Chemical Communications Blog

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Hang Hubert Yin (Tsinghua University) below!

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Professor Hang Hubert Yin was born in Beijing in 1976. After studying for a bachelor’s degree at Peking University, he received his PhD from Yale University in 2004 under the supervision of Professor Andrew Hamilton and then spent a post-doctoral period at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine with Professor William DeGrado. In 2018, Professor Yin joined the School of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Tsinghua University as a founding Deputy Dean. Prior to joining Tsinghua, he was a tenured faculty member of the University of Colorado Boulder. His research interests lie at the interface of chemistry, biology, and engineering with particular focuses on structure-based drug design, extracellular vesicles, cell signaling biochemistry, biotechnology development, and membrane protein simulations. Professor Yin is a recipient of many accolades for his research in chemical biology and drug discovery, including the Wu Jieping-Paul Janssen Medical & Pharmaceutical Award, American Chemical Society David W. Robertson Award for Excellence in Medicinal Chemistry, OKeanos-CAPA Senior Investigator Award, National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars, Beijing Outstanding Young Scientist, CAPA Distinguished Junior Faculty Award, NSF CAREER Award, AACR Gertrude B. Elion Cancer Research Award, Sidney Kimmel Scholars Award, and HHMI Collaborative Innovation Award among others. Professor Yin’s is currently serving as a member of the Academic Committee of Tsinghua University, a Senior Advisor to the ISEV Board, the Editor-in-Chief of Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry Letters, and a Deputy Editor of the Journal of Extracellular Vesicles.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

I feel that the ChemComm definitely has been growing with the filed, becoming notably more interdisciplinary. Over these years, ChemComm has also strengthened its status as a primary venue for Chemistry, the central science in general.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I like it as a timely reporter to the general field of chemistry. If you want to keep us with the most exciting frontiers of chemistry, ChemComm provides a nice handle.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

The journal is indeed quite international and interdisciplinary.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

Simply put, this is one of the most pleasant review process I had recently. It literally took less than two months from the initial submission to the publication of the paper, demonstrating the high efficiency of the editorial and production team.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

To implement new technologies will be helpful. With the help of AI, new directions of scientific publishing is emerging on the horizon.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

In this recent study, we have identified pyridine-based small molecule inhibitors capable of mitigating cell death triggered by SARM1’s NADase activity. These inhibitors operate non-competitively by binding to NAD+ and forming an in situ inhibitory complex, thus inhibiting SARM1’s enzymatic function. Through meticulous structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies, we have optimized a potent SARM1 inhibitor, TH-408, which offers significant protection against cell death caused by SARM1’s NADase activity. This study deepens our insight into SARM1 inhibition and highlights its therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative disorders by inhibiting SARM1 activation.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

Further exploration of SARM1 inhibitors in neurodegenerative disease models is crucial for assessing the therapeutic potential of TH-408 and validating the effectiveness of inhibiting SARM1 activation as a strategy to maintain healthy neurons. In-vivo studies will assess the efficacy and safety of these inhibitors across various neurodegenerative models, with emphasis on diseases associated with NAD+ depletion or metabolic disorders. The targeted exploration will extend to evaluating the application of these inhibitors in various neurodegenerative disease models, which will help expand the scope of SARM1-targeted therapies and assist in validating the critical scientific question of NAD+ metabolic dysregulation in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. Given the current limited application of SARM1 small molecule inhibitors in multiple neurodegenerative disease models and the lack of specific research on the role of NAD+ deficiency in the onset and progression of these diseases, the next steps will involve leveraging the in vitro efficacy of TH-408 to establish its effectiveness in different neurodegenerative disease models.

Be sure to read Hubert’s full communication, “Pyridine-based small molecule inhibitors of SARM1 alleviate cell death caused by NADase activity” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Matthew J. Langton (University of Oxford, UK) below!

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Matthew J. Langton is an Associate Professor of Inorganic Chemistry and Royal Society University Research Fellow in the Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford. He is also Tutor and Fellow in Inorganic Chemistry at Balliol College, Oxford. He leads a research group working on supramolecular, coordination and lipid bilayer membrane chemistry. He began his independent research group in 2018 following the award of the Royal Society University Research Fellowship, and was appointed to his current position in September 2020. Prior to that he held an Oppenheimer Early Career Research Fellowship at the University of Cambridge (2015-18), working with Professor Chris Hunter FRS on transmembrane signalling using supramolecular systems. He studied Chemistry at Lincoln College, University of Oxford, and carried out his Part II research year in the group of Harry Anderson FRS. This was followed by a DPhil in Inorganic Chemistry (2018), supervised by Professor Paul Beer on rotaxanes and catenanes for anion recognition and sensing in aqueous media, and a brief spell as an EPSRC Doctoral Award PDRA in the same group.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I appreciate the fast publication process, coupled with quality peer review and great science

