Accounts of materials research最新文献

{"title":"Emerging Microelectronic Materials by Design: Navigating Combinatorial Design Space with Scarce and Dispersed Data","authors":"Hengrui Zhang, Alexandru B. Georgescu, Suraj Yerramilli, Christopher Karpovich, Daniel W. Apley, Elsa A. Olivetti, James M. Rondinelli* and Wei Chen*, ","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00011","DOIUrl":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00011","url":null,"abstract":"<p >The increasing demands of sustainable energy, electronics, and biomedical applications call for next-generation functional materials with unprecedented properties. Of particular interest are emerging materials that display exceptional physical properties, making them promising candidates for energy-efficient microelectronic devices. As the conventional Edisonian approach becomes significantly outpaced by growing societal needs, emerging computational modeling and machine learning methods have been employed for the rational design of materials. However, the complex physical mechanisms, cost of first-principles calculations, and the dispersity and scarcity of data pose challenges to both physics-based and data-driven materials modeling. Moreover, the combinatorial composition–structure design space is high-dimensional and often disjoint, making design optimization nontrivial.</p><p >In this Account, we review a team effort toward establishing a framework that integrates data-driven and physics-based methods to address these challenges and accelerate material design. We begin by presenting our integrated material design framework and its three components in a general context. (1) Using text mining and natural language processing techniques, our framework first extracts and organizes relevant information dispersed in the literature. (2) From this initial database of relevant materials, data-driven models can be trained and subsequently employed to perform virtual screening of the unknown materials space. This virtual screening process can identify promising materials families for further investigation, thus narrowing down the candidate space. (3) Within the identified materials families, a Bayesian optimization-based adaptive discovery workflow is applied to search for materials with optimal properties. To extend the capability of Bayesian optimization, which was previously restricted to small data and numerical variables, we developed a family of uncertainty-aware machine learning methods for mixed numerical and categorical variables.</p><p >We then provide an example of applying this materials design framework to metal–insulator transition (MIT) materials, a specific type of emerging material with practical importance in next-generation memory technologies. We identify multiple new materials that may display this property in the lacunar spinel and Ruddlesden–Popper perovskite families and propose pathways for their synthesis. The classifiers used to identify new possible MIT materials also identified previously unknown features that may be used for predictive theory for this class of materials. For example, we have identified descriptors derived from ionicity and atom sizes as indicators to MIT behavior.</p><p >Finally, we identify some outstanding challenges in data-driven materials design, such as material data quality issues, property–performance mismatch, and validation and deployment. We seek to raise awareness of these overlooked issues ","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"6 6","pages":"730–741"},"PeriodicalIF":14.7,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143910162","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":"Vat Photopolymerization 3D Printing of Conductive Nanocomposites","authors":"David Tilve-Martinez, Philippe Poulin","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.5c00060","url":null,"abstract":"Recent years have witnessed a surge in efforts to integrate electrically conductive nanomaterials into photopolymer-based additive manufacturing (AM), driven by the growing demand for multifunctional 3D-printing. While several AM techniques have been adapted to process conductive composites, Digital Light Processing (DLP) stands out for its high-resolution and fast-curing capabilities. However, it poses a central limitation: the requirement for optical transparency in the printing resin, which is compromised by the incorporation of conventional conductive fillers. This Account highlights the advances in overcoming three fundamental challenges in the field: (i) How can conductive nanocomposites be printed by DLP without compromising resolution? (ii) How can high electrical conductivity be achieved at low filler content? (iii) What is the origin of anisotropic conductivity in printed objects, and how can it be mitigated?","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143897596","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":"Vat Photopolymerization 3D Printing of Conductive Nanocomposites","authors":"David Tilve-Martinez*,  and , Philippe Poulin*, ","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c0006010.1021/accountsmr.5c00060","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.5c00060https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.5c00060","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Recent