Solid State Chemistry

Solid state chemistry investigates the synthesis, structure and properties of materials in the condensed phase. Central to this field are the formation of extended lattices—whether crystalline or amorphous—and the interplay of bonding modes (ionic, covalent, metallic, molecular) that govern mechanical strength, electronic behaviour and thermal stability. Synthetic routes range from high-temperature ceramic methods and solid–state metathesis to low-temperature sol–gel, hydrothermal and vapour-phase techniques, each selected to control phase purity, particle size and defect populations. Structural characterisation employs X-ray and neutron diffraction to elucidate unit-cell parameters, electron microscopy for local ordering and spectroscopies (Raman, solid-state NMR) for bonding motifs. Defects—point vacancies, interstitials, dislocations—profoundly influence electronic transport, ionic conductivity and catalytic activity. Band theory links atom-to-atom interactions with macroscopic conductivities via valence and conduction bands, explaining the behaviour of insulators, semiconductors and metals. Glasses and polymers extend the discipline into non-periodic solids, where network connectivity and segmental mobility define glass transition and viscoelastic properties. The global demand for energy storage, transparent conductors, thermoelectrics and quantum materials underpins vigorous research in tailoring composition, doping and microstructure to achieve desired functionalities. Interfacing these solids with device architectures further calls for an integrated understanding of surface chemistry, film growth and compatibility with manufacturing processes.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Single-cycle terahertz excitation has been used to impel and visualise ion hops in solid electrolytes, with nonlinear optical detection of transient birefringence revealing anisotropic, picosecond-scale ionic motions. This direct probe distinguishes correlated from random-walk conduction and connects activated hopping events to entropy production in diffusion. In parallel, face-centred cubic oxides traditionally deemed unfavourable for lithium conduction have been engineered via lithium over-stoichiometry to create face-sharing octahedral sites, yielding a novel rocksalt-derived spinel with a migration barrier of 255 meV and room-temperature superionic conductivity exceeding 3 × 10⁻⁴ S cm⁻¹. Finally, design principles for sodium-ion conductors have been distilled from structural analysis of Na- versus Li-conducting solids, identifying face-sharing high-coordination polyhedra as a unifying motif. Guided by this insight, a chloride-based family NaxMyCl₆ (M = La–Sm) was discovered with record Na-ion conductivities, validating the transferability of these principles across oxides, sulfides and halides.

Research from all publishers

A comprehensive review of zeolite-templated carbons (ZTCs) highlights versatile routes to hierarchical porosity and heteroatom doping that yield three-dimensional networks with angstrom-scale pores, high surface areas and tunable electronic properties. Applications in lithium- and sodium-ion batteries, supercapacitors and fuel cells have been charted, emphasising the role of pore ordering, graphitic content and metal-oxide infiltration in optimizing ion transport and charge storage kinetics. Recent studies of graphene-domain “zipping” in mesoporous carbons demonstrate that thermal treatments between 1 173 K and 1 873 K can fuse adjacent graphene edges, enlarging sp² domains by over three orders of magnitude while preserving mesoporosity; this balances electrical conductivity gains with mechanical rigidity. Advances in three-dimensionally ordered nanoporous graphenes via template synthesis have further produced superelastic, high-conductivity frameworks that combine fast ion diffusion, exceptional mechanical resilience and broad electrochemical stability, promising next-generation energy-conversion and storage architectures.

Solid State Chemistry publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in solid state chemistry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Crystal lattice: A periodic, three-dimensional array of points representing the positions of atoms or ions in a crystalline solid.

Band gap: The energy difference between the valence band and conduction band in a solid; dictates electrical conductivity.

Superionic conductor: A solid electrolyte exhibiting exceptionally high ionic conductivity, often comparable to liquid electrolytes.

Glass transition temperature (Tg): The temperature below which an amorphous solid behaves as a rigid glass, above which segmental mobility increases.

Solid-state metathesis: A high-temperature reaction in which two solids exchange ions to form new phases.

Density of states (DOS): The number of electronic states per energy interval per volume, crucial for predicting carrier populations.

Point defect: A localized imperfection in a crystal, such as a vacancy or interstitial atom, affecting transport and optical properties.

References

1. Enhancement of ion diffusion by targeted phonon excitation. Cell Reports Physical Science (2021).
2. Unlocking Li superionic conductivity in face-centred cubic oxides via face-sharing configurations. Nature Materials (2024).
3. Design principles for sodium superionic conductors. Nature Communications (2023).
4. Revival of Zeolite‐Templated Nanocarbon Materials: Recent Advances in Energy Storage and Conversion. Advanced Science (2020).
5. Chemistry of zipping reactions in mesoporous carbon consisting of minimally stacked graphene layers. Chemical Science (2023).
6. Toward three-dimensionally ordered nanoporous graphene materials: template synthesis, structure, and applications. Chemical Science (2024).