Topics in Molecular Engineering Specific to the Field of Chemistry
Nanoscale Materials and Nanotechnology
- Molecular Self-Assembly and Patterning
- Formation of two-dimensional and three-dimensional nanostructures
- Directed assembly of nanomaterials using chemical approaches
- Molecular Interactions and Surface Chemistry
- Chemical functionalization of surfaces for molecular binding
- Molecular recognition and selective adsorption
- Surface modification using polymers, ligands, and functional groups
- Smart Materials and Responsive Systems
- pH-responsive polymers and hydrogels
- Thermoresponsive materials and shape memory polymers
- Photosensitive molecular systems (e.g., photo-crosslinking, light-activated reactions)
Molecular Synthesis and Design
- Chemical Synthesis of Molecular Machines
- Synthesis of rotaxanes, catenanes, and molecular gears
- Programmable molecular motors and switches
- Design and synthesis of molecular pumps and molecular actuators
- Molecular-scale Sensors and Probes
- Chemosensors and bio-sensors based on molecular interactions
- Fluorescent probes for detecting ions, gases, and biomolecules
- Electrochemical sensors using molecular redox-active compounds
- Molecular Computing and Logic Devices
- Chemical-based logic gates and circuits
- Molecular-level data storage and encryption
Molecular Systems Engineering
- Molecular Programming for Chemical Reactions
- Designing molecular pathways for catalytic reactions
- Enzyme mimicry and artificial enzyme design
- Programmable chemical networks and autocatalytic cycles
- Chemical Pattern Formation and Control
- Spatiotemporal patterning using chemical reactions
- Control over molecular dynamics through chemical gradients
- Self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) for surface patterning
- Chemical Bonds and Interactions in Molecular Assemblies
- Supramolecular interactions (e.g., van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding)
- Chemical bonds at the molecular scale (e.g., covalent, ionic, hydrogen)
- Designing molecules to interact with biological targets (e.g., drugs, biomolecular complexes)
Molecular Systems for Energy Applications
- Molecular Energy Harvesting Systems
- Artificial photosynthesis using molecular components
- Energy transfer and conversion in molecular architectures
- Photoresponsive molecular systems (e.g., light-activated chemical reactions)
- Molecular Systems for Energy Storage
- Molecular battery design using redox-active molecules
- Electrochemical energy storage systems (e.g., flow batteries)
- Molecular scale capacitors and supercapacitors
Molecular-Level Catalysis
- Molecular Catalysts and Enzymes
- Designing artificial metalloenzymes and catalytic proteins
- Molecular-level mechanisms of enzyme catalysis
- Control over reaction selectivity and stereochemistry in synthetic catalysis
- Reversible and Irreversible Catalysis
- Molecular systems for reversible catalysis (e.g., dynamic covalent bonds)
- Irreversible catalytic systems (e.g., radical-based reactions)
- Molecular-level control of reaction pathways and kinetics
Chemical Bond Manipulation and Activation
- Molecular Activation Techniques
- Breaking and forming chemical bonds with light or heat
- Activation of inert bonds (e.g., C-H, C-F, C-O) through molecular engineering
- Electron transfer and redox chemistry at the molecular scale
- Manipulation of Molecular Reactivity
- Molecular recognition and spatially controlled reactions
- Design of molecular templates for specific chemical interactions
- Control over reaction pathways and intermediates
Chemical Pattern Recognition and Computational Chemistry
- Molecular Pattern Recognition Algorithms
- Data-driven approaches to pattern recognition in chemical structures
- Computational modeling of molecular interactions and patterns
- Chemical Informatics and Big Data
- Machine learning and AI applications in molecular data analysis
- High-throughput computational simulations for molecular design
- Molecular informatics for drug discovery and chemical synthesis
Green Chemistry and Sustainable Molecular Engineering
- Catalysis for Sustainable Chemistry
- Using molecular catalysts in green chemistry processes
- Minimizing waste and improving resource efficiency
- Molecular Design for Renewable Energy
- Synthetic methods for solar energy capture and storage
- Molecular systems for bio-based chemical production
- Environmental Impact of Molecular Systems
- Reducing environmental footprint in chemical processes
- Designing molecular systems that degrade under natural conditions
- Sustainable approaches to molecular manufacturing
Chemical Engineering at the Molecular Scale
- Molecular Control of Chemical Processes
- Continuous flow chemistry at the molecular scale
- Microreactors for precision chemical synthesis
- Molecular control of reaction dynamics in chemical engineering