Volume 2 Issue 1, January 2018

Semiconductor nanocrystals absorb light and are involved in energy transfer to and from surface chromophores. Tuning the nanocrystal- and chromophore-centred exciton energies affords exquisite control over an excited-state equilibrium.

A new route to acrylonitrile from a bio-based feedstock offers an improved yield, lower emissions and a safer process.

The controlled deposition of single Pt atoms on a substrate affords a well-dispersed and robust CO oxidation catalyst, for which spectroscopic characterization can unravel detailed reaction pathways.

Retrosyntheses of eight industrially relevant molecules have been planned by a computer and successfully executed by chemists in the laboratory.

Metal–ligand cooperative catalysis involves both the metal and the ligand moieties present in a complex interacting with substrates. Cooperative catalysis is central to the mechanisms of hydrogenases, lactate racemase and alcohol dehydrogenase. This Perspective describes these enzymes, as well as the small-molecule mimics inspired by these elaborate natural catalysts.

Numerous fabrication methods have been developed so far for the production of graphenes and nanographenes. However, how practical is the bulk production of these fascinating materials? This Perspective discusses recent advances in graphene fabrication and possibilities for translation to large-scale production.

Some plant-derived ligands for the cannabinoid receptors — phytocannabinoids — are promising pharmaceuticals. This Review covers the chemical synthesis of phytocannabinoids and metabolites to enable the study of compounds otherwise inaccessible on a practical scale. Availability of drug candidates is also hindered by policy issues, which we discuss with regard to possession, use and control.

The electrochemical oxidation and reduction of water and carbon dioxide are associated with the release or storage of energy. This Review reports the latest developments in the design and use of low-dimensional materials and their van der Waals heterostructures for electrocatalytic and photocatalytic hydrogen evolution and CO₂ conversion.