We are pleased to present a virtual special issue of ACS Organic & Inorganic Au highlighting contributions from the 2025 Rising Stars in Organic and Inorganic Chemistry. This collection includes research from 11 outstanding early career scientists whose work is advancing both organic and inorganic chemistry through innovative and impactful studies (Figure ).
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2025 Rising Stars in Organic & Inorganic Chemistry.
The articles included in this issue cover a broad range of topics, from fundamental advances to applied research, and reflect the creativity and impact of these Rising Stars. Through peer-reviewed Articles, Letters, Perspectives, and Reviews, each contributor has made a significant addition to the journal, illustrating the diversity of current research and the evolving directions of the field.
Short biographies and links to each researcher’s work are included below to introduce these researchers and their work. We hope that this virtual special issue gives readers an engaging overview of emerging research themes and encourages further exploration of this exciting science.
Ioannis D. Spanopoulos
Our research combines molecular and crystal engineering to design multifunctional materials with previously unattainable combinations of finely tunable properties and record environmental stability.
Ioannis D. Spanopoulos holds a BSc. degree in Chemistry and a MSc. degree in Environmental Chemistry and Technology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. In 2015 he acquired his PhD. degree in Materials Chemistry from the University of Crete, under the supervision of Prof. Pantelis N. Trikalitis, working on Metal Organic Frameworks for gas storage and separation applications. In 2016, he joined the research group of Prof. Mercouri G. Kanatzidis at Northwestern University as a Post-Doctoral Fellow, focusing on the design and synthesis of environmentally friendly and stable perovskite materials for optoelectronic applications. In 2021, he started his independent career at the University of South Florida as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry. He received the 2020 IIN Outstanding Researcher Award from the International Institute for Nanotechnology, the 2022 ACS PRF Doctoral New Investigator Research Award, the 2024 DOE Early Career Research Program (ECRP) Award, the 2024 Interdisciplinary Research Award (IDRA), the 2024 High Impact Practices (HIPs) Excellence Award, the 2025 Global Excellence in Research Award, as well as the 2025 Outstanding Research Achievement Award from USF. He is a Fellow of the International Association of Advanced Materials (IAAM) and a Highly Cited Researcher for the Year 2022. For his achievements in materials chemistry, he has been recognized as an Emerging Investigator by the Journal of Materials Chemistry A. Research at the Spanopoulos Group focuses on utilizing molecular and crystal engineering to design and synthesize next-generation, multifunctional materials for medical, energy, and environment-related applications. The group recently reported two new families of materials, the Porous Metal Halide Semiconductors (PMHSs) and the crystalline Fullerene-based Metal Halide Semiconductors (FMHSs). More information about Dr. Ioannis D. Spanopoulos and his research can be found here: https://www.spanopoulos-lab.com/.
In this virtual special issue, Dr. Ioannis D. Spanopoulos and co-workers contribute a Perspective paper titled “When Pore Met Semi: Charting the Rise of Porous Metal Halide Semiconductors” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.). The Perspective highlights the emergence of porous metal halide semiconductors as a promising new class of functional materials. It presents a general strategy to introduce porosity into metal halide semiconductors using molecular cages as structure-directing countercations, leading to ultramicroporous frameworks. Structural features, porosity, optical properties, and exceptional long-term water stability are discussed, while preserving semiconducting behavior, and the Perspective outlines the opportunities and challenges associated with combining porosity and electronic functionality in this emerging materials platform.
Alexis Prieto
Our research aims to develop transformations that enable simple and efficient access to compounds of interest that were previously hardly accessible.
