Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
8.6
4.6
Journals
Molecules
Special Issues
5th Anniversary of the "Applied Chemistry" Section
molecules-logo
Submit to Special Issue Submit Abstract to Special Issue Review for Molecules Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

► Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser
share announcement

5th Anniversary of the "Applied Chemistry" Section

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 2700

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Shaojun Yuan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Low-Carbon Technology & Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory, College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Interests: nano environmental materials; adsorption; CO2 capture; supercapacitor; supwetting surfaces for oil/water separation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Molecules will reach a remarkable milestone with the 5th year of its Applied Chemistry section in 2025; to celebrate this special occasion we have launched a Special Issue devoted to the section, entitled “5th Anniversary of the "Applied Chemistry" Section”.

This Special Issue is devoted to providing an overview of recent advancements in the field of applied chemistry; research topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Sustainable and green chemistry;
  • Analytical methods and techniques;
  • Advanced materials and applications;
  • Energy storage and conversion;
  • Drug discovery and delivery;
  • Solar energy usage and technology;
  • Molecular engineering and nanotechnology;
  • Low-carbon and de-carbon technology;
  • Fine chemistry and chemicals;
  • Applied electrochemistry;
  • Membrane science and separation;
  • Data-driven approaches for applied chemistry.

Original research articles, review articles, and state-of-the-art communications are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Shaojun Yuan
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • applied chemistry
  • new molecules and natural materials
  • solar energy and photo-electro-catalysis
  • analytical methods and techniques
  • electrochemistry and energy
  • biodegradable materials and medicines
  • environment and green chemistry

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

16 pages, 2870 KB  
Article
Coupling Rare-Earth Complexes with Carbon Dots via Surface Imprinting: A New Strategy for Spectroscopic Cu2+ Sensors
by Zuoyi Liu, Bo Hu and Minjia Meng
Molecules 2025, 30(19), 3967; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30193967 - 2 Oct 2025
Viewed by 292
Abstract
A surface molecularly imprinted ratiometric fluorescent sensor (Eu/CDs@SiO2@IIPs) was constructed for the selective and visual detection of Cu2+. The sensor integrates blue-emitting carbon dots as an internal reference and a custom-designed Eu(III) complex, Eu(MAA)2(2,9-phen), as both the [...] Read more.
A surface molecularly imprinted ratiometric fluorescent sensor (Eu/CDs@SiO2@IIPs) was constructed for the selective and visual detection of Cu2+. The sensor integrates blue-emitting carbon dots as an internal reference and a custom-designed Eu(III) complex, Eu(MAA)2(2,9-phen), as both the functional and fluorescent monomer within a surface-imprinted polymer layer, enabling efficient ratiometric fluorescence response. This structural design ensured that all fluorescent monomers were located at the recognition sites, thereby reducing background fluorescence interference and enhancing the accuracy of signal changes. Under optimized conditions, the sensor exhibited a detection limit of 2.79 nM, a wide linear range of 10–100 nM, and a rapid response time of 3.0 min. Moreover, the uncoordinated nitrogen atoms in the phenanthroline ligand improved resistance to interference from competing ions, significantly enhancing selectivity. Practical applicability was validated by spiked recovery tests in deionized and river water, with results showing good agreement with ICP-MS analysis. These findings highlight the potential of Eu/CDs@SiO2@IIPs as a sensitive, selective, and portable sensing platform for on-site monitoring of Cu2+ in complex water environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5th Anniversary of the "Applied Chemistry" Section)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 584 KB  
Communication
Green Synthesis of Trifluoromethanesulfonyl Fluoride as an Eco-Friendly Alternative to SF6 Gas Insulation and Analysis of Its Acute Inhalation Toxicity
by Shile Wang, Li Dong, Ruichao Peng and Hongding Tang
Molecules 2025, 30(10), 2241; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30102241 - 21 May 2025
Viewed by 845
Abstract
This study demonstrates an eco-friendly synthesis of trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride (TFSF) as a sustainable SF6 alternative. Optimized halogen exchange reactions using CF3SO2Cl/KF (3:1 ratio) with crown ether catalysis at low temperatures achieved 65% TFSF yield (97.9% purity). Scale-up trials [...] Read more.
This study demonstrates an eco-friendly synthesis of trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride (TFSF) as a sustainable SF6 alternative. Optimized halogen exchange reactions using CF3SO2Cl/KF (3:1 ratio) with crown ether catalysis at low temperatures achieved 65% TFSF yield (97.9% purity). Scale-up trials in pressurized reactors showed >50% conversion and >90% selectivity. Acute inhalation tests (OECD standards) on Sprague-Dawley rats revealed transient toxicity at 20,000 ppm (4 h exposure), with survival rates >66% and LC50 exceeding 22,600 ppm—significantly safer than SF6. These findings confirm TFSF’s technical viability and low toxicity, positioning it as a practical insulating medium to curb SF6 emissions. The methodology highlights precision halogen exchange control and systematic safety validation, offering actionable solutions for industrial adoption. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5th Anniversary of the "Applied Chemistry" Section)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

16 pages, 6706 KB  
Article
Enhanced Efficiency and Stability of Perovskite Solar Cells Through Neodymium-Doped Upconversion Nanoparticles with TiO2 Coating
by Masfer Alkahtani, Bayan Alshehri, Hadeel Alrashood, Latifa Alshehri, Yahya A. Alzahrani, Sultan Alenzi, Ibtisam S. Almalki, Ghazal S. Yafi, Abdulmalik M. Alessa, Faisal S. Alghannam, Abdulaziz Aljuwayr, Nouf K. AL-Saleem, Anwar Alanazi and Masud Almalki
Molecules 2025, 30(10), 2166; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules30102166 - 14 May 2025
Viewed by 1213
Abstract
This study presents an effective strategy to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by integrating neodymium-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) coated with a TiO2 shell into the mesoporous electron transport layer. The incorporation of neodymium (Nd3+) as [...] Read more.
This study presents an effective strategy to enhance the efficiency and stability of perovskite solar cells (PSCs) by integrating neodymium-doped upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) coated with a TiO2 shell into the mesoporous electron transport layer. The incorporation of neodymium (Nd3+) as a novel sensitizer shifts the near-infrared (NIR) absorption band away from the water vapor absorption region in the solar spectrum. This modification enables UCNPs to efficiently convert NIR light into ultraviolet (UV) and blue wavelengths, which are readily absorbed by TiO2, generating additional charge carriers and improving photovoltaic performance. The optimized PSCs, fabricated by blending 30% UCNPs@TiO2 with commercial TiO2 paste, achieved a peak power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 21.71%, representing a 20.4% improvement over the control (18.04%). This enhancement included a 0.9% increase in the open-circuit voltage (Voc), a 6.6% rise in the short-circuit current density (Jsc), and an 11.9% boost in the fill factor (FF). Additionally, the optimized PSCs exhibited remarkable stability, retaining over 90% of their initial PCE after 900 h in humid conditions, compared to only 70% for the control. These improvements result from enhanced light absorption, reduced moisture infiltration, and lower defect-related recombination. This approach provides a promising pathway for developing highly efficient and durable PSCs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue 5th Anniversary of the "Applied Chemistry" Section)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop