Chemical Engineering

Chemical engineering is an interdisciplinary field that integrates principles from chemistry, physics, biology and engineering design to develop processes that transform raw materials into valuable products while minimising environmental impact. This broad discipline encompasses reaction engineering, separation technologies, process control and optimisation, as well as emerging areas such as sustainable process design and digital twin implementation. Practitioners in chemical engineering harness both experimental and computational techniques to address challenges ranging from energy efficiency and carbon capture to inherently safer process designs that reduce hazardous waste generation.

Research in Nature Index

Within the past two years, notable studies have advanced the design of lithium-ion and lithium-based batteries, revealing important chemical engineering strategies to optimise performance and longevity. One major development is the holistic redesign of electrolytes to withstand wide temperature ranges and extreme operating conditions [1]. By tailoring solvent–salt interactions and minimising side reactions, engineers can create safer, non-flammable electrolytes that function efficiently in both high-temperature and sub-zero environments.

Simultaneously, attention has turned to improving cathodes through sophisticated doping and structural control. Researchers have investigated how nanoscale strain and lattice distortion in Li-rich layered oxides drive performance losses over time, proposing that addressing these structural instabilities is crucial to preserving long-term capacity [2]. Building on this, a compositionally complex doping approach has delivered “zero-cobalt” cathodes that reduce reliance on costly raw metals and show enhanced resilience under cycling [3].

Solid-state electrolytes form a second vital research area. Elastomeric systems that achieve high ionic conductivity and mechanical durability have emerged [4]. These designs exploit hybrid organic–inorganic networks to promote stable lithium transport while accommodating mechanical stresses. Such engineering breakthroughs pave the way for safer, lighter batteries with higher energy densities, a transformative objective in electric mobility and grid-scale energy storage.

Together, these studies underscore how chemical engineering methodologies—including materials synthesis, process modelling and advanced characterisation—can address pressing efficiency and sustainability issues. By integrating novel electrolyte formulations, precise dopant selection and innovative solid-state architectures, researchers move closer to viable, industrial-scale deployment of next-generation electrochemical devices.

Topic trend for the past 5 years

Technical terms

Electrolyte: A substance (often liquid or solid) allowing ionic conduction between electrodes in a battery.

Lithium-rich layered oxide: A class of cathode material incorporating excess lithium for higher capacity but prone to structural degradation.

Doping: The intentional inclusion of specific elements into a material’s lattice to modify properties such as conductivity or stability.

Solid-state electrolyte: An ion-conducting solid material that replaces conventional liquid solutions, offering improved safety and energy density.

References

1. Electrolyte design for Li-ion batteries under extreme operating conditions. Nature (2023).
2. Origin of structural degradation in Li-rich layered oxide cathode. Nature (2022).
3. Compositionally complex doping for zero-strain zero-cobalt layered cathodes. Nature (2022).
4. Elastomeric electrolytes for high-energy solid-state lithium batteries. Nature (2022).

Position of Chemical Engineering in Nature Index by Count

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