Alexis Prieto began his studies in chemistry at the Institut Universitaire Technologique (IUT) of Poitiers and later graduated from ENSICAEN (École nationale supérieure d’ingénieurs de Caen) in 2013. He then pursued his Ph.D. at the Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, under the codirection of Drs. Nuno Monteiro and Didier Bouyssi, focusing on the development of radical CH-functionalization of hydrazones using transition metal catalysts. In 2016, he joined the group of Pr. Paolo Melchiorre as a postdoctoral associate, exploring photoredox and metallaphotoredox catalysis. A year later, he embarked on a second one-year postdoctoral position with Drs. Emmanuel Magnier and Jérome Hannedouche, delving into various topics related to fluorine chemistry and transition metal catalysis. In 2019, he was appointed by the CNRS as a Chargé de Recherche (Associate Professor) at the Institut Charles Gerhardt Montpellier (ICGM). His current research interests encompass radical chemistry, photochemistry, and transition metal catalysis. For more details about him and his research, visit his personal webpage (https://www.icgm.fr/alexis-prieto/)
In this virtual special issue, Dr. Alexis Prieto presents an article titled “Red Light and Supersilane: A Novel Pathway for Hydrofunctionalizations and Giese Reactions” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00032). In this study, the authors and co-workers report the photoredox activation of silanes under deep-red light irradiation to generate silyl radicals. Using osmium-based photocatalysts, or in some cases under photocatalyst-free conditions, these radicals enable a range of transformations, including hydrosilylation, hydrosulfonylation, and Giese reactions. By extending silyl radical chemistry into the red-light region, this work offers new opportunities for mild, selective, and scalable synthetic methods and provides access to a diverse array of high value molecules.
Vincent Bizet
Our group is passionate about the development of new synthetic methodologies in organofluorine chemistry and conducting comprehensive studies of reaction mechanisms.
Vincent Bizet is a CNRS researcher (PI) at the LIMA laboratory (UMR 7042 CNRS) in Mulhouse. His research interests encompass SF5 chemistry, homogeneous catalysis, heterocyclic chemistry, asymmetric synthesis, as well as organofluorine and sulfur chemistry. He obtained his B.S. in chemistry in 2007 and completed graduated studies in 2009 at the University of Caen Normandie. He then pursued a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry (2009–2012) at INSA Rouen under the supervision of Dr. Dominique Cahard and Jean-Luc Renaud focusing on organofluorine chemistry and ruthenium catalysis. In 2012, he was awarded an Alexander von Humboldt postdoctoral fellowship and joined Prof. Carsten Bolm’s group at the RWTH Aachen University to work on sulfoximine chemistry. In 2014, he undertook a second postdoctoral position with Prof. Clément Mazet at the University of Geneva, where he developed palladium-catalyzed asymmetric transformations. Dr. Bizet was appointed at the CNRS in 2016 and joined the LIMA laboratory (UMR 7042 CNRS) located in Mulhouse, where he completed his habilitation in 2022. The same year, he became a member of the Early Career Advisory Board of the journals Tetrahedron and Tetrahedron Letters. His commitment to research was recognized by the 2022 Guy Ourisson Prize from the Gutenberg Circle of the University of Strasbourg and by the 2023 Thieme Chemistry Journal Award. More information about Dr. Bizet’s work can be found here: https://bsm.unistra.fr/.
In this virtual special issue, Dr. Vincent Bizet’s Article titled “Straightforward Access to Pentafluorosulfanylated Phenols and Aminophenols via [4 + 2] Diels–Alder Cycloaddition Reaction” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00042) reports a collaborative study with Dr. Karinne Miqueu and co-workers. The authors introduce a convergent strategy that builds the aromatic ring while installing the SF5 group, using SF5-alkynes as polarized dienophiles in highly regioselective [4 + 2] Diels–Alder reactions with electron-rich dienes. This approach provides rapid access to a broad family of SF5-substituted phenols and, in particular, 2-SF5-4-aminophenols, with excellent regioselectivity across diverse aryl and heteroaryl SF5-alkynes. Mechanistic studies combining DFT, activation strain, and energy decomposition analyses reveal that regioselectivity is driven by reduced strain and Pauli repulsion in highly asynchronous transition states, rather than classical HOMO–LUMO control. This work provides both a practical synthetic entry to SF5 building blocks and clear insight into an unusual mode of Diels–Alder selectivity.
