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The impact of atomic substitution in sodium-layered oxides and how substitutions affect the properties and performances of battery materials are discussed, with the aim of improving sodium-layered oxides and accelerating the commercialization of sodium-ion batteries.
Ahead of her 85th birthday, Jane Richardson, Professor of Biochemistry at Duke University, discussed her life in science from making her own telescope to developing the ribbon diagrams for the 3D structure of proteins.
Non-steady-state chemical dynamics offer a powerful tool for neuromorphic computing by harnessing nonlinear, collective, and time-evolving behaviours. Coupled with frameworks such as reservoir computing, these systems enable trajectory-based information processing at the molecular scale through concepts from chemical kinetics and far-from-equilibrium dynamics.
In an era of global transition, new frontiers in chemistry — from space mining to circular technologies — are poised to reshape global power. This Comment explores how future supply chains, strategic resources, and chemistry could define the next era of geopolitical competition.
State-of-the-art approaches for modelling electrified solid–electrolyte interfaces are critically discussed, highlighting key challenges in incorporating thermodynamic open-boundary conditions, large electrostatic potentials and their dynamic fluctuations into realistic ab initio simulations.
Ion migration plays a crucial role in perovskite solar cells. This Review covers its mechanisms, impact on device performance and degradation, measurement techniques, and emerging strategies towards controlling ion migration.
The development of DNA-based machines is transforming fields such as drug delivery and biosensing. Here, design strategies are discussed and key performance metrics — speed, force generation, efficiency and autonomy — are examined to provide insights into the future of DNA nanotechnology.
Chemistry is an experimental science that for many learners only comes alive in the laboratory. But specialized equipment is increasingly out of reach of school budgets. Strengthening school–university collaborations can help to bridge the gap.
Metal–organic frameworks are increasingly used in environmental technologies, whereby their biomolecular coronas determine their identity, transport, persistence and ecosystem effects. We argue that further research is needed to embed corona considerations into framework systems design and regulation, and we outline the minimal, actionable steps needed to achieve this.
This Review explores how ionizing radiation triggers drug release via water radiolysis, detailing reactive species, drug activation mechanisms and strategies for designing radiation-sensitive prodrugs and nanocarriers to enhance chemoradiation therapy with reduced systemic toxicity.
Proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) are an emerging platform in drug discovery with the potential to unlock novel pharmacology and tackle undruggable targets. This Review highlights learnings from the first cohort of clinical-stage PROTACs, which use short, ring-rich linkers, often complemented with one basic centre, to achieve good bioavailability and metabolic stability.
Ahead of his 80th birthday, Steven V. Ley, Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge, discussed his career from drawing chemicals by hand to his work generating complex natural product architectures using machines.
In 2025, peptide research saw the convergence of chemical synthesis and computational modelling. Advances in artificial intelligence-guided design and new macrocyclic and covalent frameworks expanded structural creativity, transforming peptides into programmable molecules with functions beyond traditional design.
Epoxides, which readily undergo C–O bond cleavage, also undergo skeletal rearrangements via C–C bond activation. This Review discusses modes of epoxide C–C bond cleavage and their applications, highlighting the mechanistic features which lead to selective bond scission.
The roles of organic A-cations in halide perovskite photovoltaics are discussed from a molecular point of view by considering their chemical, lattice and electronic interactions. Prospects for future research directions, opportunities and challenges are also presented.
Unsymmetric coordination environments are prevalent in metalloenzymes. By contrast, most synthetic homogeneous catalysts rely on symmetric ligand frameworks. This Review highlights biological unsymmetric bimetallic centres along with their roles in catalysis and illustrates how intentionally incorporated unsymmetry in synthetic systems mimics nature’s strategies for achieving cooperative and complementary reactivity.
Light-responsive molecular systems, capable of interconverting between isomers using light, can be integrated into biological membranes to mimic and control their dynamic behaviour. This Review discusses the key design principles and experimental challenges while discussing and highlighting recent advances.
Molten salts have promising applications in clean energy technologies, but the hazards and dynamics of these systems complicate their chemical analysis. This year, exciting developments in equipment design and simulation accuracy and efficiency have brought these materials closer than ever to application.
Genomic therapy offers a promising strategy for addressing central nervous system disorders. This Review highlights recent advances in chemical strategies and delivery platforms, such as lipid nanoparticles, polymers and oligonucleotide conjugates, and it discusses future directions to improve the application of genomic therapy in brain disorders.
