Chemical Reviews最新文献

Colloidal particles emerge as promising building blocks for the construction of novel materials and devices owing to their tailorable morphologies, abundant species, and intriguing properties. In comparison to other assembly approaches, optical colloidal assembly relies on photophysical or photochemical interactions and allows the arrangement of particles into desired geometries on a substrate with high spatial and temporal resolution. Typically, optical colloidal assembly involves two major processes, i.e., optical manipulation for colloidal arrangement and light-triggered interparticle bonding for colloidal immobilization. In this review, we first categorize the optical manipulation techniques based on different working principles and discuss their technical features and assembly capabilities. We then provide a comprehensive overview of different colloidal bonding schemes, including van der Waals attraction, dipole–dipole interaction, biochemical linking, photopolymerization, and surface ligand bonding. Finally, we summarize the cutting-edge applications of assembled colloidal structures and end with our vision for the existing challenges and future development in this field.

Extended reality (XR) is an emerging field that connects the physical and digital worlds, enabling communication that transcends time and space. Commercial XR devices have been developed to support such experiences, but they are limited to specific sensations, mainly vibrational cues. Furthermore, these devices are realized mainly in rigid form factors, requiring external controllers or equipment, which hinders intuitive interaction and causes a mismatch with natural body movements. In this regard, skin-integrated human–machine interfaces with wearable electronics have played an important role in intuitive and immersive interaction in the XR environment, facilitating highly authentic sensory reconstruction and perception. Novel innovations in materials and structural design have enabled a wider range of sensory modalities and miniaturization, overcoming the limitations of conventional rigid XR systems. In this article, we thoroughly review human perception mechanisms to replicate hyper-realistic sensations. Then, we deal with the design and functionality for sensory feedback and input, specifically tailored for XR applications. In addition, we discuss precise system-level integration for untethered XR devices, alongside the role of artificial intelligence in real-time processing and rapid sensation conversion through predictive algorithms. Finally, we introduce promising XR applications and conclude with the challenges and prospects of future XR technologies.

Inspired by the ion transport mechanisms in biological systems, ionic technologies have emerged as a transformative field that bridges biology and electronics. Unlike electrons, ions not only transmit electrical signals but also convey chemical information and exhibit ion-specific transport behaviors. At the center of iontronic devices lie ion channels, highly selective and efficient structures that control ion transport. These ion channels, whether biological nanopores or artificial nanofluidic channels, fundamentally determine the properties of the devices. Therefore, understanding, engineering, and integrating versatile ion channels into artificial systems are critical to advancing the field. This Review provides a comprehensive overview of iontronic devices and systems, mainly covering advances after 2010, beginning with the principles of ion transport in both biological and artificial ion channels. We then examine fabrications and characterizations, with a focus on how material and structural design influence ionic properties. Device architectures are summarized and compared across multiple dimensions and scales. We highlight emerging applications in bioiontronics, neuromorphic computing, energy harvesting, water treatments, and environmental sustainability. Despite significant advancements, we propose that challenges remain in achieving the desired ion selectivity, efficient ionic signal transduction, and seamless integration of iontronics with electronics and biology.

Catalytic technology has been extensively utilized for the removal of atmospheric pollutants. Nevertheless, the intricate nature of gaseous pollutant compositions and the fluctuations in operating conditions often lead to catalyst deactivation. This review comprehensively summarizes the deactivation phenomena of catalysts during the catalytic elimination of various pollutants, including nitrogen oxides (NO_x), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), hydrocarbons (HCs), soot, and non-CO₂ greenhouse gases (CH₄, N₂O, fluorinated gases). An in-depth exploration of the deactivation mechanisms is conducted, with a focus on the potential compensatory and aggravating effects among poisons under complex operating conditions. Furthermore, effective strategies for fabricating poisoning-resistant catalysts are discussed. For instance, the incorporation of sacrificial sites is proposed as a viable approach to alleviate catalyst poisoning. The sensor system and the model for catalyst deactivation are also presented. Regarding deactivated catalysts, this review delineates effective regeneration methods. It presents a novel descriptor for selecting detoxifying agents based on acid dissociation constants and a strategy for masking intractable poisons. Finally, this review emphasizes the significance of appropriate catalyst evaluation methods in accurately gauging a catalyst’s genuine resistance to deactivation. It also highlights that rational catalyst evaluation methodologies, coupled with artificial intelligence-assisted catalyst design, hold great potential for extending catalyst lifespan and enhancing the efficient management of pollutants.

This review provides a foundational understanding of solubility to support researchers in navigating challenges in battery electrolyte development. We survey recent strategies aimed at controlling, and typically maximizing, solubility in electrochemical systems, with a focus on redox flow and metal-ion batteries. The review begins with an accessible overview of solubility concepts, methods for accurately determining solubility for battery-relevant materials, and solubility prediction. We then discuss how solubility can be tuned by modifying the electrolyte solution structure or by tailoring the molecular structure of the active material itself, and we examine emerging strategies to decouple electrolyte capacity from solubility in flow batteries. In the context of metal and metal-ion batteries, we highlight the role of solvation structures in concentrated electrolytes and their influence on both bulk and interfacial properties. Finally, trade-offs associated with high-concentration formulations, such as increased viscosity and reduced ionic conductivity, are considered in light of their impact on practical deployment. We conclude with a forward-looking perspective on solubility as a central design parameter in battery electrolyte research.