Artur Kasprzak
My research introduces new concepts in the design, synthesis, properties, and applications of molecular receptors, including those incorporating buckybowl or metallocene motifs.
Artur Kasprzak is currently an associate professor at the Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology (WUT). He received BSc (2015), MSc (2016), PhD (2020; advisor: Prof. Mariola Koszytkowska-Stawińska, coadvisor: Dr. Magdalena Popławska), and DSc (2023) diplomas in chemical sciences at the Faculty of Chemistry, WUT. He has been a visiting researcher in Prof. Hidehiro Sakurai’s group (The University of Osaka, Japan) in 2016 and 2019, initiating his work in sumanene chemistry and molecular receptors science. Currently, he is a leader of the Functional Organic Compounds Group at the Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, WUT. His primary research interests include organic, supramolecular, and (nano)materials chemistry. In particular, he pioneered the application of sumanene derivatives as optical and electrochemical molecular receptors for cations. For more details about him and his research, visit his personal webpage: https://zcho.ch.pw.edu.pl/skl_kas.html.
In this virtual special issue, Dr. Artur Kasprzak’s article titled “Structure-Dependent Water Solubility and Receptor Properties of C3-Symmetric Dendrimers Bearing Sumanene or Triphenylene Cores” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00048) presents a study with Dr. Hidehiro Sakurai and co-workers. The study introduces water-soluble dendrimers based on sumanene and triphenylene cores and shows that their solubility is closely linked to aggregation tendencies, quantified through molecular dynamics calculations of dimerization free energies. In addition, selected compounds act as highly selective fluorescent receptors for group 13 cations Al3+, Ga3+, and In3+ in water, achieving nanomolar detection limits. Spectroscopic and computational analyses clarify the cation-binding mechanism, and tests in real water samples demonstrate practical sensing capabilities. Overall, this contribution establishes the first water-soluble sumanene derivatives and highlights their promise for aqueous metal-ion recognition.
Demyan E. Prokopchuk
We aim to understand C–H and N–H bond thermochemistry that governs the movement of protons and electrons within organometallic reagents and small molecules.
Demyan E. Prokopchuk received his bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in Computer Science from the University of Saskatchewan in 2009. In 2015, he completed his PhD at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Prof. Robert Morris studying the mechanisms of iron catalyzed transfer hydrogenation and ruthenium mediated water splitting. He also spent 5 months as a visiting researcher at ETH Zürich in the lab of Prof. Hansjörg Grützmacher. From 2015 to 2017, Demyan was a postdoctoral fellow at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in the Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis, cosupervised by Dr. Morris Bullock and Dr. Michael Mock. At PNNL, he investigated N2 and H2 activation reactions mediated by molecular Fe complexes. After a brief postdoctoral fellowship in 2018 at the University of Calgary studying nickel mediated CO2 electroreduction with Prof. Warren Piers, he began his independent career in 2019 at Rutgers-Newark and currently holds the title of Assistant Professor. His group currently receives external funding from the NSF (CAREER), DOE, and the ACS-PRF. Demyan’s research focuses on molecular organic and organometallic chemistry, with many projects functioning at the confluence of synthesis, ligand design, small molecule activation, mechanistic analysis, chemically noninnocent ligands, electrocatalysis, and C–H/N-H bond thermochemistry. When he is not thinking about research or moonlighting as the group’s de facto plumber, Demyan enjoys spending time with his family and traveling abroad. You can find the Prokopchuk group homepage at https://www.depchem.com/.
