Media-Free Mechanochemistry

Many mechanochemical reactions take place within ball mills, where milling materials, typically steel or ceramics, are employed. Despite efforts to minimize it, contamination of the reactants is often inevitable due to abrasion during milling, influenced by various factors specific to each reaction. This abrasion, commonly an undesired byproduct of the synthesis method, poses significant challenges, particularly in cases involving heavy metals, such as direct mechanocatalysis.

To circumvent this issue entirely, the development of media-free reactors has garnered attention. One promising example is the resonant acoustic mixer, which enables thorough mixing without the need for milling media. Our research has demonstrated the efficacy of direct mechanocatalysis in these conditions, and we are actively engaged in adapting numerous techniques and reaction systems to this media-free environment.