Self-driving labs are transforming chemistry; but high cost & complexity limit access to a few well-funded labs.

We wanted to change that.

Our new paper in #NatureSynthesis introduces RoboChem-Flex 🧪🤖

🔗https://nature.com/articles/s44160-026-01053-0

#selfdrivinglab #flowchemistry #optimization

Emissive organic crystals and device applications Emissive organic crystals represent a rapidly advancing frontier in materials science, offering a unique platform that merges the superior optoelectronic characteristics of crystalline order with high-efficiency light emission. This review comprehensively surveys the field, from the fundamental molecular design pri

From our collection on photoluminescent organic materials...

"Emissive organic crystals and device applications" by Shuai Zhao, Xue-Dong Wang and Hongbing Fu

Read the full review here 👉

Job Details

Come and join my group at @oxfordchemistry.bsky.social! We have an opening for a postdoc position in photopharmacology. Prior experience with photoswitches and photopharmacology essential. Deadline 27th April.

For more details see my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

#Chemsky

Our perspective charts the potential of water as a programmable reaction medium using compatible catalysts, EDA complexes, engineered micelles and microdroplets.

Aqueous-phase organic photochemistry: Distinct modes and interfaces
#ChemSky #photochemistry #watersoluble

doi.org/10.1016/j.ch...

Fancy a career in scientific publishing?

We're looking for an Associate/Senior Editor with expertise in device engineering to join the Nature Research Cross-Journal Editorial Team.

Can be based in Shanghai or Pune.

Closing date: April 15th.

springernature.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/SpringerNatu...

Exploring Spin-State Selective Harvesting Pathways from Singlet Fission Dimers to a Near-Infrared-Emissive Spin-Flip Emitter Singlet fission (SF), a photophysical process generating two triplet excitons from one singlet exciton, has the potential to boost efficiency in photovoltaics and organic light-emitting diodes. Previous studies on energy-level control and intermolecular interactions have identified key factors for maximizing the efficiency of the initial SF process. However, in isothermic/endothermic SF systems, such as tetracene derivatives, the subsequent sensitization process becomes less efficient in the presence of a competing Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) process. Here, we demonstrate that a molybdenum-based near-infrared light-emitting spin-flip emitter serves as a triplet-selective energy acceptor from triplet states of tetracene-based dimers generated by SF. The large energy gap existing between the spin-allowed transitions and the luminescent spin-flip transition of the molybdenum complex allowed efficient exothermic triplet energy transfer (TET) to the spin-flip excited doublet state of the complex while circumventing the FRET from the initially formed tetracene singlet state to the high-energy spin-allowed states of the complex. The quantum yields of the doublet state formation of the molybdenum complex by tetracene-based SF dimers with phenylene, 2,5-methylphenylene, and p-terphenylene bridging units were quantified to be 112 ± 6%, 132 ± 2%, and 128 ± 4%, respectively, in solution. The drop of fluorescence lifetimes of the SF dimers at high concentrations of the molybdenum complex implies energy transfer from exchange-coupled triplet pairs, highlighting the importance of controlling exchange interaction and triplet pair recombination. This work represents a significant step toward developing exciton/photon amplification materials by combining SF materials with transition-metal complexes, advancing the application of SF beyond conventional limitations.

Exploring Spin-State Selective Harvesting Pathways from Singlet Fission Dimers to a Near-Infrared-Emissive Spin-Flip Emitter | Journal of the American Chemical Society pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Out-of-equilibrium sensing with a chemically fueled molecular machine Biological adaptive receptors are driven out of equilibrium to change the detectable range of analyte concentrations. Here, a chemically fueled rotaxane information ratchet couples Zn(II) binding to c...

In @cp-chem.bsky.social tinyurl.com/3vmzatbh Maria @benjaminoacid.bsky.social @stefanborsley.bsky.social Fabio & @zashbridge.bsky.social show that driving a receptor out-of-equilibrium through chem fueling allows quantification of binding at concentrations where receptor is saturated at equilibrium😃

Skeletal editing by iron-catalyzed carbene insertion of trichloromethanes Direct interchange between five- and six-membered nitrogen heterocycles by skeletal editing is valuable in drug discovery. Specifically, inserting a c…

Back in 2019 I wrote my first grant, for the ACS PRF, in which I proposed carbon insertion into LSD (truly a pipe dream at the time). After teaming up with @nagiblab.bsky.social and @deolsonlab.bsky.social, the dream is finally a reality!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

I defended my PhD 10 years ago today. That was the least remarkable thing that happened that day. Sharing something I wrote about it last year. Since then "the horrors persist but so do we." And with dignity.