In this virtual special issue, Dr. Demyan E. Prokopchuk presents the article titled “Expanding the PCET Thermochemistry of Cp N3 : N–H Bond Strengths of Metal-Free Cp N3 Molecules and the Influence of Fe(CO) 3 Coordination” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00060), in collaboration with Dr. Andreas Hansen and co-workers. The authors determine N–H acidities and bond dissociation free energies for metal-free CpN3 systems through combined pK a and electrochemical measurements, supported by closely matching DFT calculations. Extending the analysis to Fe(CO)3 complexes reveals that coordination to iron has only a minor influence on the exocyclic N–H acidity. Complementary spectroscopic and electronic-structure investigations clarify the oxidation state of iron and highlight the strong donor character of the CpN3 ligand. Together, these results deepen the thermochemical understanding of redox-active cyclopentadienyl frameworks and their PCET behavior with and without transition metals.
Mariateresa Giustiniano
By leveraging isonitrile chemistry with enabling technologies and in aqueous media, M.G.’s research aims to unveil unique opportunities to advance sustainability in drug discovery.
Mariateresa Giustiniano is an Associate Professor in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Naples Federico II. She graduated in 2007 in Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technologies, and in 2010 she obtained her PhD in Drug’s Sciences (University of Naples-Federico II). In 2009–2010 she has been a visiting student in the laboratories of Prof. G. C. Tron (University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara) and Prof. J. Zhu (CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, Paris). From 2011 to 2016 she held postdoctoral fellowships at University of Naples Federico II, and in 2016 she became Assistant Professor. In 2021 she was the recipient of the DCF-Prize (Italian Society of Chemistry), and in 2023 she was acknowledged as an Outstanding Reviewer for Chemical Science (RSC). In June 2023 she got the national scientific habilitation for Full Professor position. She is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry (ACS). The research interests of M.G. focus on the development of green organic synthetic methodologies to speed up drug’s research and discovery.
She works with isonitrile chemistry and exploits the peculiar properties of this class of compounds both as nucleophiles and carbenes in multicomponent reactions (MCRs) and as radical acceptors in visible light photo(redox) catalytic approaches. Recently, she has highlighted the unique opportunities provided by isonitriles for promoting photochemical reactions. Such chemistry is also investigated by M.G. in water-based reaction media (e.g., photomicellar conditions), thus contributing to boost the green innate features of isonitrile-based MCRs and photocatalysis. Furthermore, by applying isonitrile (photo)chemistry, M.G. is also committed to improving the synthetic access to isotope-labeled compounds and to identifying new approaches for the late-stage functionalization of biorelevant compounds.
In this virtual special issue, Prof. Mariateresa Giustiniano reports the article titled “Arylazo Sulfones as 1,3-Dipole Acceptors in the (Photo)-Micellar van Leusen Triazole Synthesis” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00080), in collaboration with Diego Brancaccio, Stefano Protti, and co-workers. The study introduces arylazo sulfones as bench-stable alternatives to diazonium salts for the van Leusen synthesis of 1,2,4-triazoles. Using a CTAC-based micellar medium in water, the authors develop a mild and sustainable [3 + 2] cycloaddition with α-acidic isonitriles, showing broad scope and good functional group tolerance. NMR investigations clarify the role of the micellar environment, while recyclability studies highlight both opportunities and limitations of the aqueous system.
Qilei Zhu
Through innovative electrosynthetic and photocatalytic methods, we aim to push the frontiers of sustainable synthesis and empower new discoveries across organic chemistry and beyond.
Qilei Zhu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Utah. He was born and raised in Zhejiang, China, and received his B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University in the summer of 2014, where he conducted research on transition-metal-catalyzed C–H and C–C bond activation. He then pursued his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Princeton University under the supervision of Prof. Robert Knowles from 2014 to 2019. His doctoral work focused on carbocation generation and photocatalytic strong bond activation via proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET). In 2019, Qilei joined the laboratory of Prof. Daniel Nocera at Harvard University as a postdoctoral researcher, where he explored the use of titania in organic synthesis and carried out mechanistic studies of radical transformations using spectroscopic and electroanalytical techniques. Since 2022, he has led an independent research group at the University of Utah. The Zhu Laboratory develops selective and sustainable chemical transformations to streamline the synthesis of functionalized molecules from accessible feedstocks. Current research directions include: (1) electrosynthetic and electrocatalytic strategies for the sustainable functionalization of abundant feedstocks such as alcohols and amines and (2) the discovery and optimization of electron donor–acceptor (EDA) photocatalysts for selective functionalization of strong aromatic and aliphatic C–H bonds. More information is available on the Zhu Group Web site: https://www.zhuchemlab.com/.
