Project description
Challenging the core concept of mechanochemistry
With applications in all realms of synthetic chemistry, mechanochemistry is an emerging field with vast potential. It eliminates the need for conventional solvents, making chemical processes more eco-friendly. The concept is based on the premise that colliding milling balls transfer mechanical energy to reactants, thus initiating their reactivity. Challenging this concept, the ERC-funded Mecha-NO-Chem project contends that most chemical reactions designated as mechanochemical are, in fact, initiated by intensive mixing under thermal control and not by the absorption of mechanical energy. Therefore, it aims to establish a new classification for ostensibly mechanochemical reactions, categorising them based on mixing as well as thermal and mechanical energy. To do so, it will create methods to isolate and quantify these three parameters.
Objective
At present, mechanochemistry is transferring an ever-growing number of chemical reactions from conventional wet-chemical procedures into the solid-state environment of ball mills. As an electrified and largely solvent-free synthesis concept, it addresses the call for greater sustainability in chemistry, while simultaneously unrevealing a widely unexplored academic frontier with often markedly different product selectivities.
Applied in organic and inorganic chemistry, in the synthesis of polymers and biomolecules, the idea almost always revolves around the concept that colliding milling balls transfer mechanical energy to reactants, thereby initiating their reactivity. This concept is reflected in the definition of mechanochemistry by IUPAC as 'chemical reactivity initiated by the absorption of mechanical energy'.
This project challenges the core of this definition, hypothesizing that the majority of what is denoted as mechanochemical is not initiated by the absorption of mechanical energy at all. This project is groundbreaking as it aims to change the self-conception of a discipline.
It develops a new classification for seemingly mechanochemical reactions - the triangle of mechanochemistry, which categorizes reactions based on mixing, thermal- and mechanical energy. I hypothesize that most reactions designated as mechanochemical are not driven by mechanical energy, but by intensive mixing, still operating under thermal control near room temperature.
I will develop methods to isolate and quantify these three parameters in mechanochemical reactions and locate latter in the triangle of mechanochemistry.
This project will explore the reasons behind mechanochemical reactivity challenging the fundament a whole discipline is built on its current definition. Precisely this knowledge on the underlying principles of mechanochemistry is pivotal to sophisticate and foster reliability within this expanding discipline and to remove it from the realm of black-box chemistry.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences biological sciences biochemistry biomolecules
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- engineering and technology chemical engineering chemical process engineering
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
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Topic(s)
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Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
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Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
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Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-COG
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44801 Bochum
Germany
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