Pub Date : 2025-11-28DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00774-8
Weizhong Tian, Rui Wang, Deren Yang, Jingjing Xue
Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a game-changing photovoltaic technology that can be processed from solutions. Molecular engineering of organic A-cations has become paramount to the rapid development of PSCs as they influence the molecular structure of thin films and interfaces. The rich selectivity and designability of organic A-cations offer immense opportunities to regulate various properties of metal halide perovskites (MHPs) through chemical interactions. In this Review, we discuss the roles of organic A-cations in MHPs, providing insight into the structure–interaction–property relationships. We show how the molecular structures of A-cations affect chemical interactions in perovskites, and how these interactions affect the overall properties of PSCs. First, we introduce the impact of organic A-cations and their bonds in MHPs and then explore their roles from the lattice and electronic levels through to crystal growth, stability, defects, charge-carrier transport and band-edge states. Prospects for future research directions, opportunities and challenges are also discussed. The roles of organic A-cations in halide perovskite photovoltaics are discussed from a molecular point of view by considering their chemical, lattice and electronic interactions. Prospects for future research directions, opportunities and challenges are also presented.
{"title":"Organic A-cations in metal halide perovskite photovoltaics","authors":"Weizhong Tian, Rui Wang, Deren Yang, Jingjing Xue","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00774-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00774-8","url":null,"abstract":"Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are a game-changing photovoltaic technology that can be processed from solutions. Molecular engineering of organic A-cations has become paramount to the rapid development of PSCs as they influence the molecular structure of thin films and interfaces. The rich selectivity and designability of organic A-cations offer immense opportunities to regulate various properties of metal halide perovskites (MHPs) through chemical interactions. In this Review, we discuss the roles of organic A-cations in MHPs, providing insight into the structure–interaction–property relationships. We show how the molecular structures of A-cations affect chemical interactions in perovskites, and how these interactions affect the overall properties of PSCs. First, we introduce the impact of organic A-cations and their bonds in MHPs and then explore their roles from the lattice and electronic levels through to crystal growth, stability, defects, charge-carrier transport and band-edge states. Prospects for future research directions, opportunities and challenges are also discussed. The roles of organic A-cations in halide perovskite photovoltaics are discussed from a molecular point of view by considering their chemical, lattice and electronic interactions. Prospects for future research directions, opportunities and challenges are also presented.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"10 1","pages":"50-71"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145611436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-27DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00781-9
Saikat Mondal, Preston Myers, Shiyu Zhang
Many biological bimetallic active sites exhibit unsymmetric coordination environments, allowing the two metal centres to perform distinct catalytic roles. By contrast, most synthetic homogeneous catalysts rely on symmetric ligand frameworks for ease of synthesis. This represents a considerable divergence between natural and synthetic catalysts, leaving the functional importance of unsymmetric arrangement largely underexplored. In this Review, we highlight biological examples of unsymmetric bimetallic centres and their roles in catalysis. We examine how the inherent lack of symmetry — achieved through ligand differentiation or heterobimetallic design — has been used to mimic nature’s bimetallic sites. We also discuss recent advances that show how an unsymmetric environment can lower the barriers of bond activation and outline current challenges in probing the function of unsymmetric features, along with strategies to overcome them. Unsymmetric coordination environments are prevalent in metalloenzymes. By contrast, most synthetic homogeneous catalysts rely on symmetric ligand frameworks. This Review highlights biological unsymmetric bimetallic centres along with their roles in catalysis and illustrates how intentionally incorporated unsymmetry in synthetic systems mimics nature’s strategies for achieving cooperative and complementary reactivity.