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

The short communication format, which is well suited to urgent and impactful studies, and ensures the papers remain focussed

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

At the start of an academic career, when you step away from the umbrella of your mentors and supervisors, increasing your profile is so important. Any ways to help promote new researcher’s groups – both the PI and the team they are building, such as interview, team profiles etc. – is so useful for supporting the leaders of the future as the embark on their independent journey

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

This work builds on an on-going programme in my group developing transmembrane ion transport relays – molecules which can pass ions across a lipid bilayer membrane. In this paper, we show that photo-responsive relays, which can be switched on and off using different wavelengths of light via photo-isomerisation of an azobenzene in the relay molecules, are very sensitive to the relay length. We use this observation to control the system – so that we can reverse the switching sense of the system, enabling control using alternate wavelengths of light.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

We anticipate that this work could lead to new ways to control ion transport in cellular systems, as well as provide a platform for developing new types of transmembrane molecular machines.

Be sure to read Matthew’s open access #HOT article, “Length dependent reversible off–on activation of photo-switchable relay anion transporters” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Letian Dou (Purdue University, USA) below!

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Prof. Letian Dou is currently the Charles Davidson Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering and Associate Professor of Chemistry (by courtesy) at Purdue University. He obtained his B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University in 2009 working with Prof. Xinhua Wan and Ph.D. from UCLA Materials Science in 2014 working with Prof. Yang Yang (co-advised by Prof. Fred Wudl @UCSB in 2013). From 2014 to 2017, he was a Postdoc Fellow working with Prof. Peidong Yang at the Department of Chemistry, University of California-Berkeley and Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He joined Purdue University in 2017 and was awarded tenure in 2022. His research interest includes the synthesis of hybrid materials, organic semiconductors, halide perovskites, and related optoelectronic properties and their device applications. He is also a pioneer in polymer single crystal chemistry and materials. He has published over 110 papers with more than 25000 citations (H index = 52 as of Jan 2024).

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

I became a routine ChemComm reader since I was a college student at Peking University. The journal has a long history, one of the longest in the chemical research field. Impressively, it maintains its core value and high standard over many decades. It made every steady step without trying to blindly chase the hot topics to enhance its apparent impact factor. I really appreciate its consistency and the scientific taste on the diverse topics in chemistry.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I think the scientific value and the efficient publishing process are the things I favor most about ChemComm. It published a lot of solid good papers in the past and still keep its own scientific taste in the field of chemistry. It’s also very efficient for the editors to process the papers, and we can always trust that our research work will not be delayed due to the long-processing time.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

It is very fast on processing the submission and publication. I think it may be one of the most efficient journal in our field. As the author, we don’t need to wait for the long-time reviewing process, which guarantee that the scientific results are still fresh and new. In addition, the editor is very fair on making the decisions, which I think is quite critical in keeping on publishing important scientific findings.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

I think the journal can invite more of the early career researchers to act as youth editorial board member, so that they can bring together new minds to advance the field for the next generation, and can also encourage young researchers to participate in all steps of journal publishing. The other way for ChemComm to interact more with future generations of scientists is to invite more of the outstanding young researchers to publish articles in the journal. It not only provides opportunities for the young researchers, but also build strong connections at the early stage of their careers.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

Our recent publication in ChemComm is a featured review article. It summarizes the recent advances about 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures, from the perspectives of structural characteristics and the optoelectronic properties. We focused on discussing the roles of organic ligands in the construction of 2D perovskite and 2D/3D heterostructures, and how does it influence the application in solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors. More importantly, we also discussed about the current challenges in the field, and provided future perspectives for the development of 2D/3D heterostructures.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

We provided several potential research directions for the future development of this field in the article. One area is the exploration of organic semiconducting ligands in 2D/3D heterostructures. The organic semiconducting ligands can provide various tunability of the structural and optoelectronic properties of 2D perovskite, and thus allow the 2D/3D heterostructures to be designed suitable for different applications, but currently it is still underdeveloped. The other pivotal area is investigating the stability of 2D/3D heterostructures. In the review paper, we discussed about the controversial stability problem of the 2D/3D heterostructure. There’s an urgent need to systematically understand the effect of 2D/3D perovskite heterostructure on the operational stability if solar cell devices, and develop proper ligands to further improve the device stability. We hope in the future, either our group or other research scientists could focus on and solve these issues.

