In the following, we highlight selected videos illustrating advances in different fields of today’s chemistry research inserted in recent research articles published in open access (OA) form in reputable chemistry and materials science journals.

To illustrate the structural evolution dynamic of the redispersion on NiRu alloy nanoparticles (NPs) on Ni10Ru4/TiO2 hydrogenation catalyst in the temperature range from 23 to 500 °C under H2, Zou et al. inserted in their article published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition a video displaying the in situ environment transmission electron microscopy (ETEM) outcomes during heating [16]. Having substantial size (183.3 MB) and lasting 24 s, the video (in mp4 format) allowed the team to identify the mechanism of the redispersion process during the heating phase, especially between 400 and 500 °C, where complete redispersion process includes the disintegration of initial particles to the formation of newly smaller particles without structural changes of TiO2.

In brief, the video (Fig. 1) shows that the NiRu alloys are torn apart into smaller ones by specific interactions with ‘tearing effect’ on the alloy–support interfaces. Initially the original structure remains still, but the video then shows the evolution of the catalyst TEM images upon heating. The video achieves its communication objective by insertion on the upper right corner of the original TEM image of the catalyst.

(Reproduced from Ref. [16], Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)

Screenshot of the video illustrating changes in the Ni10Ru4/TiO2 hydrogenation catalyst in the temperature range from 23 to 500 °C

To illustrate new research aimed at developing efficient sulfur-based cathodes in lithium–sulfur batteries, Li and co-workers inserted in their research article published in Angewandte Chemie International Edition two videos based on operando optical microscopy to gain insights into the behaviour of sulfur/sulfide species [17]. Sulfur-based cathodes offer a high theoretical capacity of 1675 mAh g−1 but do not reach it mainly because conventional electrode production relies on mixing of components into weakly coordinated slurries.

One video displays cells assembled with a PVDF@KB/S electrode (a polyvinylidene difluoride-coated novel imine polymer@KB/S cathode based on a one-pot, in situ polymerization of imine-based polymer encapsulating Ketjen black/sulfur, KB/S, particles on an aluminium surface). The apparent mobility of sulfur (the “sulfur shuttle” effect) limits the performance of current in sulfur-based electrodes, leading to battery degradation.

In contrast, another video (Fig. 2) shows the cell with a TAPB-TA@KBS electrode displaying only a pale yellowish coloration of the separator, namely higher sulfur retention and thus lower sulfur-shuttling.

(Reproduced from Ref. [17], Creative Commons License CC BY 4.0)

Screenshot of the video illustrating changes in electrochemical cell with a TAPB-TA@KBS electrode showing only a pale yellowish coloration of the separator

To illustrate a new reaction monitoring method based on NMR, Lloyd-Jones and Flook inserted in the supplementary information (SI) file of their article published in The Journal of Organic Chemistry a link to a YouTube video [18]. Entitled “How To Guide: Parameters and Data Processing for NMR Reaction Monitoring” and lasting about 19 min, the video presents a step-by-step guide including four parts (preparation for reaction monitoring, reaction monitoring, spectra processing, integral data and time processing).

Similarly, to illustrate how a webcam positioned inside the reactor box, combined with a small LED lamp to improve visibility, allows visual monitoring of a photochemical benzylic bromination by producing a video (Fig. 3) of the quench fluidic module, Kappe et al. in 2020 inserted in the SI section of their article published in Organic Process Research & Development a video corresponding to diverse entries of reaction conditions described in Table 2 of the article [19].

(Reproduced from Ref. [19], Creative Commons License CC BY 4.0)

Frame of the video of quench fluidic module during experimental runs

In this case, it is especially useful for adapting the sodium thiosulfate flow rate to ensure effective bromine quenching (e.g. whether all Br2 is being quenched or if no Br2 is formed). The video of the quench fluidic modules allows visual monitoring of the reaction, estimation of the bromine concentration entering the quench fluidic module and the efficacy of the quench, thus acting as a semiquantitative visual process analytical technology tool.