Generating extended foldamer dye stacks and unravelling their evolving exciton dynamics - Nature Chemistry Synthetic dye-based analogues of biomacromolecules often rely on simple dimers to model solid-state photofunctional behaviour. Now an iterative block-based coupling protocol has been developed that ge...

Read about: Generating extended foldamer dye stacks and unravelling their evolving exciton dynamics - just published @natchem.nature.com! ✨
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Cationic diketopyrrolopyrroles as potent photosensitizers for the photodynamic inactivation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus Diketopyrrolopyrroles (DPP) are a multifaceted family of organic dyes that have attracted considerable attention in optoelectronic applications due to…

New prespectives on the potential of "Cationic diketopyrrolopyrroles as potent photosensitizers for the photodynamic inactivation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus"🚀🔬🧪#chemsky

No research output is fine. You can mentor a ton of students through teaching failure.

All the research outcomes with no mentoring of students is not fine.

If you don't want to mentor students, and just want to do research, go to the private sector.

On the recent AI/student discourse (Science letter thingy), thought about a formal rebuttal, but others do it better.

Briefly though, if you are not mentoring students in how to do research, you shouldn't be a professor at a research university. The research is a byproduct of the mentoring.

a person is holding a container over their head in a kitchen .. Alt: a person is holding an insulated container of liquid nitrogen. They pour the liquified gas over an open human hand in a lab setting. The Leidenfrost effect prevents any serious injury, as the liquid boils off before transferring much heat.

Sir James Dewar, Scottish chemist, would be nominated for the Nobel 8 times, but you probably know him for his most famous invention, which never made him a penny, developed to hold ultra-cold liquified gases.

You probably own a "Dewar vessel," but you know it as a Thermos™.

Let's talk about it.

Infographic highlighting the contributions of twelve women in chemistry history. Full alt-text available at the link in the post.

On #InternationalWomensDay, here's another edition of Women in Chemistry History. This edition features women whose achievements in chemistry include the creation of synthetic emeralds, the impact of diet on intelligence and health, and more: www.compoundchem.com/2026/03/08/i...

#ChemSky 🧪

The Impact of Chirality on Singlet Fission and Triplet Fusion: A Molecular Twist for Photon Management Chirality has recently emerged as a new means to profoundly impact the properties of organic semiconductors for spin-optoelectronic applications. Yet, a clear mechanistic understanding of chiral structure–property relationships remains absent to date, particularly for photon interconversion processes such as singlet exciton fission and triplet fusion. In this perspective, we highlight recent work that investigates chiral structures for these processes. We discuss the various ways in which chirality can impact such conversion processes and suggest ways to leverage it to improve photon management for both energy applications and quantum information science.

Check out our latest in @acs.org ACS Energy Letters:
Damon explores how #chirality may impact singlet fission and triplet fusion in molecular semiconductors as a new twist for efficient photon management, boosting performance of solarcells, displays and more. #OpenAccess pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

Redox- and Protonation-Tunable Diboraheptacenes Acenes are attractive molecular platforms with characteristic π-electron delocalization, resulting in exceptionally small HOMO–LUMO gaps, which makes them valuable for use in a variety of organic elec...

Our manuscript on the redox- and protonation-chemistry of diboraheptacenes is published in @jacs.acspublications.org (pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....)! @JinhyoHwang and @chemheechan report a DBH dianion (w/NIR absorption) that’s the longest fully conjugated boron-doped acene! #maingroup

Guest‐Induced Activation of Multicolor Photoluminescence in Naphthalene Bisimide Liquid Crystals Supramolecular host–guest design in naphthalene bisimide liquid crystals activates charge-transfer emission and enables continuous tuning of color (511–685 nm) and lifetime, spanning prompt fluoresce...

Guest-Induced Activation of Multicolor Photoluminescence in Naphthalene Bisimide Liquid Crystals. Early View in Advanced Materials.
advanced.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Bonjour à toutes et à tous,
Nous recrutons un·e enseignant·e-chercheur·euse contractuel·le en chimie des systèmes conjugués au laboratoire MOLTECH Anjou et au département de chimie de @univangers.bsky.social
www.univ-angers.fr/fr/universit...
N’hésitez pas à me contacter!

The Nonadiabatic Nature of the Substituent Effects in Azobenzene Unified nonadiabatic switching: thermal Z→E isomerization of para-substituted azobenzenes proceeds through a single nonadiabatic rotational pathway. The iconic bell-shaped Hammett plot is a σp artifa...

Check out our latest publication in @angewandtechemie.bsky.social where we show that the infamous V shape in the substituent effects in the thermal isomerization of azobenzenes comes from a single nonadiabatic mechanism 🔥 and not a mix of two.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

On 3–4 September 2026 @rsc-photochem.bsky.social will host the RSC Photophysics and Photochemistry Group Early Career Meeting 2026, giving early career researchers in this field the opportunity to present their research.
Abstract submission and registration are open: www.rsc.org/events/detai...

