Mechano-driven chemical reactions

Abstract

Traditional chemical processes often generate substantial waste, leading to significant pollution of water, air, and soil. Developing eco-friendly chemical methods is crucial for economic and environmental sustainability. Mechano-driven chemistry, with its potential for material recyclability and minimal byproducts, is well-aligned with green chemistry principles. Despite its origins over 2000 years ago and nearly 200 years of scientific investigation, mechano-driven chemistry has not been widely implemented in practice. This is likely due to a lack of comprehensive understanding and the complex physical effects of mechanical forces, which challenge reaction efficiency and scalability. This review summarizes the historical development of mechano-driven chemistry and discusses its progress across various physical mechanisms, including mechanochemistry, tribochemistry, piezochemistry, and contact electrification (CE) chemistry. CE-induced chemical reactions, involving ion transfer, electron transfer, and radical generation, are detailed, emphasizing the dominant role of radicals initiated by electron transfer and the influence of ion transfer through electrical double layer (EDL) formation. Advancing efficient, eco-friendly, and controllable green chemical technologies can reduce reliance on traditional energy sources (such as electricity and heat) and toxic chemical reagents, fostering innovation in material synthesis, catalytic technologies, and establishing a new paradigm for broader chemical applications.