In this virtual special issue, Dr. Qilei Zhu presents the Letter titled “Electrochemical Halogenation and Etherification of Alcohols Enabled by a Halide-Coupled Phosphine Oxidation” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00091). With co-workers, this contribution describes an electrochemical Appel reaction in which anodic oxidation replaces stoichiometric chemical oxidants, using readily available tetraalkylammonium halides as halogen sources. The method enables efficient chlorination, bromination, and iodination of alcohols under mild conditions, with broad functional group tolerance and applicability to complex molecules. Mechanistic studies support a halide-coupled phosphine oxidation pathway, illustrating how electrochemistry can serve as a sustainable and versatile alternative to classical alcohol functionalization reactions.
Selvan Demir
Through delicate synthetic control of oxidation and spin states, my group develops peerless lanthanide molecules with exciting applications in information storage and quantum computing.
Selvan Demir received a Diploma in chemistry in 2007, and a Dr. rer. nat. in 2010, both from the University of Cologne. Her graduate studies involved research on scandium solid state chemistry with Prof. Gerd Meyer at the University of Cologne and scandium organometallic chemistry with Prof. William J. Evans at the University of California, Irvine. Subsequently, she joined postdoctoral research on single-molecule magnets and porous aromatic frameworks in the group of Prof. Jeffrey R. Long at the University of California, Berkeley. She was also a postdoctoral research affiliate at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory where she conducted transuranic chemistry with Dr. David K. Shuh. Then she moved to the University of Göttingen for a Junior Professorship in Inorganic Chemistry. In 2019, she joined Michigan State University as an Assistant Professor of Chemistry, where she has developed a versatile research program with a focus on single-molecule magnets, quantum information science, small molecule activation, and catalysis, all with the rare earth and actinide elements. Her group discovered several new radicals, where their implementation in metal complexes enhanced in exciting ways both organic and inorganic chemistry. She received numerous awards such as most recently the NSF CAREER Award (2024), the American Chemical Society’s ACS Women Chemists Committee WCC Rising Star Award (2025), the Friedrich Wilhelm Bessel Research Award by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation (2025), the Sloan Research Fellowship (2025), and the Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (2025). More information on Dr. Demir’s work can be found here: https://selvandemir.com/.
In this virtual special issue, Prof. Selvan Demir reports the article titled “Synthesis and Electronic Structure of a Tetraazanaphthalene Radical-Bridged Yttrium Complex” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00086). In this study, Prof. Selvan Demir and co-workers synthesize the first dinuclear yttrium complexes bridged by a tetraazanaphthalene ligand in both closed-shell and radical forms. Structural, spectroscopic, electrochemical, and computational analyses reveal that coordination to yttrium stabilizes the tetraazanaphthalene radical and strongly influences its spin and charge distribution. This work establishes tetraazanaphthalene as a new redox-active bridging ligand and provides key insights into ligand-centered radical chemistry relevant to magnetic and spintronic materials.
Kshatresh Dutta Dubey
Through computational insight, my work seeks to unify organic and inorganic reactivity, revealing the fundamental principles that drive catalysis and molecular transformation.
