Advancing mechanochemical synthesis by combining milling with different energy sources

Owing to its efficiency and unique reactivity, mechanochemical processing of bulk solids has developed into a powerful tool for the synthesis and transformation of various classes of materials. Nevertheless, mechanochemistry is primarily based on simple techniques, such as milling in comminution devices. Recently, mechanochemical reactivity has started being combined with other energy sources commonly used in solution-based chemistry. Milling under controlled temperature, light irradiation, sound agitation or electrical impulses in newly developed experimental setups has led to reactions not achievable by conventional mechanochemical processing. This Perspective describes these unique reactivities and the advances in equipment tailored to synthetic mechanochemistry. These techniques — thermo-mechanochemistry, sono-mechanochemistry, electro-mechanochemistry and photo-mechanochemistry — represent a notable advance in modern mechanochemistry and herald a new level of solid-state reactivity: mechanochemistry 2.0. Mechanochemistry is the science of inducing a chemical reaction through the application of mechanical force. This Perspective focuses on combining traditional mechanochemistry with different energy inputs — heat, light, sound or electrical impulses — to advance mechanochemical synthesis.