Reassessing mechanochemical processes in polyatomic systems for smart fabrication of nanocomposites

A brief review is given to reassess the integrity of the fundamentals and the application in mechanochemistry. The discussion starts from the chemical response of polyatomic systems (PAS) to the mechanical stress, in terms of the extended concept of the Jahn–Teller effects. The interplay between the deformation and the chemical properties was extended to larger scale units toward solid particles or crystallites, which comprise the ensemble and arrangements of PAS. Therefore, the role of disorder of PAS arrangement or defects in solids on the reactivity of solids was discussed. Since the mechanochemical process is based on the introduction and control of the defects in solids, the discussion abridges the fundamental understanding of deformation – chemical property relationship from the basis of molecules with the reactivity of solids and powder masses. By taking the subsequent steps of relaxation in different time scales, the affordability of functional materials via a mechanochemical route has been demonstrated to finalize the entire discussion. A short summary at the end emphasises the importance of learning from the exotic fields.