years have witnessed a surge in efforts to integrate electrically conductive nanomaterials into photopolymer-based additive manufacturing (AM), driven by the growing demand for multifunctional 3D-printing. While several AM techniques have been adapted to process conductive composites, Digital Light Processing (DLP) stands out for its high-resolution and fast-curing capabilities. However, it poses a central limitation: the requirement for optical transparency in the printing resin, which is compromised by the incorporation of conventional conductive fillers. This Account highlights the advances in overcoming three fundamental challenges in the field: (i) How can conductive nanocomposites be printed by DLP without compromising resolution? (ii) How can high electrical conductivity be achieved at low filler content? (iii) What is the origin of anisotropic conductivity in printed objects, and how can it be mitigated?</p><p >To address the first question, the authors introduced a strategy based on UV-transparent precursors, specifically monolayer graphene oxide (GO). GO’s minimal UV absorption allows its use as a printable nanofiller at weight fractions up to 0.35 vol %, preserving the curing depth and optical clarity required for DLP. Postprinting thermal reduction of GO into reduced graphene oxide (rGO) yields nanocomposites with conductivities up to 10<sup>–2</sup> S m<sup>–1</sup>─comparable to conventional carbon nanotube (CNT) systems but achieved without high UV attenuation. To tackle the second question, the authors explored the use of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), which, due to their high aspect ratio and intrinsic conductivity, exhibit ultralow percolation thresholds (<0.01 vol %). At these concentrations, UV interference is negligible. However, the need for surfactant-assisted dispersion introduces contact resistance, limiting conductivity. To overcome this, this Account presents a hybrid formulation in which GO serves as both dispersant and conductive additive, enhancing internanotube contacts upon reduction. This approach achieves conductivities up to 0.3 S m<sup>–1</sup>, with a total filler content below 0.15 vol %, representing a significant leap in performance without sacrificing resolution. To resolve the third question regarding electrical anisotropy, the study employs polarized Raman spectroscopy, conclusively showing that nanotube alignment is not responsible for the observed directional conductivity differences. Instead, the anisotropy arises from interfacial contact resistance between printed layers, an intrinsic artifact of the layer-by-layer DLP process. Mitigation strategies such as delayed UV curing and temperature-controlled printing were shown to significantly reduce this resistance and improve isotropy.</p><p >Beyond addressing these scientific questions, this Account highlights the practical impact of these materials. Notably, hybrid nanocomposites exhibited strong potential in microwave absorptio","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"6 5","pages":"661–671 661–671"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144114653","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":"Regulating Circularly Polarized Luminescence in Zero-Dimensional Chiral Hybrid Metal Halides","authors":"Yulian Liu, Yi Wei, Zewei Quan","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.5c00033","url":null,"abstract":"Polarization reflects the inherent properties of light. Circularly polarized light, in which the electric field rotates in a circle along the direction of propagation, contains rich optical information and exhibits angle-independent characteristics. This feature makes it widely applicable in asymmetric synthesis, 3D display, and light-emitting devices. Research on circularly polarized luminescence (CPL) has garnered significant attention in recent years. CPL-active materials range from small molecules to supermolecules and from chiral rare-earth complexes to nanosuperstructures. With advancements in developing new materials and technology in chiral science, this field has rapidly developed, and extensive efforts are focused on the development of CPL-active materials with both high photoluminescence quantum yield (PLQY) and large luminescence dissymmetry factor (g_lum). Among these materials, zero-dimensional (0D) chiral hybrid metal halides (CHMHs) characterized by isolated inorganic polyhedra, which combine the chirality of organic cations with excellent photophysical properties of inorganic polyhedra, have emerged as a promising class of CPL-active materials. Despite recent advancements in the design and preparation of CPL-active 0D CHMHs, several challenges remain. Considering the demands of real applications, high PLQY, large g_lum value, and a range of CPL colors are all required.","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"224 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143893990","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":"Functional Thin Films: From Interfacial Preparation to Applications","authors":"Yan Luo,&nbsp;Xiaoyan Liu* and Yu Fang*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.4c0040010.1021/accountsmr.4c00400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.4c00400https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.4c00400","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Functional thin films prepared through interfacial polymerization (IP) have garnered significant attention due to their unique structural characteristics and wide-ranging application potential. These films are typically fabricated at air–liquid or liquid–liquid interfaces, which create distinctive environments conducive to polymerization and thin film formation.