Clean Energy Science and Technology | Youth Science and Technology Forum: No. 13

On the evening of July 18, 2025 (20:00–21:30, Beijing Time), the 13th Youth Science and Technology Forum on Clean Energy Science and Technology was successfully held online via Tencent Meeting, hosted by Prof. Jiong Zhou (Northeastern University, China), a recipient of the International Advanced Materials Society Scientist Medal and has been selected as one of the top 2% scientists globally in the 2023 and 2024 academic year. This event attracted over 40 scholars from the field to participate and engage in in-depth discussions.

Research Presentations

Prof. Kecheng Jie (Nanjing University, China) presented groundbreaking work on "Sponge-like Macrocycle Crystals". Departing from traditional porous adsorbents that require energy-intensive regeneration (e.g., TSA/PSA), Prof. Jie introduced Nonporous Adaptive Crystals (NACs). These materials dynamically create guest-specific cavities during adsorption and exhibit a unique molecular squeeze mechanism for desorption: vapor molecules trigger crystal deformation to release guests without penetrating pores. This process—driven by thermodynamic stability—enables ultra-low-energy regeneration under mild conditions, with additional applications as eco-friendly environmental sensors.

Prof. Yuanning Feng (University of Oklahoma, USA) unveiled "New Design Strategies for Near-Infrared Photothermal Organic Cocrystals". By engineering charge-transfer complexes in organic cocrystals, Prof. Feng’s team extended optical absorption into the second near-infrared window. Two innovative strategies were highlighted: 1) Incorporating twisted molecular configurations to control stoichiometry and alignment for stable cocrystal synthesis; 2) Introducing a third molecular component alongside donor-acceptor π-stacks to dissipate energy via intramolecular motion, boosting photothermal conversion efficiency. These biocompatible materials show promise for solar harvesting, biomedical imaging, and photothermal therapy.

 

The forum facilitated critical exchanges on:

Energy-Efficient Material Regeneration: Balancing structural flexibility/rigidity in stimuli-responsive crystals (e.g., NACs) for low-carbon industrial separation;

Bandgap Engineering: Extending light absorption in organic cocrystals via molecular-level control of charge-transfer interactions;

Dynamic Energy Dissipation: Harnessing intramolecular motion in multicomponent crystals for enhanced photothermal conversion;

Scalability & Biocompatibility: Translating lab-developed crystalline materials into real-world energy/medical applications.

Conclusion

The 13th Youth Science and Technology Forum on Clean Energy Science and Technology spotlighted revolutionary advances in functional crystalline materials. Key innovations included sponge-like macrocycle crystals for zero-energy adsorbent regeneration and NIR-optimized cocrystals for high-efficiency solar-to-thermal conversion. These cross-disciplinary breakthroughs offer scalable pathways to decarbonize industrial processes and harness solar energy, accelerating progress toward global sustainability goals.