JUNIOR GROUP LEADER IN THE FIELD OF QUANTUM OPTOELECTRONICS at Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Barcelona, SPAIN Jan 8, 2026 | Description: We are seeking a Junior Research Group Leader with an outstanding record in nanoscience and nanotechnology. The successful candidate... | NEW JOB

Junior Group Leader in the field of Quantum #Optoelectronics in Barcelona, Spain

www.researchgate.net/job/1034579_...

C3-Symmetric Photoresponsive Chiral Dopants Based on Tribenzotriquinacene Doping cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs) with photoresponsive chiral molecules is an effective strategy for devising responsive soft materials, as it allows for the phototuning of the noncovalent interactions in the CLCs, and hence, their helical pitch and optical properties. Here we describe the use of tribenzotriquinacene-based (TBTQ) hydrazone and azobenzene chiral dopants in the modulation of the helical pitch of the LC host, 5CB. The unique C3-symmetry of the TBTQ scaffold enhances the noncovalent interactions with the host and thus the chiral information transfer, resulting in helical twisting power (β) values as high as 147 μm–1. Notably, the TBTQ hydrazone exhibits an unusual deviation from trends observed so far in previous studies, resulting in larger β values for the Z isomer rather than the E one. Moreover, the overall β values for the hydrazone-based dopants are unexpectedly higher than those of the azobenzene dopants. These results indicate that the host/guest interactions are better when the photoswitchable chiral dopant is more rigid, as is the case with the H-bonded Z state of the hydrazone. The large β values and excellent miscibility of the hydrazone-based dopants in 5CB allowed us to design films that reflect visible structural color. The properties of the azobenzene-based dopants precluded their use in such applications. By codoping 5CB with hydrazone and azobenzene derivatives of opposite chirality, we demonstrated reversible handedness inversion upon photoswitching, providing a versatile soft material platform for reconfigurable photonic materials and colorimetric display technologies.

Latest @jacs.acspublications.org a collab with Mastalerz grp @uniheidelberg.bsky.social showing how C3-symmetric TBTQ core affects chiral induction in LCs. Hydrazone > azobenzene with this core. Mixing these two with opposite chirality allows handedness inversion bit.ly/4qAtvYE #openaccess #chemsky

What a work!!! Congratulations @gracegdhan.bsky.social and all the other authors 👏🏻

Molecular solar thermal energy storage in Dewar pyrimidone beyond 1.6 MJ/kg Storing sunlight in a compact and rechargeable form remains a central challenge for solar energy utilization. Molecular solar thermal (MOST) energy storage systems, which harness photon energy and rel...

Exciting chemsky work out First Release in @science.org from @gracegdhan.bsky.social and collaborators, scrunching up pyrimidones so tight with UV light that the strain release can boil water!

www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

‘Almost impossible to destroy’: material captures CO2 and frees it at the flick of a photoswitch New class of porous materials can trap gases and release them on command

Perhaps you've heard of MOFs or COFs? Now there's PAFs – porous aromatic frameworks – and they're much tougher than their cousins. And they're showing promise storing and releasing CO₂ with a flash of light.

Orgànica - Departament de Quimica Inorgànica i Orgànica

#Barcelona folks: if you are free around noon tomorrow (Feb 6), I am giving a talk at @ub.edu at 12pm. Come say hi 🙂 Details here: dqio.ub.edu/organica/ #chemsky

Azobenzene-bridged ionizable amphiphilic Janus glycosides for light-controlled, single-component and organ-modulable pDNA delivery Communications Chemistry, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01920-zStimuli-responsive supramolecular systems offer innovative solutions for precise nucleic acid delivery, addressing the need for spatiotemporal control. Here, the authors develop azobenzene-bridged ionizable amphiphilic Janus glycosides as light-responsive DNA carriers, demonstrating reversible photoisomerization that modulates transfection outcomes and organ targeting.

Just out: Azobenzene-bridged ionizable amphiphilic Janus glycosides for light-controlled, single-component and organ-modulable pDNA delivery

Women in Photochemistry Symposium 2026 Join us for an afternoon of inspiring talks and networking at the Women in Photochemistry Symposium!

My colleague Helen Fielding is organising the 2026 Women in Photochemistry Symposium at @uclchemistry.bsky.social on Wednesday the 4th of March with talks by Susannah-Bourne-Worster (Durham), Maria Sanz (King's College) and Marsha Lester (UPenn).

www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-in-p...

#chemsky

#photoswitches: How should we determine errors on PSS distributions, and the absorption spectrum of the metastable isomer? We have been discussing this for years and have finally written a manuscript, including a python code to fit your data without human bias. chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10....