Top 10 Emerging Chemical Technologies In 2024

In 2019, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) launched a project to select the most promising “emerging technologies” in the chemical sciences, and this initiative continues every year, adding innovative technologies with great potential that are expected to bring about major changes in many fields such as materials science, energy, medicine, agriculture, computing, etc.

IUPAC’s “Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry” is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, aiming to ensure a sustainable future and pave the way for a circular economy. The new list explores new materials, unexplored physical phenomena, and innovative solutions to global challenges, such as epidemic diseases and the ongoing energy and fuel crisis.

As with the first release of the “Top Ten Emerging Technologies”, these technologies vary in maturity – ranging from laboratory discoveries to commercial reality, hence the term “emerging”. All of these technologies have been carefully selected by the IUPAC expert panel and are full of exciting potential.
On October 22, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 World Science, Technology and Development Forum, the “2024 IUPAC Top Ten Emerging Technologies in Chemistry” were officially released.

1. Frustrated Lewis pairs:

Frustrated Lewis pairs are a new type of catalytic system that can catalyze the activation and conversion of hydrogen and other small molecules without the participation of metals. This catalytic system provides new possibilities for organic synthesis and industrial catalysis, especially in hydrogen activation and hydrogenation reactions.

2. Triboelectric nanogenerators:

Triboelectric nanogenerators are a technology that can convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Based on the principle of coupling friction electrification and electrostatic induction effects, it uses the contact electrification effect (static electricity) of polymer materials to convert mechanical energy in tiny vibrations into electrical energy. This technology can be used to achieve self-powered devices such as wearable electronics, medical health, and robots.

3.Aptamers:

Aptamers are a type of single-stranded DNA or RNA that can specifically recognize target molecules. They are widely used in biosensors, drug delivery, and other fields. Aptamers have great potential in disease diagnosis and treatment due to their high affinity, high specificity, and controllability.

4.Mxenes:

Mxenes are a type of two-dimensional material with excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical properties, which can be used in energy storage, catalysis, and other fields. The research and application of Mxenes are developing rapidly, and their application prospects in electrochemical energy storage, sensors, electromagnetic shielding, etc. are widely optimistic.

5.Hydration lubrication:

Hydration lubrication is a new type of lubrication technology that reduces friction and wear and improves mechanical efficiency through hydration. This technology has potential application value in reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.

6. Bioinspired nanofluidic iontronics:

Bioinspired nanofluidic iontronics imitates the ion transport mechanism in the body and is used to develop new bioelectronic devices. This field combines biology, nanotechnology and ionology, and is expected to make breakthroughs in biosensing, neuroscience and energy conversion.

7. KRAS inhibitors:

KRAS is a protein that mutates in many cancers. The development of KRAS inhibitors is of great significance for cancer treatment. Progress in this field provides new tools and strategies for precision medicine targeting KRAS mutations.

8. Neural network potentials:

Neural network potentials are a method that uses machine learning technology to predict molecular interactions. This technology has potential applications in material design and drug discovery, and can accelerate the discovery and development process of new substances.

9. Active adsorption (active adsorption):

Active adsorption is a new type of adsorption technology that can control the adsorption process by responding to external stimuli. This technology has broad application prospects in environmental purification, pollutant treatment and separation technology.

10. Electrochemical nitrogen cycle (electrochemical nitrogen cycle):

The electrochemical nitrogen cycle converts nitrogen into ammonia or other nitrogen-containing compounds by electrochemical methods, which is of great significance to the synthetic ammonia industry and environmental nitrogen cycle. This technology helps to improve nitrogen utilization efficiency and reduce environmental pollution.