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Metal–organic framework (MOF) materials are promising photocatalysts for solar-driven fuel production from CO2. Here, built on a literature survey and data macroanalysis, we examine the development of MOFs as photocatalysts for CO2 conversion, while assessing pitfalls and opportunities.
Green ammonia will play an important function in decarbonized energy systems but its production places a high burden on limited renewable resources in land-constrained countries. Here we propose the offshore production of green ammonia, which can increase energy security without land competition.
Synthesis can be used to harness excited states and molecular functional materials. Supramolecular chemistry can provide an additional dimension of control to the excited states and expand the library of excited-state functional materials.
Cross-coupling between two different C–H bonds with the release of hydrogen is a powerful yet challenging transformation. Catalytic methods that harness photo- or electrochemistry facilitate thermodynamically unfavourable coupling reactions under mild conditions. This Perspective outlines strategies based on photoinduced hydrogen-atom transfer for the cross-coupling of various hydrocarbons.
For 3D printing to reach its full potential, materials should be designed to take advantage of the unique processing flows involved. In this Perspective, we explore the design rules for printable materials and articulate how 3D printing can direct and enhance the functionality of printed systems.
The relationship between synthetic discoveries and the materials breakthroughs that they enable is explored in this Perspective. It is concluded that most materials breakthroughs involve chemical compounds that were made out of curiosity or for an entirely different purpose. This conclusion has implications for the role of exploratory synthesis in materials research.
Despite 40 years of study, the synthesis of colloidal nanocrystals still proceeds by a trial and error approach. This Perspective discusses the identification of the reaction intermediates during the formation of colloidal nanocrystals as the first step towards the development of a retrosynthetic approach to these nanomaterials.
By showcasing the activating effect of using alkali-metal alkoxides as additives with polar organometallic reagents, this Perspective outlines applications of these mixed-metal combinations for arene functionalization via metal/halogen exchange and deprotonative metallation. Our mechanistic understanding of how these systems operate has revealed their complex and diverse mixed-metal/mixed-aggregate composition.
Asymmetric cyanation reactions promoted by chiral copper catalysts via a radical relay process are discussed in this Perspective. In particular, we outline the mechanisms of carbon radical formation and subsequent asymmetric radical cyanation reactions.
Enzymes catalyse reactions with unparalleled activity and selectivity. Using chemical insights, researchers can now direct these powerful natural catalysts to perform new-to-nature transformations that solve challenging synthetic problems. In this Perspective, we show how chemists and protein engineers have guided nature’s genetically encoded and evolvable machinery to perform new biocatalytic transformations.
