Mechanochemistry is a growing field for chemical reactions that proceed in the solid state in the absence, or with miniscule amounts, of solvent added. For decades, solvents have been considered conventional for the progression of modern chemistry, nonetheless, researchers are increasingly demonstrating that mechanochemistry can synthesize complex molecules more effectively. With more progress, mechanochemistry could alleviate solvent-related environmental and financial burdens in chemical industries. New research from WPI-ITbM at Nagoya University demonstrates a simple mechanochemical method for synthesizing a series of synthetically challenging conductive organic molecules.

Sugar-based amphiphilic molecules, which contain a hydrophilic sugar headgroup and a hydrophobic segment, can assemble in water and act at interfaces, making them important models for detergents, emulsifiers, molecular assemblies, and delivery systems. However, how small structural changes alter their aggregation and interfacial behavior remains insufficiently understood. A research team from Saitama University synthesized a series of S-linked octyl α-D-mannosides that share the same mannose headgroup and octyl chain but differ only in the oxidation state of sulfur: sulfide, sulfoxide, and sulfone. Using NMR spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray crystallography, Nile Red fluorescence, surface tension measurements, dynamic light scattering, and transmission electron microscopy, the team showed that sulfur oxidation state changes not only the concentration at which aggregation-related behavior appears in water but also how this behavior corresponds to interfacial activity.

Rice researchers have developed extremely stable perovskite crystalline films for long-lasting, high-efficiency solar cells.

For the first time, researchers directly characterized the 3D atomic structure of a relaxor ferroelectric, a class of materials used in electronics and sensors. The findings provide a framework for refining models for next-generation computing, energy, and sensing devices.

Water molecules play an active, essential role in gene transcription, helping RNA polymerase II carry out the chemical steps needed to read DNA and build RNA.