluorescence lifetime measurements X Wu, M Belqat, B Leuschel, G Noirbent, F Dumur, K Mougin, ... Polymer Chemistry 13 (20), 2902-2906 , 2022 2022 Citations: 4
Synthesis of novel D–π–A-based photosensitive alkoxyamine: application of two-photon polymerization via nitroxide-mediated photopolymerization NH Nguyen, X Wu, Y Guillaneuf, A Spangenberg, D Gigmes, JL Clément Polymer Chemistry 16 (11), 1248-1255 , 2025 2025 Citations: 1
D–π–A-type Sulfonium Salt Photoinitiators for Photopolymerizations Under Near-UV and Visible Light-emitting Diodes X Wu, M Jin 2018 Citations: 1