</p><p >In the air–liquid interfacial polymerization (ALIP) process, reactive monomers self-assemble at the interface prior to polycondensation, allowing for the confined growth of two-dimensional materials. By carefully adjusting the monomer concentration, building block structure, and reaction time, it is possible to produce large-area, freestanding, defect-free thin films with a tunable thickness and porosity. These thin films exhibit strong adhesion, flexibility, and geometric continuity, making them particularly suitable for advanced applications in separation technologies, soft optics, catalysis, and environmental protection.</p><p >Liquid–liquid interfacial polymerization (LLIP) further expands the range of building blocks available for thin film preparation. The interface between two immiscible liquids provides an ideal platform for reactive molecules residing in different phases to interact, facilitating the growth of large-area, uniform, free-standing films with extensive porosity. The properties can be finely controlled by varying the building block structure, monomer concentration, and reaction time, highlighting their potential for scalable production of functional thin films.</p><p >The IP method effectively addresses challenges in thin film production such as substrate effects and mass transfer limitations, thereby enhancing the sensitivity and reliability of high-performance films. These advantages underscore the pivotal role of IP in the development of multifunctional thin films, offering distinct benefits over conventional top-down or bottom-up synthesis methods.</p><p >This Account presents recent research advancements achieved by our group in developing functional thin films via ALIP and LLIP. We first explore the preparation of various thin films with specific properties through Schiff base and Katritzky reactions. We then discuss their applications in fluorescence and colorimetric sensing, adsorption, separation, catalysis, soft actuators, flexible surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrates, and nonlinear optics (NLO). Finally, we address the current challenges in developing interfacially confined films and propose future research directions aimed at advancing the innovation of thin films with unique physicochemical properties.</p>","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"6 5","pages":"600–614 600–614"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144114771","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":"Functional Thin Films: From Interfacial Preparation to Applications","authors":"Yan Luo, Xiaoyan Liu, Yu Fang","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.4c00400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.4c00400","url":null,"abstract":"Functional thin films prepared through interfacial polymerization (IP) have garnered significant attention due to their unique structural characteristics and wide-ranging application potential. These films are typically fabricated at air–liquid or liquid–liquid interfaces, which create distinctive environments conducive to polymerization and thin film formation.","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"114 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143893766","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":"The Fundamentals for Efficient Non-oxidative Propane Dehydrogenation over ZrO2-Based Catalysts","authors":"Yaoyuan Zhang, Yi Dai, Hansheng Li, Guiyuan Jiang, Evgenii V. Kondratenko","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.4c00395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.4c00395","url":null,"abstract":"The activation of C–H bonds in light alkanes efficiently is a challenging yet crucial aspect of heterogeneous catalysis. This process is essential for converting abundant hydrocarbon feedstocks into valuable products. The non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation to propene (PDH) has attracted widespread attention due to the presence of cheap propane in shale and has become the basis of an important on-purpose technology to bridge the gap between propene production and demand. It is also an important model reaction for studying the fundamentals of C–H bond activation. Compared to traditional oil-based cracking processes, the PDH reaction has the following advantages: (1) abundant propane recourses, mainly from shale gas and refinery plants, (2) high selectivity to propene (above 90%), and (3) the composition of the products is simple and easy to separate. Currently, commercial PDH processes rely on the Catofin and Oleflex technologies developed by CB&amp;I Lummus and UOP Company, which apply PtSn/γ-Al₂O₃ and K–CrO_<i>x</i>/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts, respectively. However, Pt-based catalysts are expensive and