Themed collection Chemical Science Recent Perspective articles
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Design of BODIPY dyes as triplet photosensitizers: electronic properties tailored for solar energy conversion, photoredox catalysis and photodynamic therapy
BODIPYs offer a versatile platform to build organic triplet photosensitisers for PDT, TTA upconversion and photocatalysis. Tuning their properties provides the opportunity of replacing heavy-metal complexes and can lead to improved sustainability.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 6607-6628
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00732G
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Disila- and digermabenzenes
Reactions of isolable disilynes and digermynes with alkynes can result in the formation of the corresponding disila- (DSBs) and digermabenzenes (DGBs), wherein two carbon atoms of the benzene ring are replaced by silicon or germanium atoms.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 6507-6517
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00130B
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Targeted DNP for biomolecular solid-state NMR
In targeted DNP, localization of polarizing agent at specific sites leads to new NMR approaches to improve sensitivity, background suppression for in-cell NMR, access to long-range constraints, and selective observation of binding sites.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 6223-6237
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06959K
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Preparation and reactions of polyfunctional magnesium and zinc organometallics in organic synthesis
Polyfunctional Mg and Zn organometallics can be prepared from organic halides by metal insertions, halogen/metal-exchanges or metalations with TMP-bases. These intermediates can be used in new cross-couplings, aminations or continuous flow set-ups.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 6011-6019
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00685A
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Plasmonic photothermal catalysis for solar-to-fuel conversion: current status and prospects
Hot carrier activation and photothermal heat can be constructively coupled using plasmonic photothermal catalysts for synergistically promoted solar-to-fuel conversion efficiency.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 5701-5719
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00064K
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Acyl metalloids: conformity and deviation from carbonyl reactivity
Originally considered as fundamental curiosities, acyl metalloids have proven to be useful tools in synthesis. This perspective aims to highlight the modes of reactivity accessible to boron, silicon, germanium and tellurium species.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 5346-5360
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00077B
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Polymers with advanced structural and supramolecular features synthesized through topochemical polymerization
This perspective showcases the potential of topochemical polymerization as an effective tool for synthesizing polymers with advanced molecular and supramolecular structures.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 5361-5380
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC07066A
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Challenges and prospects of ambient hybrid solar cell applications
The impending implementation of billions of Internet of Things and wireless sensor network devices has the potential to be the next digital revolution, if energy consumption and sustainability constraints can be overcome.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 5002-5015
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06477G
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17O NMR spectroscopy of crystalline microporous materials
Cost-effective and atom-efficient isotopic enrichment enables 17O NMR spectroscopy of microporous materials to be used to probe local structure and disorder and to explore chemical reactivity.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 5016-5036
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00552A
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Emergent synthetic methods for the modular advancement of sp3-rich fragments
This Perspective reviews recently developed methods that are likely to be of value to the elaboration of sp3-rich fragments from carbon-centred vectors, whilst maintaining key fragment-to-target binding interactions.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 4646-4660
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00161B
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Emerging applications for living crystallization-driven self-assembly
The use of crystallization as a tool to control the self-assembly of polymeric and molecular amphiphiles in solution is attracting growing attention for the creation of non-spherical nanoparticles and more complex, hierarchical assemblies.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 4661-4682
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06878K
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Efficient metal-free organic room temperature phosphors
A summary of the extremely efficient organic phosphors that utilized the best possible ways to manipulate the fate of triplet excitons for achieving a long lifetime along with impressive quantum yield and afterglow properties is provided.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 4216-4236
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1SC00446H
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The atomic-level regulation of single-atom site catalysts for the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction
Electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) is a promising way to remove CO2 and convert it into useful industrial products. Single-atom site catalysts provide opportunities to regulate the active sites of CO2RR catalysts at the atomic level.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 4201-4215
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC07040H
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All-in-one: a new approach toward robust and solution-processable copper halide hybrid semiconductors by integrating covalent, coordinate and ionic bonds in their structures
This Perspective features the newly emerged AIO-type Cu(I)X-based hybrid semiconductors and showcases their structural diversity, solution-processability, framework stability, important photophysical properties and related potential applications.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3805-3817
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06629J
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Intrinsic activity modulation and structural design of NiFe alloy catalysts for an efficient oxygen evolution reaction
Effective strategies to increase the intrinsic activity by electronic modulation and to increase the number of active sites by structural design are discussed for improving the oxygen evolution activities of NiFe alloys.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3818-3835
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06716D
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Fluorescent small organic probes for biosensing
Small-molecule based fluorescent probes are increasingly important for the detection and imaging of biological signaling molecules due to their simplicity, high selectivity and sensitivity, whilst being non-invasive, and suitable for real-time analysis of living systems.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3406-3426
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06928K
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New directions of activity-based sensing for in vivo NIR imaging
In vivo imaging is a powerful approach to study biological processes.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3393-3405
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC03096A
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Near-infrared fluorescent molecular probes for imaging and diagnosis of nephro-urological diseases
Near-infrared fluorescent molecular probes with improved imaging depth and optimized biodistribution have been reviewed, showing great potential for diagnosis of nephro-urological diseases.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3379-3392
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC02925D
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Olefin metathesis: what have we learned about homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts from surface organometallic chemistry?