To illustrate the flow-and-attach effect of oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), the lignocellulosic residue from the palm oil milling process, converted into fibreboard using cellulose fibres as a binder, Lee et al. inserted a video in the SI of their article published by ChemSusChem [20]. Showing a single dry EFB fibre immersed in a droplet of pulp suspension, the video (Fig. 4) was recorded using a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

(Reproduced from Ref. [20], Creative Commons License CC BY 4.0)

Frame of the video of a single EFB fibre immersed in a droplet of pulp suspension

Lasting 2.11 s, the video clearly shows an agglomerate of “hairy” cellulose fibres moving towards the surface of the EFB fibre within a second after initial contact with the pulp suspension.

This brief colour video nicely illustrates how, driven by water absorption through capillary action, the suspended (hairy) cellulose fibres flow and attach themselves onto the surface of the EFB fibres. Upon mild drying and wet pressing, inter (hairy) cellulose fibre bonding via van der Waals’ interaction, hydrogen bonding and fibre/molecular entanglement binds the EFB fibres together providing the newly obtained fibreboard with superior mechanical properties.

Pointing to complete circularity of the new approach, the hairy cellulose fibres were produced using a recirculating colloid mill passing bleached wood waste pulp through a 1.5-kW recirculating colloid mill.

Similarly, willing to show the simplicity of the LimoFish process to convert fish (anchovy) processing waste into valued fish oil and organic fertilizer in just three steps, the most important of which is treatment of milled waste with d-limonene (followed by oil separation, and mild drying of the solid), Pagliaro et al. inserted in their article published in ChemSusSchem a link to a freely accessible video posted at Dropbox. The video shows (Fig. 5) how an electric blender is used to mix and homogenize the frozen anchovy leftovers stirred at room temperature along with an aliquot of limonene, to afford a semi-solid grey purée [21].

(Reproduced from Ref. [21], Creative Commons License)

Frame of the video showing the key extraction step of the LimoFish process

Similarly, to show the mechanical robustness of a new PI/CNT organic anode composed of polyimide (PI) nanosheets and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) suitable for producing thick anodes (e.g. 100 mg cm−2 and 1 mm) of exceptional cycle life (up to 380,000 cycles) in supercapacitors and ultrahigh areal capacities in batteries, Wang and co-workers included in the SI section of their article published in Advanced Materials a video of a free-fall experiment of the electrode from a height of 2 m (Fig. 6) [22].

(Reproduced from Ref. [22], Creative Commons License CC BY-NC 4.0)

Frame of the video showing the free-fall experiment of PI/CNT electrode from a height of 2 m

The video provides evidence that, after hitting the ground, the anode remains intact.

To show the interfacial crystallization (IFC), the assembly and formation of membrane-like crystalline sheets from Nle, a peptoid monomer amide and leucine analogue with a branched aliphatic side chain, Lau et al. inserted in the SI of their article published in Langmuir a link to a video posted at Google Drive [23]. The video shows that when a solution of Nle bromide salt (i.e. Nle.HBr) in warm 2:1 v/v acetonitrile (ACN)/methanol (MeOH) (T ≥ 50 °C) was left to slowly cool and evaporate in a beaker covered with a watch glass, floating, transparent, crystalline sheets formed at the air–liquid interface (Fig. 7).

(Reproduced from Ref. [23], Creative Commons License CC-BY 4.0)

Screenshot of the video showing crystalline sheets of Nle bromide salt formed via IFC on the surface of 2:1 v/v ACN/MeOH

The video shows how these crystals eventually merge to form large structures that fill the liquid surface (approx. 15.5 cm2 in the case of the 50-mL beaker used) suggesting that IFC may by used in the quick and effective formation of interface-sealing supramolecular barriers, based on simple monomer chemistry (peptoid and amino acid amide monomers).