Cr(VI)O_<i>x</i>-based catalysts are toxic, limiting their application to a certain degree. Therefore, the search for environmentally friendly and cost-effective PDH catalysts has become a key topic of ongoing research.","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"34 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143889793","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":"The Fundamentals for Efficient Non-oxidative Propane Dehydrogenation over ZrO2-Based Catalysts","authors":"Yaoyuan Zhang*,&nbsp;Yi Dai,&nbsp;Hansheng Li,&nbsp;Guiyuan Jiang* and Evgenii V. Kondratenko*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.4c0039510.1021/accountsmr.4c00395","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.4c00395https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.4c00395","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p &gt;The activation of C–H bonds in light alkanes efficiently is a challenging yet crucial aspect of heterogeneous catalysis. This process is essential for converting abundant hydrocarbon feedstocks into valuable products. The non-oxidative propane dehydrogenation to propene (PDH) has attracted widespread attention due to the presence of cheap propane in shale and has become the basis of an important on-purpose technology to bridge the gap between propene production and demand. It is also an important model reaction for studying the fundamentals of C–H bond activation. Compared to traditional oil-based cracking processes, the PDH reaction has the following advantages: (1) abundant propane recourses, mainly from shale gas and refinery plants, (2) high selectivity to propene (above 90%), and (3) the composition of the products is simple and easy to separate. Currently, commercial PDH processes rely on the Catofin and Oleflex technologies developed by CB&amp;I Lummus and UOP Company, which apply PtSn/γ-Al&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; and K–CrO&lt;sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/sub&gt;/γ-Al&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;O&lt;sub&gt;3&lt;/sub&gt; catalysts, respectively. However, Pt-based catalysts are expensive and Cr(VI)O&lt;sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/sub&gt;-based catalysts are toxic, limiting their application to a certain degree. Therefore, the search for environmentally friendly and cost-effective PDH catalysts has become a key topic of ongoing research.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p &gt;In this Account, we will summarize the research progress on the development of ecofriendly and cost-efficient bulk ZrO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-based catalysts for PDH reaction in our collaborative group during the last ten years. Their productivity and propene selectivity are very close to those of commercial-like CrO&lt;sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/sub&gt;-based catalysts. These alternative-type PDH catalysts were first introduced by us. We have also elucidated the fundaments relevant to controlling their activity and product selectivity. Our novel concept inspired other research groups to develop catalysts based on other typically nonreducible metal oxides. This Account will mainly focus on the structural regulations of ZrO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-based catalysts, which influence the C–H bond activation pathways as well as propene selectivity, catalyst activity, on-stream stability, and durability in the PDH reaction. First, the mechanistic aspects of propene and byproduct formation are briefly described to guide catalyst development. Second, we present the strategies used to regulate the PDH performance of ZrO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-based catalysts and provide molecular level details of propene and hydrogen formation. Our approaches were aimed at (1) controlling the crystallite size, phase composition, and morphology of bare ZrO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;, (2) constructing binary MZrO&lt;sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/sub&gt; catalyst systems, such as LaZrO&lt;sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/sub&gt;, YZrO&lt;sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/sub&gt;, CrZrO&lt;sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/sub&gt;, and GaZrO&lt;sub&gt;&lt;i&gt;x&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/sub&gt;, and (3) introducing metal or metal oxide components on the surface of ZrO&lt;sub&gt;2&lt;/sub&gt;-based materi","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"6 5","pages":"589–599 589–599"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144114681","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":"Advancing Multiscale-Coupled Heterointerface Catalysts for Enhanced Water Electrolysis","authors":"Hongqiang Jin, Xiang Chen, Yumin Da, Lei Fan, Rui Jiang, Wei Chen","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c00055","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.5c00055","url":null,"abstract":"Green electricity powered water electrolysis stands out as a promising approach for hydrogen production, which is regarded as an ideal energy carrier due to its high energy density and clean combustion. However, its large-scale