Be sure to read Letian’s open access Feature Article, “Advances and challenges in molecular engineering of 2D/3D perovskite heterostructures” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Dr Patrick El-Khoury (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, USA) below!

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Patrick El-Khoury received a B.Sc. in chemistry from the American University of Beirut (2006), a Ph.D. in photochemical sciences from Bowling Green State University (2010), and postdoctoral training at the University of California, Irvine (2012). Soon after, he joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) as a Linus Pauling distinguished postdoctoral research fellow (2013−2016). Patrick is currently a senior research scientist in the chemical physics and analysis group at PNNL. His work is focused on understanding molecules, low-dimensional (quantum) materials, plasmonic metals, and their interactions as gauged through multimodal (non)linear spectral nano-imaging.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I found the chem comm team to be much more inclusive and respectful of international authors/PIs at different stages of their careers than other journals. This is part of why I was always happy (and honored) to be invited to contribute to special issues in chem comm (and closely related RSC journals) over the years. I should mention that I don’t personally know any of the editors at chem comm. My positive experience irrespective of the latter attests to the fact that you’re judged based on the content of your contributions… and nothing else.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The fine balance between rigorous peer review and expedited handling of manuscripts is unparalleled.

Be sure to read Patrick’s open access communication, “Visualizing nanoscale heterogeneity in perylene thin films via tip-enhanced photoluminescence with unsupervised machine learning” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Wei-Hui Fang (Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, CAS, China) below!

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Position: Professor, State Key Laboratory of Structural Chemistry, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences Homepage: https://publons.com/researcher/2782636/wei-hui-fang/ ORCID: 0000-0003-3358-3057 Education: 2006 Master’s Degree in Chemistry, Huaqiao University (China) 2013 PhD in Physical Chemistry with Guo-Yu Yang, Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter, Chinese Academy of Sciences 2016–2017 Visiting Scholar with Dominic Wright, University of Cambridge (UK) Research: Rational design of aluminum oxo clusters and investigation of their unique function Hobbies: Yoga

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

Firstly, I would like to congratulate ChemCommun on its 60th anniversary. It is also a great honour to share our progress on this special occasion. ChemCommun is an excellent community for chemists to share their interesting research findings. I have been publishing research papers in ChemCommun for 10 years, with my first article appearing in 2015. The reasons I chose ChemCommun, or its advantages compared to other journals, include its concise layout, rapid review process, and quick publication speed. This not only provides a great submission experience but also allows everyone to access the information they need in a short time, which is particularly important in today’s fast-paced society. I wish ChemCommun continued success in the future!

Be sure to read Wei-Hui’s HOT article, “Synthesis and photoluminescence properties of polymer chains based on pre-designed heterometallic Al₄Ln₄ molecular rings” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Dr Chao Luo (University of Miami, USA) below!

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Dr. Chao Luo joined the Department of Chemical, Environmental and Materials Engineering at the University of Miami as an Associate Professor in Spring 2024. Before joining the University of Miami, he was an Assistant Professor at the George Mason University and promoted to Associate professor in Summer 2023. He completed his Ph.D. and postdoctoral studies at the University of Maryland at College Park and obtained M.S. at the Chinese Academy of Sciences and B.S. at the Wuhan University. His research focuses on developing low-cost, sustainable, and environmentally benign organic materials, polymers, carbon materials, and electrolytes for lithium-ion, sodium-ion, potassium-ion, multivalent, and redox flow batteries. He received support from National Science Foundation (NSF), national labs, and industry to develop advanced organic electrode materials and electrolytes, as well as gain fundamental insight into the structure-performance correlation in organic batteries. He is the recipient of NSF CAREER Award and recognized as an emerging investigator by Journal of Materials Chemistry A and Chemical Communications.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

ChemComm is a journal that publishes urgent chemical science papers in every aspect of chemistry. The most noteworthy aspect for me is that I can always find the papers with new organic/polymeric structures and innovative ideas for battery research in ChemComm. It motivates and inspires me for developing and exploring new battery chemistries.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

My favourite thing about ChemComm is that the short abstract and communications help me quickly understand the core values and results in the publications.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm publishes concise communications with new chemistries and structures.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm is fast, efficient, and satisfactory.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

I think ChemComm has done a great job in the support and engagement of future scientists. The journal may invite more postdoc and assistant professors to publish their work as communications, highlight, or feature articles.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

In our recent ChemComm publication (https://doi.org/10.1039/D4CC01479K), we reported a bipolar polymer cathode material bearing n-type azo group and p-type amine group for sodium ion batteries. The polymer cathode exhibits high performance in sodium ion batteries in terms of high redox potential and long cycle life. We demonstrated the importance of azo groups as both redox-active sites and linkers in the polymer to increase the porosity and reactivity, enabling higher capacity, cycling stability, and Coulombic efficiency. This work not only reports a new polymer cathode but also offers structure design rationale for redox-active polymers in sodium ion batteries.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in the paper?

