{"title":"Cost efficiency versus energy utilization in green ammonia production from intermittent renewable energy","authors":"Collin Smith, Laura Torrente-Murciano","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00207-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00207-9","url":null,"abstract":"Electrification of the chemical industry with renewable energy is critical for achieving net zero goals and the long-term storage of renewable energy in chemical bonds, particularly carbon-free molecules such as ammonia. Through an analysis of green ammonia production with solar and wind energy at more than 4,500 locations across Europe, this work demonstrates that maximizing cost efficiency is decoupled from maximizing energy utilization due to the intermittency of renewable energy. By devising the metric of levelized cost of utilization, the economic drive for energy curtailment is connected to the high cost to utilize portions of solar or wind energy profiles with unequal seasonal distribution. Combining solar and wind energy or ramping production decreases the cost of utilizing energy, thereby decreasing curtailment. A framework for evaluating the power-to-x economics within the context of electricity grids is illustrated using the value of utilizing energy, which indicates that electrified chemicals production is an attractive market for renewable energy at locations with high penetration on the grid. The synthesis of chemicals through power-to-x economics is critical to achieve net zero goals, but is limited by the challenge of designing processes powered by intermittent renewable energy. Here the true cost of utilizing intermittent energy is assessed and the economic drivers for energy curtailment are revealed.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"261-272"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12018267/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144036902","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jian Hao, Piotr Mieczyslaw Gebolis, Piotr Marcin Gach, Mojtaba Chevalier, Luc Sébastien Bondaz, Ceren Kocaman, Kuang-Jung Hsu, Kapil Bhorkar, Deep J. Babu, Kumar Varoon Agrawal
{"title":"Scalable synthesis of CO2-selective porous single-layer graphene membranes","authors":"Jian Hao, Piotr Mieczyslaw Gebolis, Piotr Marcin Gach, Mojtaba Chevalier, Luc Sébastien Bondaz, Ceren Kocaman, Kuang-Jung Hsu, Kapil Bhorkar, Deep J. Babu, Kumar Varoon Agrawal","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00203-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00203-z","url":null,"abstract":"Membranes based on atom-thin porous single-layer graphene (PG) have shown attractive performance for diverse separation applications, especially gas separation and carbon capture. However, despite a decade of research, a scalable synthesis of PG membranes has remained under question. The literature on gas separation using porous graphene membranes is based on complex methods that limit membrane size and reproducibility. Here we introduce several interventions that substantially reduce PG membrane cost, allow uniform pore formation in a large area and enable the preparation of large-area PG membranes with attractive performance. We show that mass transfer of the oxidant plays a crucial role in achieving uniform oxidation of large-area graphene. Crack formation during the transfer of graphene, which also limits reproducibility, is eliminated using a protocol that does not require delicate floating and handling of graphene, allowing the realization of a high-performance 50-cm2 graphene membrane in a cross-flow module. Atom-thin graphene membranes for gas separation face scale-up challenges. The authors introduce scalable and reproducible approaches that simplify the fabrication of atom-thin porous graphene membranes, achieving membrane areas up to 50 cm2 with promising performance for point-source carbon capture.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"241-251"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s44286-025-00203-z.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145122962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Pre-pilot-scale porous graphene membrane for CO2 separation","authors":"Liming Zheng, Weiyu Sun, Hailin Peng","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00204-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00204-y","url":null,"abstract":"Nanoporous two-dimensional materials have been considered ideal platforms for separating molecules and ions. Now, porous graphene membranes have been scaled up with low cost, uniform pores and high yield, enabling an attractive CO2/N2 separation performance with a near-100% success rate.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"239-240"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145122943","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Supercharged ion exchange membranes via short-chain crosslinkers","authors":"Dingchang Yang, Qilei Song","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00208-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00208-8","url":null,"abstract":"Ion exchange membranes with tailored molecular structures and ion transport properties are critical for a wide range of chemical processes. Now, anion exchange membranes with ultrahigh charge density have been developed and integrated into an electrodialysis process that concentrates desalination brine solution more efficiently, which can contribute to a circular economy.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"237-238"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145122942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David Kitto, Carolina Espinoza, José C. Díaz, Jacquelyn Zamora, Jovan Kamcev
