Chemistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

The scalable fabrication of perovskite solar cells is hindered by the uneven deposition of perovskite colloidal particles during printing. Now, introduction of a mechanically interlocked network into the precursor ink to construct a three-dimensional network immobilizes the particles, regulating their rheological behaviour and enabling uniform deposition of large-area films.

A recent study proposes using a single neural network to model and compute a wide range of solid-state materials, demonstrating exceptional transferability and substantially reduced computational costs — a breakthrough that could accelerate the design of next-generation materials in applications from efficient solar cells to room-temperature superconductors.

Inorganic salts can exhibit dissociation behaviour in inorganic solid phases similar to that in liquid solvents. This solid dissociation approach is used to obtain superionic conductors, including over 40 materials with room-temperature ionic conductivities of more than 10^−3 S cm^−1.

A radical-mediated dynamic remedial strategy based on bio-inspired disulfide metathesis has been developed to construct metal–organic frameworks with crystalline dynamicity. The disulfide exchange-based crystal dynamics of the metal–organic frameworks allows for sustained gas separation.

Artificial photobiocatalytic reactions are appealing but sometimes suffer from non-enzymatic side reactions. Now a photoenzyme for enantioselective [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of 2-naphthyl derivatives is reported and combined with designed quenchers that shut down the competing enzyme-free racemic reaction.

The Mannich reaction has long been used by chemists for the synthesis of stereoselective synthesis of β-amino-carbonyl compounds. Here, the authors show a catalytic homo-Mannich reaction of cyclopropanols with in situ-formed imines, furnishing chiral 2,6-disubstituted piperidines in good yields with high diastereoselectivities due to the use of a diketiminate-complexed copper.

Darwinian evolution has shaped life on our planet through natural selection. Here, the authors report on the combination of self-replication, mutation and protometabolism in an out-of-equilibrium abiotic chemical system that can lead to natural selection for protometabolic activity.

Deuterated bioactive compounds are important as diagnostic tools and pharmaceuticals, but current methods of development are limited. Here the authors report how a silicon Lewis acid and a tertiary amine base act as a frustrated Lewis pair to catalyse the hydrogen exchange reaction for the deuteration of amides and esters.

The scalable fabrication of perovskite solar cells is hindered by the uneven deposition of perovskite colloidal particles during printing. Now, introduction of a mechanically interlocked network into the precursor ink to construct a three-dimensional network immobilizes the particles, regulating their rheological behaviour and enabling uniform deposition of large-area films.

The discovery of benzene two centuries ago marked a turning point in chemistry. From contributing to the development of chemical bonding concepts, to its practical use in the chemical industry, the story of this ring-shaped molecule is a combination of curiosity, science, and human kindness.

Civets enrich coffee beans they eat and excrete with two fatty acids often used in dairy products, study finds.

An article in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces reports a 3D-printed, metal–organic framework-coated respiratory filter that both allows airflow and catalytically destroys chemical warfare agents.

A recent study proposes using a single neural network to model and compute a wide range of solid-state materials, demonstrating exceptional transferability and substantially reduced computational costs — a breakthrough that could accelerate the design of next-generation materials in applications from efficient solar cells to room-temperature superconductors.

An article in Nature Communications presents a digital platform that integrates the design, fabrication and optimization of catalytic reactors, combining machine learning and 3D printing.