{"title":"Unsymmetric bimetallic centres in metalloproteins and synthetic models","authors":"Saikat Mondal, Preston Myers, Shiyu Zhang","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00781-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00781-9","url":null,"abstract":"Many biological bimetallic active sites exhibit unsymmetric coordination environments, allowing the two metal centres to perform distinct catalytic roles. By contrast, most synthetic homogeneous catalysts rely on symmetric ligand frameworks for ease of synthesis. This represents a considerable divergence between natural and synthetic catalysts, leaving the functional importance of unsymmetric arrangement largely underexplored. In this Review, we highlight biological examples of unsymmetric bimetallic centres and their roles in catalysis. We examine how the inherent lack of symmetry — achieved through ligand differentiation or heterobimetallic design — has been used to mimic nature’s bimetallic sites. We also discuss recent advances that show how an unsymmetric environment can lower the barriers of bond activation and outline current challenges in probing the function of unsymmetric features, along with strategies to overcome them. Unsymmetric coordination environments are prevalent in metalloenzymes. By contrast, most synthetic homogeneous catalysts rely on symmetric ligand frameworks. This Review highlights biological unsymmetric bimetallic centres along with their roles in catalysis and illustrates how intentionally incorporated unsymmetry in synthetic systems mimics nature’s strategies for achieving cooperative and complementary reactivity.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"10 2","pages":"101-116"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145609410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-26DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00783-7
Ainoa Guinart, Yusuf Qutbuddin, Petra Schwille, Ben L. Feringa
Biological membranes, consisting mostly of self-assembled amphiphilic molecules, serve as fundamental barriers that compartmentalize and organize cellular environments, essential for sustaining life functions. Reconstituting their rich dynamics and transformations is critical in addressing fundamental questions and mimicking lifelike functions. In nature, membrane deformations result from an interplay of external and internal mechanical forces. Synthetic photoisomerizing systems such as photoswitchable molecules and light-activated rotary molecular motors offer promising avenues to emulate these processes. However, their implementation demands intricate spatial and temporal control, coupled with rigorous experimental scrutiny. This Review explores recent and relevant advancements in integrating photoisomerizing systems into biological membranes, emphasizing key design considerations and operational challenges. By synthesizing current literature, common challenges and recent advances, we aim to provide a guide for research involving photoisomerizing molecules and biological membranes from the nanoscale to the macroscale applications. Light-responsive molecular systems, capable of interconverting between isomers using light, can be integrated into biological membranes to mimic and control their dynamic behaviour. This Review discusses the key design principles and experimental challenges while discussing and highlighting recent advances.
{"title":"Photoisomerizing molecules in biological membranes","authors":"Ainoa Guinart, Yusuf Qutbuddin, Petra Schwille, Ben L. Feringa","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00783-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00783-7","url":null,"abstract":"Biological membranes, consisting mostly of self-assembled amphiphilic molecules, serve as fundamental barriers that compartmentalize and organize cellular environments, essential for sustaining life functions. Reconstituting their rich dynamics and transformations is critical in addressing fundamental questions and mimicking lifelike functions. In nature, membrane deformations result from an interplay of external and internal mechanical forces. Synthetic photoisomerizing systems such as photoswitchable molecules and light-activated rotary molecular motors offer promising avenues to emulate these processes. However, their implementation demands intricate spatial and temporal control, coupled with rigorous experimental scrutiny. This Review explores recent and relevant advancements in integrating photoisomerizing systems into biological membranes, emphasizing key design considerations and operational challenges. By synthesizing current literature, common challenges and recent advances, we aim to provide a guide for research involving photoisomerizing molecules and biological membranes from the nanoscale to the macroscale applications. Light-responsive molecular systems, capable of interconverting between isomers using light, can be integrated into biological membranes to mimic and control their dynamic behaviour. This Review discusses the key design principles and experimental challenges while discussing and highlighting recent advances.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"10 1","pages":"12-30"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145636230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00778-4
Megan N. Schiferl, I. Joseph Brackbill
Molten salts have promising applications in clean energy technologies, but the hazards and dynamics of these systems complicate their chemical analysis. This year, exciting developments in equipment design and simulation accuracy and efficiency have brought these materials closer than ever to application.
