{"title":"Reflections on the pigments of life","authors":"Alexander Rosu-Finsen, David Dolphin","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00684-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00684-9","url":null,"abstract":"Ahead of his 85th birthday, David Dolphin, Emeritus Professor at the University of British Columbia, discusses his career combining academia with industry in an effort to advance scientific studies and help millions of people.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 2","pages":"81-82"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142984288","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Practical access to piperidines","authors":"Lucy A. Harwood, Victoria Barros Metlova","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00685-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00685-8","url":null,"abstract":"A versatile new synthetic route to piperidine-containing structures combines an enzymatic C–H hydroxylation with decarboxylative or deoxygenative radical coupling reactions.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 2","pages":"85-85"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142974879","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sandra Vranic, Rajendra Kurapati, Kostas Kostarelos, Alberto Bianco
{"title":"Biological and environmental degradation of two-dimensional materials","authors":"Sandra Vranic, Rajendra Kurapati, Kostas Kostarelos, Alberto Bianco","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00680-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41570-024-00680-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>As the use of two-dimensional materials continues to grow, so too does the need to understand the environmental and biological impact of such materials. Degradation is a critical step in the life cycle of any material, but the majority of such knowledge is obtained from test tube and in vitro studies. Therefore, there remains a gap in understanding the degradability of two-dimensional materials in complex systems (in vivo) and in different ambient environments. In this Review, we highlight the need for more data-driven studies on the degradation of two-dimensional materials, including their kinetics, by-products, stability and possible downstream effects. Although challenging, building an understanding of the degradation profiles of different advanced materials in various environments at the chemical and molecular level is essential.</p><figure></figure>","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"31 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2025-01-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142939522","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Giving actinide chemistry a new start","authors":"Leslie G. Castro, Nolwenn Mahieu","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00682-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00682-3","url":null,"abstract":"Availability of convenient starting materials is critical to advance actinide research. Here, we highlight four contributions published in 2024 that have aided the development of new starting materials for various fields, from material chemistry to organometallic synthesis. Availability of convenient starting materials is critical to advance actinide research. Here, we highlight four contributions published in 2024 which have aided the development of new starting materials for various fields, from materials chemistry to organometallic synthesis.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 2","pages":"86-87"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142937383","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"It’s all oddly relative","authors":"Mirza Grebo, Dalton Stanley","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00681-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00681-4","url":null,"abstract":"Gas-adsorption chromatography has been used to study how the superheavy elements nihonium and moscovium interact with surfaces and understand the influence of relativistic effects experienced by their valence electrons. Comparisons are made to closed-shell neighbours, copernicium and flerovium, as well as light homologues, thallium and bismuth.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 2","pages":"84-84"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142951727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dissolution, solvation and diffusion in low-temperature zinc electrolyte design","authors":"Yang Dong, Honglu Hu, Ping Liang, Linlin Xue, Xiulin Chai, Fangming Liu, Meng Yu, Fangyi Cheng","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00670-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00670-7","url":null,"abstract":"Aqueous zinc-based batteries have garnered the attention of the electrochemical energy storage community, but they suffer from electrolytes freezing and sluggish kinetics in cold environments. In this Review, we discuss the key parameters necessary for designing anti-freezing aqueous zinc electrolytes. We start with the fundamentals related to different zinc salts and their dissolution and solvation behaviours, by highlighting the effects of anions and additives on salt solubility, ion diffusion and freezing points. We then focus on the complex structures and energetics of cation–anion–solvent interaction. We also evaluate the prevailing strategies to improve the performance of electrolytes at low temperatures, with a discussion on the kinetics of plating and stripping of zinc anodes and charge storage in various cathode materials. Furthermore, we consider the current challenges and envisage future research directions in cold-resistant aqueous electrolyte formulations for zinc batteries. Aqueous electrolytes can suffer from freezing, impeded ion migration and sluggish desolvation kinetics at low temperatures. This Review describes the dissolution, solvation and diffusion chemistry of zinc salts in cold-resistant electrolyte formulations for Zn batteries that promise energy storage applications.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 2","pages":"102-117"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142951584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Philip N. Bartlett, C. H. Kees de Groot, Victoria K. Greenacre, Ruomeng Huang, Yasir J. Noori, Gillian Reid, Shibin Thomas
