A Review on Mechanochemistry: Approaching Advanced Energy Materials with Greener Force

Abstract

high volatility, and poor security, renewable energy must be converted and stored before it can be stably and efficiently used. [2] Energy conversion refers to the conversion of one form of energy to another form, or several forms. This is achieved through energy conversion devices and corresponding technologies. The core part of energy conversion devices is the active material, which is also the key to providing high conversion efficiency. Chemical synthesis is usually employed for the preparation of various energy conversion active materials, which can be divided into four major categories in terms of reaction principles: thermochemistry, electrochemistry, mechanochemistry, and photochemistry. Among them, mechanochemistry is the study of chemical reactions induced by mechanical energy. [3] Mechanochemical syntheses can be carried out under a variety of conditions, such as at low temperatures, in inert or reactive atmospheres, under high gas pressures, in a solvent or under all-solid-state conditions. Thus, mechanochemical techniques are simple, versatile, and sustainable. Mechanochemistry can be used to develop new methods for some chemical reactions that are difficult to be realized by conventional chemical synthesis.Mechanochemistry was first reported with the development of grinding technology. As early as 315 B.C., Aristotle's students demonstrated for the first time that elemental Hg could be obtained by grinding cinnabar and acetic acid in a mortar. [4] For several decades, the development of mechanochemistry has become more comprehensive and systematic, and mechanochemical methods have been widely used in the fields of inorganic and organic materials, magnetic materials, and metallurgy. Mechanochemical equipment has evolved from the original manual mortar and pestle to a variety of novel mechanized instruments. Mechanochemical techniques including ballmilling, pan-milling, and ultrasonic irradiation have been successfully applied to prepare advanced functional materials for energy conversion and storage. However, most recent surveys/ reviews regarding mechanochemical technologies for material preparation are mainly focused on ball-milling. [3,[5][6][7][8] Recently, the unique advantages of mechanochemistry for energy storage and conversion applications have inspired Mechanochemistry with solvent-free and environmentally friendly characteristics is one of the most promising alternatives to traditional liquid-phase-based reactions, demonstrating epoch-making significance in the realization of different types of chemistry. Mechanochemistry utilizes mechanical energy to promote physical and chemical transformations to design complex molecules and nanostructured materials, encourage dispersion and recombination of multiphase components, and accelerate reaction rates and efficiencies via highly reactive surfaces. In particular, mechanochemistry deserves special attention because it is capable of endowing energy materials with unique characteristics and properties. Herein, the latest advances and progress in me...

Infrared spectroscopic monitoring of solid-state processes

“…[417][418][419] The range of chemical transformations achieved by mechanochemistry has been rapidly expanding in the last two decades, and it is now present across preparative chemistry processes, with high potential for wide industrial implementation. 382,[420][421][422][423][424][425][426][427][428][429][430] Regardless of their ever-growing importance and prevalence, mechanochemical reactions remain as some kind of black box. Only recent implementation of various techniques for in situ monitoring of ball milling reactions has enabled insight under the hood of rapidly moving mechanochemical milling vessels.…”

“…417–419 The range of chemical transformations achieved by mechanochemistry has been rapidly expanding in the last two decades, and it is now present across preparative chemistry processes, with high potential for wide industrial implementation. 382,420–430…”

A sustainable approach to synthesize phosphonated chitosan using ball milling and its application for oilfield scale management

“…27 This sustainable and green synthesis approach is currently a hot research area of intense academic and industrial research due to a range of potential advantages, including solvent-free reaction, cost-efficiency, yield improvement, and shorter reaction times compared to conventional synthesis conditions. 28 Ball milling provides an enclosed solvent-less environment with unique features for optimizing selectivity and reactivity. 29 The planetary mill is considered one of the most familiar and efficient ball milling designs.…”

Utilization of Sea Sand for Preparation of High-Performance CoAl2O4 Composite Pigments via a Cleaner Mechanochemistry Route

“…Mechanochemistry initiates or sustains chemical transformations of substances by mechanical force, which provides a relatively cleaner, micro-solvent or solvent-free technology for the synthesis of different materials, and some unexpected results can be easily brought by mechanical force in complex chemical reactions . Interestingly, microliquid-assisted grinding can accelerate reactions and endow the products with higher crystallinity or enable transformations that cannot be initiated by neat grinding. , In addition, stable CaCO 3 is employed as a green precipitant for chemical precipitation of the metal ions in the solution instead of the strong alkalis under the assistance of mechanical force, and neutral treated solution can be directly discharged without a subsequent neutralization process. , Therefore, CoAl 2 O 4 composite pigments were fabricated based on sea sand via a cleaner CaCO 3 -assisted mechanochemistry method in this study.…”