accelerating chemical reactions

Tip arrays transfer a dienophile molecules (red) onto an anthracene-modified (green) surface. Upon contact, the tips form nanoreactors, where pressure is applied that accelerates the Diels-Alder cycloaddition reactions. For their study, the authors took monolayers of molecules placed on silicon wafers and pushed reactive molecules into them using tip arrays, which created new chemicals. The experimental setup allowed the researchers to precisely control the pressure between the molecules, which led to a new understanding of what occurs in these reactions. (Image credit: Yerzhan Zholdassov) CREDIT Yerzhan Zholdassov
Producing chemicals without the harmful byproducts and large energy demands of current manufacturing techniques