Chemical Society Reviews最新文献

Photolithographic organic electronics apply the high-precision patterning technology of the current silicon-based microelectronic industry to fabricate organic electronic devices, achieving reliable, large-scale and high-resolution manufacturing. Compared with conventional solution-processing technologies, photolithographic manufacturing has greatly promoted the integration level of organic circuits in recent years, benefiting from various high-resolution applications in flexible electronics and bioelectronics. Herein, we introduce photolithographic organic electronics and the key material “conductive photoresist,” which enables the direct photolithographic fabrication of organic functional layers with high efficiency. By discussing the main strategies for designing conductive photoresists and their structure–performance relationship, we put forward some potential methods to promote their photolithographic and electric performances. Moreover, the novel applications, challenges and future prospects of photolithographic organic electronics and conductive photoresists are discussed.

Correction for ‘Decoding recombination dynamics in perovskite solar cells: an in-depth critical review’ by Ramkrishna Das Adhikari et al., Chem. Soc. Rev., 2025, 54, 3962–4034, https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CS01231C.

Electroreduction of carbon dioxide (CO₂RR) and carbon monoxide (CORR) is promising to reduce the global carbon footprint and obtain high-value products. However, both reactions are limited by the intrinsically low activity of catalysts and mass transport of reactants at the catalyst/electrolyte interface. Recent progress has highlighted the need of rational catalyst design and mass transport engineering for improving the reaction kinetics and operating the CO₂RR/CORR at current densities at ampere levels (>500 mA cm⁻²). This review introduces recent advances in the CO₂RR/CORR at ampere-level current densities, especially the catalytic mechanisms and the principles for catalyst design and mass transport manipulation. The strategies for catalyst design including alloying and doping, single atom effects, regulating the morphology and structure, oxidation state control, and organic molecule functionalization are reviewed together with the mass transfer manipulation through electrode engineering and electrolyzer optimization. The challenges and perspectives are discussed for further industrial development in this field.

Zeolite-catalyzed methanol-to-olefin (MTO) and methanol-to-ethanol (MTE) reactions have achieved significant breakthroughs in both industry and academia, proving to be mature alternative pathways for producing basic chemicals from non-oil resources. The successful transition of these catalytic processes from laboratory to industrial implementation has been propelled by fundamental breakthroughs in the comprehensive understanding of reaction mechanisms. In this context, solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) spectroscopy has emerged as an indispensable tool for elucidating catalyst structures, catalytic reaction mechanisms, and the interactions and dynamics of reactant molecules in these industrially important processes. This review specifically focuses on the application of ssNMR spectroscopy in industrially mature MTO and dimethyl ether (DME) carbonylation processes, which serve as representative examples of zeolite-catalyzed industrial processes. Based on this molecular-level information from spectroscopic observations combined with theoretical methods, this review aims to bridge the fundamental understandings of reaction mechanisms with practical applications, including the rationalization of catalysts, the optimization of catalytic performance, and the improvement of industrial processes.

Functional mesoporous materials have attracted immense attention in a variety of fields since their first advent in 1990s due to their excellent characteristics, such as unique porous configurations, uniform and adjustable pore size and large specific surface area. Great research progress has been made in the past decade in enriching assembly methodologies, cultivating versatile mesoporous materials with different functionalities as well as exploring pristine applications. A comprehensive and updated overview is very necessary in view of the escalating advancements in this field. In this review, we present a comprehensive and systematic review to summarize the recent progress of mesoporous materials, including the captivating properties, significant milestones, synthetic methods, mesostructural control, current compositions as well as the potential in cutting-edge applications. Notably, we put particular emphasis on introducing recent breakthroughs in constructing novel mesoporous components and underlying assembly chemistries. The advantages and shortcomings of functional mesoporous materials in applications like catalysis, energy, adsorption, sensing, and separation are also described. Finally, this review will prospect the challenges and possible development of mesoporous materials to provide inspirations for ambitious future in the next generation.

Sulfur dioxide is a toxic atmospheric pollutant, primarily emitted from the combustion of sulfur-containing fossil fuels. The development of clean and cost-effective chemical processes for capturing SO₂ has garnered significant interest from both industry and academia. On the other hand, sulfonyl-derived functional groups occupy a significant position in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals and materials science. As versatile building blocks, sulfonyl groups can be utilized in a variety of bond-forming reactions in modern organic chemistry. Thus, the direct synthesis of these SO₂-containing compounds from SO₂ under mild conditions represents a more atom-efficient and greener approach. Owing to the troublesome issue of using toxic and malodorous gaseous SO₂, sulfonylation reactions involving diverse SO₂ surrogates provide an efficient and promising method for the synthesis of SO₂-containing compounds. Since 2014, radical-mediated SO₂ insertion strategies have attracted significant attention. By using photocatalysis, electrochemistry, transition-metal catalysis, and thermal initiation, significant progress has been made toward radical sulfonylation with SO₂ surrogates. This review highlights the advances from the past decade that provide readers with essential tools for designing and implementing radical sulfonylation using SO₂ surrogates in organic synthesis.

Steroid natural products (SNPs) play an indispensable role in drug discovery owing to their remarkable structural features and biological activities. However, the inadequate amounts of steroid samples derived from natural sources has limited thorough assessment of SNP bioactivities. Accordingly, chemical synthesis of these compounds has become an important, practical way to obtain them in sufficient quantities. Chemists have been focusing on efficient synthesis of SNPs since the 1930s, and significant breakthroughs have been achieved in the past few decades. This review presents advances in this field over the past 20 years, highlighting key C–C bond formation and reorganization reactions in the construction of steroidal skeletons, as well as redox-relay events for the installation of complex oxidation states. We hope this review will serve as a timely reference to allow researchers to quickly learn about state-of-the-art achievements in SNP synthesis and will inspire the development of more powerful strategies for natural product synthesis.

Lignocellulosic biomass is the only sufficiently available resource for the sustainable development of the bioeconomy. Among the main components of lignocellulose, lignin has a tremendous potential to serve as a natural aromatic polymer resource due to the vast amounts of lignin available from industrial processes. However, commercial application of lignin is still limited and represents only a minor fraction of the potential utilization of approximately 20 million tons that can readily be isolated from spent pulping liquors and obtained as a residue from lignocellulosic biorefineries. Industrial processes generally depolymerize lignin into heterogeneous mixtures of low molecular weight macromolecules with a high degree of condensation, which collectively makes it challenging to develop them into high-performance materials. Although often neglected, some of the major limitations of these so-called technical lignins are their low molar mass and high dispersity, which make these lignins have poor mechanical properties. The polymerization of small lignin fragments not only contributes to the development of high-performance and multifunctional advanced materials, but also helps to improve the fundamental theory of lignin polymer chemistry. In this review, the polymerization of lignin via physical (aggregation), chemical (chain extension, cross-linking, and grafting), and biological (enzymatic polymerization) routes is described, its applications are assessed, and prospects for the development of high-performance lignin polymer materials are discussed.

The growing demand for food due to a global population increase has made the use of pesticides in agriculture unavoidable despite their various harmful side effects. Driven by stricter legislation, nations are now compelled to find alternatives. This situation led to accelerated research around the world, focusing on developing new chemistries to enhance the environmental safety of pesticides. In recent years, bioinspired strategies of pest control have emerged as alternatives to the development of new synthetic pesticides. In order to design innovative eco-friendly pest management techniques, a thorough understanding of naturally existing physical and chemical defences in plants is needed. Building upon this knowledge, material science provides innovative strategies for designing physical barriers, biomimetic adhesives, and targeted delivery systems that go beyond traditional chemical approaches. This tutorial review explores the intricate relationships between plants and insects, focusing on natural defence mechanisms such as plant cuticles, trichomes, and thigmonasty. We also review advances in synthetic pesticide use, including enhanced adhesion and controlled release formulations. In addition, we delve into advances in other integrated pest management domains, discussing the potential of bioinspired surfaces and biological control methods. This overview aims to foster comprehensive understanding and interdisciplinary approaches, highlighting the pivotal role of material science in improving sustainable pest control for the future.

Semiconductor based photo-assisted catalytic reaction, leveraging solar energy for chemical fuel production and pollutant treatment, relies heavily on carrier separation and migration. Despite extensive efforts to enhance carrier separation, understanding carrier transfer dynamics remains limited, hindering large-scale application. This review systematically examines carrier transfer dynamics characterization, highlighting semiconductors' intrinsic properties, carrier relaxation methods, and spatiotemporal visualization. We also discuss plasmonic metal catalysts, a novel photocatalyst class with unique carrier dynamics. Furthermore, we evaluate advanced techniques and metrics for assessing carrier transfer, offering insights for developing high-performance catalysts. Finally, we provide a summary and outlook on future developments and standards in carrier transfer dynamics characterization for improved photo-related catalytic applications.