It is learned that on December 3rd, the "2025 Research Frontiers" report, jointly released by the Institute of Science and Technology Strategy of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Library and Information Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Clarivate Analytics, was officially released. This report precisely selects 128 research frontiers that are highly active and developing rapidly worldwide in 2025, and makes professional judgments on the development trends of each discipline. Among them, the top ten hotspots and frontiers in the field of chemistry and materials science are particularly eye-catching, covering four core directions: synthetic chemistry, material recycling and utilization, lithium batteries, and energy materials. China's performance in this field can be described as a "leader".

The report shows that the four major directions of chemical synthesis have become the core battlefields of innovation.

Synthetic chemistry, as the "top priority" in fundamental research, occupies four hot positions, namely the bioelectronic isoarray synthesis of benzene rings, the photocatalytic synthesis of hydrogen peroxide by COF, the electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide to produce multi-carbon products, and the directed evolution and design of ET hydrolases. These studies not only drive the innovation of chemical synthesis technology, but also demonstrate great application potential in fields such as green chemical engineering and biomedicine.

The direction of material recycling and reuse focuses on the "dual carbon" goals. Two cutting-edge areas have made the list: the recycling and reuse of spent lithium-ion battery cathode materials and the chemical recycling of spent polyolefin plastics, providing key technical paths for solving the problems of resource shortage and environmental pollution.

The lithium battery sector also contributes to two major hotspots. The research and development of single-crystal high-nickel cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries will enhance the energy density of batteries, while halide solid electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries lay the foundation for breakthroughs in the next generation of battery technology.

High-performance thermoelectric materials and high-temperature energy storage polymer dielectrics in the field of energy materials have also become important supports for the upgrading of the new energy industry.

It is worth noting that the two frontiers, "Chemical recycling of waste polyolefin plastics" and "Halide solid Electrolytes for all-solid-state batteries", have been specially listed as key and hot frontiers for 2025 due to their significant scientific value and application prospects.

China has prominent advantages and leads the field of chemistry and materials science

The "2025 Research Frontier Heat Index" report released on the same day revealed new changes in the global scientific research landscape. In the overall ranking of the 11 major academic fields, the United States still holds the top position, while China continues to catch up with the trend of "firmly holding the second place and narrowing the gap". In six fields including agricultural science, chemistry and materials science, China has risen to the top of the world, demonstrating strong scientific research capabilities.

The field of chemistry and materials science has become China's "main battlefield of advantage" : China ranks first in the number of frontiers in this field with 9, far exceeding the 2 of the United States, and its dominant position is very prominent. The report also points out that there is one emerging frontier in this field that deserves attention - "Strategies for Improving the stability and conversion Efficiency of inverted perovskite Solar cells". Perovskite solar cells are regarded as the core direction of the next-generation photovoltaic technology due to their high photoelectric conversion efficiency and the ability to be processed in low-temperature solutions. Inverted perovskite solar cells, which adopt a p-i-n longitudinal stacking structure, have more advantages in interface stability, process compatibility and industrial adaptability. Currently, the research focus is on further improving their stability and conversion efficiency.

Industry experts say that China's outstanding performance in the field of chemistry and materials science demonstrates the country's emphasis on basic research and the innovative vitality of its researchers. In the future, it is expected to achieve a leap from following to leading in more cutting-edge directions.