Surface organometallic chemistry bridges the gap between homogeneous and heterogeneous olefin metathesis catalysts.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 3092-3115
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06880B
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N-Heterocyclic carbene–carbodiimide (NHC–CDI) betaine adducts: synthesis, characterization, properties, and applications
N-heterocyclic carbene-carbodiimide betaine adducts are zwitterionic amidinate-like structures with tunable properties that have applications as ligands, junctions in supramolecular polymers, and stabilizers for radical cations.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 2699-2715
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06465C
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Controlling ultrasmall gold nanoparticles with atomic precision
The synthesis strategy, methods and parameters for atomically precise gold nanoclusters were reviewed, and future outlook was also proposed.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 2368-2380
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05363E
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Main group bimetallic partnerships for cooperative catalysis
Exporting cooperative effects in main group heterobimetallic reagents to catalytic regimes, this Perspective showcases key advances in their applications for hydroelementation, cyclisation, C–C bond formation and polymerization processes.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 1982-1992
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05116K
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Catalysis using transition metal complexes featuring main group metal and metalloid compounds as supporting ligands
Recent development in catalytic application of transition metal complexes having an M–E bond (E = main group metal or metalloid element), which is stabilized by a multidentate ligand, is summarized.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 1964-1981
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC04238B
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Confined space design by nanoparticle self-assembly
This perspective gives an outlook on the design of interparticle confined nanocavities in self-assembled NP systems and their functional relevance.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 1632-1646
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05697A
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High-performance polymer field-effect transistors: from the perspective of multi-level microstructures
The multi-level microstructures of conjugated polymers, including solution-state aggregation and crystal structures, are reviewed due to their influence on charge transport in polymer field-effect transistors.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 1193-1205
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06497A
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Recent discoveries on the structure of iodine(III) reagents and their use in cross-nucleophile coupling
This perspective article discusses structural features of iodine(III) compounds as a prelude to presenting their use as umpolung reagents, to promote the selective coupling of two nucleophilic species via 2e− oxidation.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 853-864
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC03266B
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Interstitial and substitutional light elements in transition metals for heterogeneous catalysis
TOC summarises some recent developments in synthesis, characterisation and catalytic applications of light elements doped to transition metals presented in this article.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 517-532
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06496C
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New chemistry for enhanced carbon capture: beyond ammonium carbamates
New pathways for carbon capture and sequestration are needed to tackle the challenge of rising anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 508-516
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC06059C
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Supramolecular strategies in artificial photosynthesis
This review describes supramolecular strategies for optimization and integration of components needed for the fundamentals of artificial photosynthesis: light harvesting, charge-separation and catalysis, which are relevant for solar-to-fuel devices.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 50-70
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC03715J
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Self-charging power system for distributed energy: beyond the energy storage unit
Recent progresses and future prospects on nanogenerator-based self-charging power systems (SCPSs) are discussed with this perspective.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 34-49
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05145D
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Directional asymmetry over multiple length scales in reticular porous materials
Design strategies for the controlled assembly of discrete and extended reticular materials with asymmetric configurations of pores or architectures.
Chem. Sci., 2021,12, 18-33
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0SC05008C
About this collection
This collection contains recent Perspective-type articles from Chemical Science. Our refreshed Perspective article type aims to provide a platform for authors to provide a personal or speculative viewpoint on a given subject and its future development.
Browse our most recent Perspectives with contributions to fields spanning the chemical sciences, from the challenges and future of indoor photovoltaics to new directions in activity-based sensing and an outlook on the possible uses of interparticle confined nanocavities in self-assembled systems.
As with all Chemical Science articles – they are all completely free to access and read. We hope you enjoy reading this collection.