Trends in Chemistry最新文献

Plastics possess highly unsustainable linear life cycles that are environmentally damaging. With low recycling rates worldwide, plastics upcycling is emerging as a promising alternative by using these abundant waste products as chemical feedstock for the production of materials and essential chemicals of higher economic value. However, the saturated C–C polymer backbones of polymers constituting ~60% of all plastic waste are unreactive and challenging to upcycle, often necessitating energy-intensive processes. This review examines state-of-the-art sustainable approaches employing the Principles of Green Chemistry to functionalize or cleave these unreactive polymer backbones, including alternative solvents, Earth-abundant metal catalysis, emerging low-energy approaches, and biocatalysis. Such sustainable strategies will enhance the attractiveness and practical feasibility of plastics upcycling to achieve a circular materials economy.

Additive manufacturing of metal oxides possesses immense potential in micro-optics, enabling intricate glass and ceramic structures at the highest definition. However, a limited range of inorganic–organic monomeric precursors restrains its advancements. New inorganic–organic precursors should be developed to unlock optical functionalities to manipulate light in the third dimension.

The mysteries of chemical structures and properties of lignin are gradually being unveiled. In parallel, lignin is gaining ground as a versatile resource for the development of stimuli-responsive materials with environmentally friendly, high-performance, and multifunctional characters. This review focuses on synthesis and mechanisms of lignin-based stimuli-responsive materials, highlighting the chemical structures linked to responses to various different stimuli, such as pH and temperature. We also highlight applications of these materials in drug carriers, bioimaging, shape memory, strain sensors, and substance detection, with the objective to showcase the untapped potential of lignin, challenging the prevailing notion that lignin is merely a by-product of the pulp industry. Finally, we identify challenges and propose future directions for the development of lignin-based stimuli-responsive materials.

It is challenging to convert a non-methylotrophic yeast to a synthetic methylotroph. In a recently described new method, Nielsen, Keasling, Chen, Bai, and coworkers show that Saccharomyces cerevisiae can be engineered to grow solely on methanol, which potentially emerges as a promising platform for one-carbon (C1)-based biomanufacturing.

Addressing the burgeoning global obesity crisis, Zhao et al. recently presented innovative developments in celastrol synthesis, a potent anti-obesity agent. They unified plant biochemistry, metabolic engineering, and chemistry to map an effective celastrol biosynthetic path in yeast. The study emphasizes new opportunities for the commercial production of celastrol, revealing future potential for specialized metabolite production.

In a world facing complex global challenges, chemistry and democracy form an inseparable partnership. Chemistry equips us with knowledge and innovation, while democracy ensures collective decision-making. Together, they drive sustainability, health, technology, and evidence-based policies, shaping a world that functions for the greater good.

Organic solar cells (OSCs) based on non-fullerene acceptors have recently achieved high power conversion efficiencies over 19%, thus rapidly advancing third-generation photovoltaic technologies. Solution-processable organic interlayers, positioned between organic photoactive layers and metal electrodes, are essential to furnish optimal OSCs because of their pivotal role in adjusting work functions of metal electrodes, enhancing build-in potential of the devices and alleviating charge recombination loss. This review summarizes recent progresses in organic materials used as multiple functional cathode and anode interlayers towards efficient and stable non-fullerene OSCs. We concentrate on representative interlayer materials associated with their structure–performance relationship, aiming to provide effectual designing guidelines and propose potential opportunities and directions in this field.