{"title":"Fast and selective ion transport in ultrahigh-charge-density membranes","authors":"David Kitto, Carolina Espinoza, José C. Díaz, Jacquelyn Zamora, Jovan Kamcev","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00205-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00205-x","url":null,"abstract":"Ion-selective membranes are central to electrochemical technologies due to their ability to regulate ion transport and differentiate between cations and anions. However, a major obstacle to their effective implementation is the inherent trade-off between ionic conductivity and cation/anion selectivity, a consequence of the interdependence between membrane charge and water content. Here we introduce a membrane design strategy that not only achieves high charge densities but also nearly decouples charge from water content. Our strategy involves the copolymerization of low-molecular-weight charged monomers and charged cross-linkers, ensuring that every repeat unit of the polymer backbone contains a charged group. Anion-exchange membranes synthesized using this strategy exhibit ultrahigh charge densities, substantially advancing the conductivity/selectivity upper bound. We further demonstrate the practical implications of these ultrahigh-charge-density membranes for electrodialytic brine concentration, achieving a lower specific energy consumption than the state-of-the-art benchmark. This advancement in membrane design can impact the development and deployment of electrochemical systems across a spectrum of energy and environmental applications. This study reports positively charged membranes with ultrahigh charge densities and tunable water content. These membranes exhibit enhanced ionic conductivity and counter-ion/co-ion selectivity compared with commercially available alternatives, enabling energy-efficient brine concentration via electrodialysis.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 4","pages":"252-260"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145122965","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Timescale analysis in cell factory design","authors":"Peng Xu","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00192-z","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00192-z","url":null,"abstract":"Peng Xu discusses the importance of timescale analysis in cellular reaction networks and gene expression dynamics to better integrate dynamic control schemes into cell factory design.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 3","pages":"229-229"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143690330","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jeremy Luterbacher, Bert Weckhuysen, Sophia Haussener, Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, Daniel E. Resasco, Carlos G. Morales-Guio, Feng Jiao, Nanfeng Zheng, Kazunari Domen, Patricia Concepción, Louise Olsson, Curtis Berlinguette, Hongliang Xin
{"title":"Connecting scales in reaction engineering","authors":"Jeremy Luterbacher, Bert Weckhuysen, Sophia Haussener, Beatriz Roldan Cuenya, Daniel E. Resasco, Carlos G. Morales-Guio, Feng Jiao, Nanfeng Zheng, Kazunari Domen, Patricia Concepción, Louise Olsson, Curtis Berlinguette, Hongliang Xin","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00197-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00197-8","url":null,"abstract":"As part of the March Focus issue of Nature Chemical Engineering, we asked 13 leading researchers to spotlight a challenge or opportunity in reaction engineering that they believe holds particular promise for advancing this core area of chemical engineering research and practice.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 3","pages":"156-159"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44286-025-00197-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143690295","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Vivian R. Feig, Sanghyun Park, Pier Giuseppe Rivano, Jinhee Kim, Benjamin Muller, Ashka Patel, Caroline Dial, Sofia Gonzalez, Hannah Carlisle, Flavia Codreanu, Aaron Lopes, Ayten E. Erdogan, Niora Fabian, Ashley Guevara, Andrew Pettinari, Jason Li, Jia Liang, Gary W. Liu, Mark W. Tibbitt, Giovanni Traverso
{"title":"Self-aggregating long-acting injectable microcrystals","authors":"Vivian R. Feig, Sanghyun Park, Pier Giuseppe Rivano, Jinhee Kim, Benjamin Muller, Ashka Patel, Caroline Dial, Sofia Gonzalez, Hannah Carlisle, Flavia Codreanu, Aaron Lopes, Ayten E. Erdogan, Niora Fabian, Ashley Guevara, Andrew Pettinari, Jason Li, Jia Liang, Gary W. Liu, Mark W. Tibbitt, Giovanni Traverso","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00194-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00194-x","url":null,"abstract":"Injectable drug depots have transformed our capacity to enhance medication adherence through dose simplification. Central to patient adoption of injectables is the acceptability of needle injections, with needle gauge as a key factor informing patient discomfort. Maximizing drug loading in injectables supports longer drug release while reducing injection volume and discomfort. Here, to address these requirements, we developed self-aggregating long-acting injectable microcrystals (SLIM), an injectable formulation containing drug microcrystals that self-aggregate in the subcutaneous space to form a monolithic implant with a low ratio of polymer excipient to drug (0.0625:1 w/w). By minimizing polymer content, SLIM supports injection through low-profile needles (<25 G) with high drug loading (293 mg ml−1). We demonstrate in vitro and in vivo that self-aggregation is driven by solvent exchange at the injection site and that slower-exchanging solvents result in increased microcrystal compaction and reduced implant porosity. We further show that self-aggregation enhances long-term drug release in rodents. We anticipate that SLIM could enable low-cost interventions for contraceptives. This study reports on self-aggregating injectable microcrystals for administering long-acting drug implants via low-profile needles, a key factor in patient adoption. Microcrystal self-aggregation is engineered through a solvent exchange process to form depots with minimal polymer excipient, demonstrating enhanced long-term release of a model contraceptive drug in rodents.","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 3","pages":"209-219"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s44286-025-00194-x.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143690335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Too much salt?","authors":"Yanfei Zhu","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00201-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00201-1","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 3","pages":"161-161"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143690320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Programming fluid flow with biological active matter","authors":"Alessio Lavino","doi":"10.1038/s44286-025-00200-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s44286-025-00200-2","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":501699,"journal":{"name":"Nature Chemical Engineering","volume":"2 3","pages":"160-160"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-03-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143690334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}