Organic sodium ion batteries are promising alternatives to lithium-ion batteries due to low cost and high abundance of organic and sodium resources. Our work provides a rational structure design strategy by combining multiple bipolar functional groups in the repeating units of porous polymers to improve their electrochemical performances. This will attract and motivate the research toward the development of high-performance polymer cathodes for affordable and sustainable sodium ion batteries.

Be sure to read Chao’s article, “A bipolar polymer cathode for sodium-ion batteries” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Zhiyong Tang (National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China) below!

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Since 2006, Prof. Tang has been a Professor at National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China. He obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Wuhan University, China, in 1996. He then moved to Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry of Science, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, under the direction of Prof. Erkang Wang and obtained a Ph.D. degree in 1999. After six years as a Postdoctoral Fellow in three institutions, the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich, Oklahoma State University, USA, and the University of Michigan, USA, he won the 100-Talent Program, at the Chinese Academy of Sciences in November 2006 prior to his current position. His research interests are mainly focused on controllable assembly and property manipulation of inorganic nanomaterials. He developed the general and fundamental methods for the preparation of inorganic nanoparticle assemblies with different dimensions, structures and functionalities, and explored their applications in the field of catalysis and energy.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

My favorite thing about ChemComm is its ability to provide a powerful platform for the rapid communication of cutting-edge research in the field of chemistry. The journal’s emphasis on concise and impactful reports ensures that groundbreaking discoveries are promptly shared with the scientific community, fostering collaboration and innovation.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

ChemComm stands out among journals in the field due to its long history of publishing groundbreaking research that has significantly impacted chemistry. For instance, the first proposals of graphdiyne and aggregation-induced emission (AIE), which revolutionized materials science and photophysics, were both published in ChemComm. This ability to highlight and share high-impact research swiftly and broadly distinguishes ChemComm from other journals.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The peer review process at ChemComm is thorough and constructive, ensuring that the published research meets high scientific standards. Interactions with the editorial team are professional, characterized by clear communication and prompt responses, which facilitate a smooth and efficient publication process.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

In our recent ChemComm publication, we discuss the advantages of various oxidation methods for improved performance of the electrochemical oxidation of ethylene and propylene, and provides an overview of current challenges and problems requiring further efforts.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in the paper?

The next steps involve optimizing the catalyst’s performance and scalability for industrial applications. Further research could focus on understanding the reaction mechanisms in greater detail through in-situ characterization techniques and computational modeling. Additionally, exploring the catalyst’s applicability to other substrates and reactions could open new avenues for sustainable chemical synthesis.

Be sure to read Prof Tang’s article, “Electrifying oxidation of ethylene and propylene” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Yoichi Kobayashi (Ritsumeikan University, Japan) below!

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Yoichi Kobayashi is a professor of Ritsumeikan University, Japan. He received his Ph.D. degree from Kwansei Gakuin University in 2011. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow for Research Abroad of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) at University of Toronto from 2011 to 2013. He worked as an assistant professor at Aoyama Gakuin University. In 2017, he moved to Ritsumeikan University. His current research focuses on developments and spectroscopy of novel nonlinear photofunctional materials. He has received several awards and has been nominated as a distinguished researcher, including 2021 Nanoscale Emerging Investigators, 2022 ChemSocRev Emerging Investigators, 2022 ChemComm Pioneering Investigators, and 2022 Nanoscale Horizon Award.

How have you seen ChemComm evolve over the years, and what aspects do you find most noteworthy?

I think the most noteworthy point is the diversity of ChemComm has broadened its scope to include a wider range of research areas within chemistry such as materials science, nanotechnology, chemical biology, and more. This expansion has made it a go-to journal for a broad spectrum of chemical research.

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

Rapid publications of cutting-edge research. In addition, the 4-page restriction also makes it easier to read the papers.

In what ways do you think ChemComm stands out among other journals in your field?

Rapid publications and cutting-edge research

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

The response from reviewers is faster compared to other journals, often returning results within about two weeks. The reviewers’ comments are frequently essential and contribute significantly to improving the quality of the paper. In many of the papers we have submitted, they are often accepted after just one round of review.

Are there ways in which the journal can further support and engage with future generations of scientists?