application is constrained by the high cost, stemming partially from the reliance on noble-metal-based catalysts to enhance the sluggish kinetics of hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions. To address this challenge, multiscale-coupled heterointerface catalysts (MCHCs), which integrate single atoms, clusters, and nanoparticles into one independent system, have emerged as a potential alternative. They are composed of different active components at multiple scales to achieve strong synergistic effects, where single atoms provide highly active sites with unsaturated coordination environments, clusters enable tunable electronic properties to optimize intermediate binding, and nanoparticles contribute to conductive compensation and robust architecture. Through coupling engineering, these formed heterointerfaces can regulate electronic structures and geometric configurations to break the linear scaling relationship (LSR), simultaneously facilitating H₂O activation and intermediate removal. Accordingly, such synergy enables the MCHCs to overcome thermodynamic and kinetic barriers in water electrolysis, significantly boosting the catalytic performance and durability.","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"93 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143889799","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":"Fast Scanning Calorimetry of Semicrystalline Polymers: From Fundamental Research to Industrial Applications","authors":"Rui Zhang*,&nbsp;Mengxue Du,&nbsp;Katalee Jariyavidyanont,&nbsp;René Androsch*,&nbsp;Evgeny Zhuravlev and Christoph Schick*,&nbsp;","doi":"10.1021/accountsmr.5c0003110.1021/accountsmr.5c00031","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.5c00031https://doi.org/10.1021/accountsmr.5c00031","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p &gt;The global production of polymer products currently exceeds 400 megatons annually. To ensure effective and environmentally responsible use of this vast resource, optimizing the properties of the products is essential. Achieving this requires precise control over the internal structure of the polymers. Depending on the materials used, polymers can exist in either amorphous or semicrystalline states. Processing is often performed from the melt state, and the cooling rate plays a critical role in determining whether amorphous or semicrystalline products are formed alongside other process parameters such as the pressure and shear rates.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p &gt;To understand the structure formation during processing, knowledge of the cooling rate dependence is therefore essential. As all of these processes are associated with thermal effects, calorimetry is universally applicable here. Achieving cooling rates that are comparable to those during processing has therefore long been a challenge for calorimetric measurement methods. With the introduction of MEMS-based chip sensors for calorimetry, significant progress has been made in reproducing conditions, such as those that occur during injection molding. These special calorimetric techniques are often summarized under the terms Fast Scanning Calorimetry (FSC) or Nanocalorimetry, alluding to nanogram samples.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p &gt;Investigations with controlled cooling rates of up to 1 × 10&lt;sup&gt;6&lt;/sup&gt; K/s are now possible with special chip sensors and allow the study of material properties under extreme conditions. Technological issues such as crystallization and nucleation processes under process-relevant conditions can be investigated in most cases with commercial devices that achieve cooling rates of 10&lt;sup&gt;4&lt;/sup&gt; K/s. The cooling rates to be considered in relation to various manufacturing processes are discussed here, and the functionality of corresponding chip calorimeters is briefly presented.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p &gt;Since calorimetry only provides general information on the processes taking place in the material, but not directly on the resulting structures, combinations of FSC and methods for structure elucidation, e.g., microscopy, are also presented. The main part of this Account deals with contributions of FSC to the understanding of crystallization processes under conditions as they occur in different manufacturing processes. Not only the influence of the cooling rate during injection molding but also the multistage cooling by chill rolls during film production is considered.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p &gt;Thanks to the high scanning rate of FSC, needed to bypass crystallization in the low-supercooling temperature range where heterogeneous nucleation dominates, an important aspect of polymer structure formation─homogeneous crystal nucleation─has become accessible for direct observation. Homogeneous nucleation can occur not only during cooling but also during storage at temperatures close to or even below the glass transition temperature in the amorphous st","PeriodicalId":72040,"journal":{"name":"Accounts of materials research","volume":"6 5","pages":"627–637 627–637"},"PeriodicalIF":14.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144114622","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}