{"title":"Molecular precursors for the electrodeposition of 2D-layered metal chalcogenides","authors":"Philip N. Bartlett, C. H. Kees de Groot, Victoria K. Greenacre, Ruomeng Huang, Yasir J. Noori, Gillian Reid, Shibin Thomas","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00671-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00671-6","url":null,"abstract":"Two-dimensional transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) are highly anisotropic, layered semiconductors, with the general formula ME2 (M = metal, E = sulfur, selenium or tellurium). Much current research in this field focusses on TMDCs for catalysis and energy applications; they are also attracting great interest for next-generation transistor and optoelectronic devices. The latter high-tech applications place stringent requirements on the stoichiometry, crystallinity, morphology and electronic properties of monolayer and few-layer materials. As a solution-based process, wherein the material grows specifically on the electrode surface, electrodeposition offers great promise as a readily scalable, area-selective growth process. This Review explores the state-of-the-art for TMDC electrodeposition, highlighting how the choice of precursor (or precursors), solvent and electrode designs, with novel ‘device-ready’ electrode geometries, influence their morphologies and properties, thus enabling the direct growth of ultrathin, highly anisotropic 2D TMDCs and much scope for future advances. Electrochemical methods to grow 2D metal chalcogenides are reviewed, emphasizing the effects of the precursor (or precursors), solvent and electrode designs. Emerging work using nano-band electrodes to promote in-plane 2D layer growth into ‘device-ready’ electrode structures is highlighted.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 2","pages":"88-101"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142951731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Frank–Kasper the friendly cage","authors":"Alexander Rosu-Finsen","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00683-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00683-2","url":null,"abstract":"Building large and complex cages in simple reaction steps can be difficult. A study now details the steps for the formation of large supramolecular cages from simple starting materials, that combine in a self-assembled manner.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 2","pages":"83-83"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142927281","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kelly Nieto, Daniel S. Windsor, Bairav S. Vishnugopi, Partha P. Mukherjee, Amy L. Prieto
{"title":"Performance metrics and mechanistic considerations for the development of 3D batteries","authors":"Kelly Nieto, Daniel S. Windsor, Bairav S. Vishnugopi, Partha P. Mukherjee, Amy L. Prieto","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00659-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00659-2","url":null,"abstract":"There is an urgent need for improved energy storage devices to enable advances in markets ranging from small-scale applications (such as portable electronic devices) to large-scale energy storage for transportation and electric-grid energy. Next-generation batteries must be characterized by high energy density, high power density, fast charging capabilities, operation over a wide temperature range and safety. To achieve such ambitious performance metrics, creative solutions that synergistically combine state-of-the-art material systems with advanced architectures must be developed. The development of 3D batteries is a promising solution for achieving these targets. However, considerable challenges remain related to integrating the various components of a battery into an architecture that is truly 3D. In this Review, we describe the status of 3D batteries, highlight key advances in terms of mechanistic insights and relevant performance descriptors, and suggest future steps for translating current concepts into commercially relevant solutions. In this Review, we provide an overview of the current state of the field of 3D batteries. We discuss critical performance metrics, the potential for scalability and commercialization, and suggest focused areas for future development.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 2","pages":"118-133"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2025-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142911604","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A life of leaving the door open","authors":"Robin Perutz, Stephanie Greed","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00678-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00678-z","url":null,"abstract":"Ahead of his 75th birthday, Robin Perutz, Emeritus Professor at the University of York, discusses his career combining theory and experiment to probe reactivity while also promoting the inclusion of marginalized groups into science.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 1","pages":"5-6"},"PeriodicalIF":38.1,"publicationDate":"2024-12-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142888712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}