{"title":"Spectroscopy, simulation, and the structure of molten salts","authors":"Megan N. Schiferl, I. Joseph Brackbill","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00778-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00778-4","url":null,"abstract":"Molten salts have promising applications in clean energy technologies, but the hazards and dynamics of these systems complicate their chemical analysis. This year, exciting developments in equipment design and simulation accuracy and efficiency have brought these materials closer than ever to application.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"10 1","pages":"5-6"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145604994","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-25DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00770-y
Haoyuan Li, Changyue Yu, Tamara Markovic, Eric J. Nestler, Yizhou Dong
Genomic therapy has emerged as a transformative strategy for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other CNS-related diseases. Recent developments in chemical strategies and delivery platforms have enhanced the potential of genomic therapies for brain disorders. In this Review, we summarize such strategies, focusing on advances in delivery platforms such as lipid nanoparticles, polymers and oligonucleotide conjugates to facilitate the brain delivery of DNA-based or RNA-based therapeutics into the CNS. We present an overview of the chemical structures and functional moieties of lipids, polymers and oligonucleotides used in these platforms. Lastly, we provide an outlook on future chemical directions to further improve the delivery of genomic medicines to the brain. Genomic therapy offers a promising strategy for addressing central nervous system disorders. This Review highlights recent advances in chemical strategies and delivery platforms, such as lipid nanoparticles, polymers and oligonucleotide conjugates, and it discusses future directions to improve the application of genomic therapy in brain disorders.
{"title":"Chemical strategies for brain delivery of genomic therapy","authors":"Haoyuan Li, Changyue Yu, Tamara Markovic, Eric J. Nestler, Yizhou Dong","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00770-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00770-y","url":null,"abstract":"Genomic therapy has emerged as a transformative strategy for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide array of diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and other CNS-related diseases. Recent developments in chemical strategies and delivery platforms have enhanced the potential of genomic therapies for brain disorders. In this Review, we summarize such strategies, focusing on advances in delivery platforms such as lipid nanoparticles, polymers and oligonucleotide conjugates to facilitate the brain delivery of DNA-based or RNA-based therapeutics into the CNS. We present an overview of the chemical structures and functional moieties of lipids, polymers and oligonucleotides used in these platforms. Lastly, we provide an outlook on future chemical directions to further improve the delivery of genomic medicines to the brain. Genomic therapy offers a promising strategy for addressing central nervous system disorders. This Review highlights recent advances in chemical strategies and delivery platforms, such as lipid nanoparticles, polymers and oligonucleotide conjugates, and it discusses future directions to improve the application of genomic therapy in brain disorders.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 12","pages":"841-854"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145604984","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-20DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00771-x
Jie Ding, Lingyue Liu, Hong Bin Yang, Tianyu Zhang, Bin Liu
Single-atom catalysts are isolated metal atoms on supports that offer well-defined active sites, nearly 100% atom utilization, and exceptional activity and selectivity, making them powerful platforms in heterogeneous catalysis. However, their uniform active sites often limit performances in complex chemical reactions involving multiple intermediates. To address this, integrative catalytic pairs (ICPs) are proposed, featuring spatially adjacent, electronically coupled dual active sites that function cooperatively yet independently. Unlike single-atom catalysts or dual-atom catalysts, ICPs offer functional differentiation within a small catalytic ensemble, enabling concerted multi-intermediate reactions. This Review traces the evolution from nanocatalysts to single-cluster catalysts and single-atom catalysts, evaluating their structural challenges and mechanistic limitations. Building on this, we define ICPs, illustrate their geometric and electronic features, and classify them by atomic composition and catalytic function. We highlight nitrate reduction, CO2 conversion and hydrogenation reactions, in which ICPs exhibit enhanced activity and selectivity. We further outline advanced characterization strategies and artificial intelligence-assisted design frameworks for ICP discovery. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by ICPs in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and green chemical synthesis. Integrative catalytic pairs are poised to redefine the boundaries of heterogeneous catalysis through programmable synergy and spatial precision. This Review outlines current advances and identifies key challenges towards realizing next-generation catalysts with molecular-level control.