Webinars related to review articles published in ChemComm. I think it would be very convenient if it could be viewed as an archive.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

We developed air-tolerant photodoping-based photochromism of TiO2 and ZnO NCs using a temperature-responsive supramolecular gel. Using this unique quenching behavior, spatiotemporal photoluminescence patterning was performed for applications to encryption and anticounterfeiting.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in the paper?

Organic-inorganic hybrid solar energy storage materials showing stimuli responsivity.

Be sure to read Yoichi’s article, “Photodoping-based broadband photochromism of semiconductor nanocrystals under air operated by a supramolecular gel” to learn more!

ChemComm is publishing its 60th volume in 2024. Over the past 60 years, ChemComm has been the RSC’s most cited journal, and one of the most trusted venues for rapid publication of short communications. In our anniversary year, we recognise the important contributions ChemComm has made, and continues to make, in advancing the chemical sciences.

As part of our anniversary celebrations, we’ve brought together a collection featuring the latest research from some of our most loyal and dedicated authors. From those marking the beginning of their independent academic career by publishing their first article with us, to the rising stars and established leaders publishing in our yearly ‘Emerging Investigators’ and ‘Pioneering Investigators’ collections, this collection champions the contributions of our worldwide author community. We are proud many authors choose to support our journal by regularly publishing their best work with us. This collection also features papers from our ChemComm Emerging Investigator Lectureship winners, and our Outstanding Reviewer awardees, whose invaluable feedback has shaped our published content through the years.

To accompany the collection, we’ll be publishing interviews with contributing authors where they provide further insight into their research and reflect on their journey with ChemComm.

Check out our interview with Professor Brandi Cossairt (University of Washington, USA) below!

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Brandi Cossairt received her B. S. in Chemistry from the California Institute of Technology in 2006. Brandi went on to pursue graduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology under the guidance of Professor Christopher C. Cummins and was awarded her Ph.D. in 2010. She then continued her academic career as an NIH NRSA Postdoctoral Fellow at Columbia University between 2010 and 2012, working with Professor Jonathan Owen. Brandi joined the Department of Chemistry at the University of Washington as an Assistant Professor in 2012 and is now the Lloyd E. and Florence M. West Endowed Professor. Her research group examines the nucleation, growth, surface chemistry, and reactivity of nanoscale materials to enable next-generation technologies in the diverse areas of displays, lighting, catalysis, quantum information, and hybrid matter. She has received a number of awards for her research, including a Sloan Research Fellowship, a Packard Fellowship, an NSF CAREER Award, a Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award, and the National Fresenius Award from the American Chemical Society. Outside of the lab, Brandi is an Associate Editor at the ACS journal Inorganic Chemistry and is the co-founder of the Chemistry Women Mentorship Network (ChemWMN).

What is your favourite thing about ChemComm?

I love that ChemComm has maintained the short, 4-page format. It helps authors convey their science in a more concise and impactful way and is also helpful for readers to actually read the whole thing. I also love that it features all type of chemistry and that chemistry is broadly defined and includes highly interdisciplinary work in addition to things that are more squarely in what we would traditionally think of.

How would you describe the peer review process and interaction with the editorial team at ChemComm?

Submission and peer review at ChemComm is quick and seamless. It is really refreshing in comparison with some other systems.

Could you provide a brief summary of your recent ChemComm publication?

Our paper explores how active site ensembles on transition metal phosphides, specifically Ni2P nanocrystals, influence the selectivity of the nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR). Ammonia, essential for fertilizer production, is typically produced via the Haber-Bosch process, which is energy-intensive and environmentally disruptive. NO3RR, a common pollutant from wastewater treatment and agricultural runoff, offers a sustainable alternative by converting nitrate (NO3⁻) to ammonia (NH3) using electrocatalysis. We demonstrate that Ni2P nanocrystals exhibit near 100% faradaic efficiency for nitrate reduction over hydrogen evolution at -0.4 V, with maximum NH3 selectivity at -0.2 V vs. RHE. We conclude that the selectivity of NO3RR on Ni2P is tunable by adjusting the surface coverage ratio of H* and NOx*, highlighting the importance of active site ensembles in metal phosphide catalysts for selective ammonia production.

In your opinion, what are the next steps or potential areas of research that could build upon the findings in this paper?

We are really excited about catalyst design moving forward. Diversifying active sites through control of stoichiometry, nanocrystal morphology, and doping will be our main focus.

Be sure to read Brandi’s full article, “Ni2P active site ensembles tune electrocatalytic nitrate reduction selectivity” to learn more!