Semiartificial photosynthesis has witnessed remarkable progress over the past decade, driven by the integration of diverse biological systems with synthetic materials, ushering in the first generation of biohybrid platforms (Biohybrids 1.0). While previous reviews have extensively examined whole-cell biohybrid systems and the fundamental mechanisms underlying solar-to-chemical energy conversion, a critical knowledge gap remains in the rational optimization of their three core components: photosensitizers, microbial partners, and solar energy input. These interdependent elements collectively determine the efficiency, stability, and scalability of biohybrid platforms. To address this gap, this review offers a comprehensive and structured overview of multidisciplinary strategies for the development of next-generation biohybrid platforms (Biohybrids 2.0). It highlights recent advances in photosensitizer design, microbial selection and engineering, energy sources and conversion strategies, interface control and optimization, and state-of-the-art characterization methodologies, while providing a comprehensive summary of a diverse and expanding range of emerging applications. The review also offers a critical appraisal of current limitations and proposes forward-looking research directions that may enable transformative progress toward Biohybrids 3.0. Altogether, this integrative perspective outlines a coherent framework for the rational design of robust, efficient, and application-ready semiartificial photosynthetic systems for real-world and industrial-scale deployment.

This review focuses on an important but under-explored biogenic strategy used to control biomineralization processes─confinement─where compartmentalization is fundamental to the organization and function of all organisms. Biominerals combine the functionality of inorganic and organic solid-state materials and are constructed under precise biological control. Often exhibiting desirable properties, such as high strength, toughness, and complex morphologies that surpass those of synthetic materials synthesized under harsher conditions, biomineral formation processes are widely studied. Here we demonstrate the vital role that confinement plays in defining the key structural characteristics of biominerals and in controlling their mechanisms of formation. These range from well-accepted functions, such as stabilizing amorphous phases, isolating the mineralization site, and controlling morphologies, to more speculative roles, including controlling crystal nucleation, orientation and polymorphism. Examples from a range of organisms, mineral types, and length scales are provided, and further insight into potential biogenic mechanisms is gained through comparison with crystallization in complementary confined synthetic systems. Further opportunities for exploring confinement effects in biomineralization systems are discussed throughout, where these will ultimately act as an inspiration for the synthesis of sustainable materials, for medical innovations, as well as providing insights into evolution and environmental change.

Research into tetragonal FeS_m, the synthetic equivalent of the mineral mackinawite, is currently at the frontiers of theoretical and applied chemistry. FeS_m is stoichiometric and crystallizes with a structure dominated by Fe–Fe layers. The familiar black, nanoparticulate precipitate develops from aqueous FeS clusters and displays varying initial compositions. Particle growth and crystallization are through oriented attachment of FeS nanoplates. Conflicting magnetic properties of FeS_m result from itinerant Fe d-electrons in the ground state displaying some localization experimentally. It is highly sensitive to the method of synthesis and this has led to widespread irreproducible, and often conflicting, results. At the same time this sensitivity offers the opportunity to synthesize FeS_m varieties with technologically valuable properties. FeS_m displays unconventional superconductivity (T_c ∼ 5K) derived from spatial anisotropy of electron pairs. Exotic compounds can be inserted in the vdW gap between the FeS layers giving rise to a spectrum of interlayered compounds. FeS_m can be highly efficient in sequestering a large array of environmentally deleterious inorganic and organic compounds including halogenated hydrocarbons. However, FeS_m nanoparticles are genotoxic and this needs to be further investigated before they are widely distributed in the environment or used for medical purposes.

Heme is an essential molecule required for critical biochemical processes in most vertebrates and bacteria. During infections, vertebrate hosts sequester heme away from invading pathogens, a process known as nutritional immunity, driving bacteria to evolve diverse mechanisms to evade this immunity and cause diseases. This review explores the functions of heme at the host–pathogen interface. We discuss the multifaceted roles of heme in bacterial pathogenesis and the potential for heme-targeting antimicrobial therapies. Beyond serving as a source of iron in the host environment, where iron bioavailability is limited, heme contributes to the structural stability and enzymatic functions of hemoproteins. We examine the regulatory mechanisms governing bacterial heme homeostasis in the host environment including sensing, detoxification, acquisition, utilization, and degradation pathways. Understanding how heme influences bacterial survival and virulence can lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies that target the various essential and conserved mechanisms of heme homeostasis in bacterial pathogens. Given the rising challenge of antibiotic resistance, heme-based therapeutic interventions are promising strategies for the treatment of bacterial infections.