{"title":"Integrative catalytic pairs driving complex chemical reactions","authors":"Jie Ding, Lingyue Liu, Hong Bin Yang, Tianyu Zhang, Bin Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00771-x","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00771-x","url":null,"abstract":"Single-atom catalysts are isolated metal atoms on supports that offer well-defined active sites, nearly 100% atom utilization, and exceptional activity and selectivity, making them powerful platforms in heterogeneous catalysis. However, their uniform active sites often limit performances in complex chemical reactions involving multiple intermediates. To address this, integrative catalytic pairs (ICPs) are proposed, featuring spatially adjacent, electronically coupled dual active sites that function cooperatively yet independently. Unlike single-atom catalysts or dual-atom catalysts, ICPs offer functional differentiation within a small catalytic ensemble, enabling concerted multi-intermediate reactions. This Review traces the evolution from nanocatalysts to single-cluster catalysts and single-atom catalysts, evaluating their structural challenges and mechanistic limitations. Building on this, we define ICPs, illustrate their geometric and electronic features, and classify them by atomic composition and catalytic function. We highlight nitrate reduction, CO2 conversion and hydrogenation reactions, in which ICPs exhibit enhanced activity and selectivity. We further outline advanced characterization strategies and artificial intelligence-assisted design frameworks for ICP discovery. Finally, we discuss the opportunities and challenges faced by ICPs in electrocatalysis, photocatalysis and green chemical synthesis. Integrative catalytic pairs are poised to redefine the boundaries of heterogeneous catalysis through programmable synergy and spatial precision. This Review outlines current advances and identifies key challenges towards realizing next-generation catalysts with molecular-level control.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 12","pages":"826-840"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145554614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-19DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00780-w
Aurora E. Clark
As scientists, our instinct is often to view physical systems within a Euclidean geometric space, defined by distances and angles measurable through techniques like X-ray scattering and imaging. Yet, history shows that our disciplines have repeatedly adapted their mathematical languages to better process data, interpret observations and build new theories.
{"title":"Topology without tears","authors":"Aurora E. Clark","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00780-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00780-w","url":null,"abstract":"As scientists, our instinct is often to view physical systems within a Euclidean geometric space, defined by distances and angles measurable through techniques like X-ray scattering and imaging. Yet, history shows that our disciplines have repeatedly adapted their mathematical languages to better process data, interpret observations and build new theories.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"10 1","pages":"1-2"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145545539","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-18DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00782-8
Abhyavartin Selvam, Brooklyn D. Green
Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) is a growing field in medicinal chemistry owing to the ability of alpha particles to selectively deliver radiation to tumour cells. In the past year, these research efforts have resulted in clinical trials in TAT using 225Ac, 212Pb, 223Ra, and 211At as alpha emitters.
{"title":"Bringing atoms to bedside with targeted alpha therapy","authors":"Abhyavartin Selvam, Brooklyn D. Green","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00782-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00782-8","url":null,"abstract":"Targeted alpha therapy (TAT) is a growing field in medicinal chemistry owing to the ability of alpha particles to selectively deliver radiation to tumour cells. In the past year, these research efforts have resulted in clinical trials in TAT using 225Ac, 212Pb, 223Ra, and 211At as alpha emitters.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"10 1","pages":"7-8"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145549783","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00776-6
Zachary E. Paikin, Tuan Vinh
Photochemical labelling of proteins mediated by a small organic molecule has enabled researchers to track the progress of peptides through a cell — from entry and trafficking to endocytosis.
由小有机分子介导的蛋白质光化学标记使研究人员能够跟踪肽通过细胞的过程-从进入和运输到内吞作用。
{"title":"Protein mapping at the speed of light","authors":"Zachary E. Paikin, Tuan Vinh","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00776-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00776-6","url":null,"abstract":"Photochemical labelling of proteins mediated by a small organic molecule has enabled researchers to track the progress of peptides through a cell — from entry and trafficking to endocytosis.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 12","pages":"805-805"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145495828","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-11-11DOI: 10.1038/s41570-025-00775-7
Emmanuel Adu Fosu, Jindou Yang
Developing universal machine learning potentials for heterogeneous catalysis still presents challenges. Recently, an element-based potential using random exploration via imaginary chemicals was developed and predicts reactions accurately across various scenarios related to catalytic systems and materials science.
{"title":"Machine-made chemistry","authors":"Emmanuel Adu Fosu, Jindou Yang","doi":"10.1038/s41570-025-00775-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-025-00775-7","url":null,"abstract":"Developing universal machine learning potentials for heterogeneous catalysis still presents challenges. Recently, an element-based potential using random exploration via imaginary chemicals was developed and predicts reactions accurately across various scenarios related to catalytic systems and materials science.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"9 12","pages":"806-806"},"PeriodicalIF":51.7,"publicationDate":"2025-11-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145495797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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