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Photoelectrochemical water splitting is a promising method for H₂ fuel production, but the O₂ by-product generated has little economic value. Here, Berlinguette and colleagues demonstrate that BiVO₄ photoanodes immersed in organic media can instead perform valuable alcohol oxidation and C–H functionalization reactions.

As part of the March Focus issue of Nature Chemical Engineering, we asked 13 leading researchers to spotlight a challenge or opportunity in reaction engineering that they believe holds particular promise for advancing this core area of chemical engineering research and practice.

A benchtop fusion reactor, called the Thunderbird Reactor, is described, showing that electrochemically loading a metal lattice with deuterium could enhance nuclear fusion rates when that metal is also bombarded by deuterium ions.

Industrial hydrogen peroxide is produced at scale using hydrogen gas derived from fossil fuels. Here, the authors demonstrate production of hydrogen peroxide electrochemically from hydrogenation of anthraquinones using a membrane reactor.

Dye-sensitized solar cells rely on molecular dyes to absorb light and conduct electrons. Parlane et al. show that weak forces such as hydrogen bonding can be responsible for the dye regeneration step of solar cells and have an impact on the photovoltage and the efficiency.

Enzymatic catalysis requires cofactors such as NAD(P)H, whose regeneration is currently accomplished via secondary enzymes or electrolytic cell. Here, the authors report an electrochemical method of cofactors regeneration without supporting enzymes or mediators, nor formation of NAD₂ dimers.

While important for solar energy conversion, it is unclear whether electron transfer at molecular–semiconductor interfaces is influenced only by the distance over which the injected electron tunnels and whether specific through-bond pathways are active. Now, a pathway for electron transfer has been identified through comparative analysis of compounds with phenyl- or xylyl-thiophene bridges.

Useful materials must satisfy multiple objectives. The Pareto front expresses the trade-offs of competing objectives. This work uses a self-driving laboratory to map out the Pareto front for making highly conductive coatings at low temperatures.

Facile absorption and desorption of hydrogen at palladium surfaces provides a way to define how metal–solute interactions impact properties relevant to energy storage, catalysis and sensing. In situ X-ray diffraction has now been used to track both hydrogen absorption and desorption in palladium nanocrystals.

In a standard electrochemistry experiment, the electrochemical signal reports on all electron transfer, chemical, and diffusion steps between the anode and cathode. Now, a membrane reactor decouples each of these steps to enable direct measurement of elementary reaction steps in ways that are otherwise not possible.

Electrolysers can upgrade CO₂ into high-value chemicals, but there are few tools capable of tracking the reactions that occur within these devices during operation. Now an electrolysis optical coherence tomography platform has been developed to visualize the electrochemical conversion of CO₂ to CO, plus the movement of components, within the device.

The phenomenon of „ring-walking‟, wherein a metal catalyst remains bound to a pi system as it migrates to another coupling site, is supported largely by circumstantial evidence. Here the authors perform an in-depth kinetic study of Buchwald- Hartwig animations with several catalytic systems delineating the phenomenon of ring walking from diffusion-controlled coupling.

Molecular electrocatalysts reducing CO₂ to CO with high selectivity and high rate are urgently needed. A cobalt phthalocyanine complex is capable of reducing CO₂ to CO in water with a maximum partial current density up to 165 mA cm⁻², matching the most active noble metal-based nanocatalysts.

The reductive deuteration of unsaturated hydrocarbons is a promising deuterium-labelling strategy, although it requires expensive gaseous D₂ or other stoichiometric reagents. Here, an electrocatalytic palladium membrane reactor is employed to selectively generate C(sp³)–D bonds via reduction of unsaturated compounds using D₂O.

Electrolysis uses clean electricity to form chemical products but typical water electrolysis produces hydrogen which is hard to store oxygen which is a waste gas. Here, paired electrolysis is performed with an palladium membrane reactor to carry out two organic reactions simultaneously. The dense palladium membrane enables the two reactions to proceed in different solvents and the reaction rates and selectivities can be independently controlled.

Current models of halogen bonding describe the σ-symmetric component of this interaction but do not contemplate the possibility of π-covalency. Here the authors provide experimental and computational evidence of π-covalency in halogen bonds involving radical cation halogen bond donors.

It is known that intermolecular interactions impact electron transfer rates, but the mechanisms involved are challenging to define experimentally. Here, the authors have developed a platform that enables atomic orbital resolution of electron transfer through an explicit intermolecular interaction.

Automated experiments can accelerate research and development. ‘Flexible automation’ enables the cost- and time-effective design, construction and reconfiguration of automated experiments. Flexible automation is empowering researchers to deploy new science and technology faster than ever before.

This Perspective describes the key advances in nanocatalysts that have led to the impressive electrochemical conversion of CO₂ to useful products and provides benchmarks that others can use to compare their results.

The CO₂ reduction reaction can be used to produce carbon-neutral chemicals using renewable electricity. This Review presents material design strategies for controlling the transport of products and reactants in electrochemical reactors that convert CO₂ emissions into chemicals and fuels.

Carbon dioxide electroreduction is a promising approach to synthesize chemicals and fuels using renewable energy. This Review explores our understanding of anion exchange membranes — a key component of certain carbon dioxide electrolysers — and outlines approaches to design improved materials.

Natural photosynthetic systems harvest light to perform selective chemistry on atmospheric molecules such as CO₂. This Review discusses the implementation of bioinspired concepts in engineered light harvesting and catalysis.

Three years of investigation by a multi-disciplinary team into claims of ‘cold fusion’ found no evidence that the phenomenon exists, but identified a parameter space potentially worthy of further exploration.