Kshatresh Dutta Dubey is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry, School of Natural Sciences, Shiv Nadar Institution of Eminence, Delhi NCR, India. His research integrates computational and theoretical chemistry to explore the mechanistic underpinnings of chemical and biochemical processes. His current work focuses on elucidating enzymatic reaction mechanisms, catalysis, and electronic structure–reactivity relationships using advanced quantum chemical and hybrid QM/MM methodologies. Dr. Dubey obtained his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physics from DDU Gorakhpur University, India, where he developed a strong foundation in theoretical modeling and molecular simulations. He pursued his Ph.D. in Physics at the same institution under the supervision of Prof. R. P. Ojha, where his doctoral research centered on computational studies of reaction mechanisms and molecular interactions in complex systems. Following his Ph.D., Dr. Dubey undertook extensive postdoctoral research across several leading international institutions, where he honed his expertise in quantum chemistry and computational enzymology. From January 2014 to September 2017, he worked with Prof. Sason Shaik at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, investigating the electronic structure and reactivity of transition-metal complexes and metalloenzymes. Subsequently, from October 2017 to September 2018, he joined Prof. Lynn Kamerlin at Uppsala University, Sweden, focusing on enzyme catalysis and computational modeling of biochemical reactions. He then conducted postdoctoral research with Prof. Carme Rovira at the University of Barcelona, Spain (2018–2019), where he explored carbohydrate-active enzymes and reaction mechanisms relevant to bioinorganic chemistry. Dr. Dubey’s interdisciplinary background in physics and chemistry, combined with his international research experience, underpins his ongoing efforts to understand chemical reactivity at the molecular level and to design predictive models for catalysis and enzymatic function.
In this virtual special issue, Dr. Kshatresh Dutta Dubey presents the Review titled “Role of Propionate Side Chain in Heme-Containing Metalloenzymes” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00078). Together with his co-workers, the Review focuses on heme propionate side chains (Prop-6 and Prop-7) as active mechanistic components rather than merely structural elements involved in heme anchoring or substrate recognition. Drawing primarily on studies published since 2005, it summarizes emerging roles of these groups in water gating, proton delivery, and proton-coupled electron transfer, oxidant formation, electron transfer, and redox-potential regulation in iron heme enzymes. A key theme is the distinct behavior of Prop-6 and Prop-7, with Prop-6 often residing in more rigid hydrogen-bond networks, while Prop-7 more frequently acts as a dynamic regulator of hydration and proton flux. Overall, the Review offers an integrated framework for understanding how heme propionates help coordinate hydration, proton and electron movement, and intermediate stabilization in enzymatic catalysis.
Zacharias Amara
Working across nano- to macroscopic interfaces, my research seeks to harness light to drive transformative, greener chemistry that shapes a more imaginative future.
Zacharias Amara is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at the Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers (Cnam) in Paris, where he leads the Molecular Chemistry Group within the Laboratory of Genomics, Bioinformatics, and Molecular Chemistry. His research explores how light-driven processes and molecular design can be leveraged to build more sustainable chemical technologies, with a particular focus on photocatalysis, organic synthesis, and continuous-flow processing. He is especially interested in how reactions behave at nano- to macroscopic interfaces, developing strategies to control photochemical reactivity and enable greener, scalable transformations. A multidisciplinary chemist by training, Zac holds a PharmD and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from Paris-Sud University (now Paris-Saclay), followed by postdoctoral positions at the University of Nottingham and Chimie ParisTech. His work has contributed to advances in photochemical oxidation, green catalysis, and the synthesis of high-value molecules such as artemisinin. At Cnam, he has built an active research group engaged in designing novel photocatalysts, developing light-enabled continuous-flow methods, and translating laboratory insights into industrially relevant processes. His scientific leadership has been recognized by several awards. In 2024, Zac was named a Junior Member of the Institut Universitaire de France (2024–2028). He is a recipient of the I-Lab Innovation Award, the Jean Normant Prize, the ACS Green Chemistry Institute Ignition Grant, and funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, among many others. He has supervised numerous researchers, advised start-ups in green chemistry, and cofounded Linium Biochemicals. With more than 30 invited lectures and publications spanning organic chemistry, catalysis, materials science, and process engineering, Zac’s long-term vision is to harness light at interfaces to drive new discoveries and developments in chemical technologies.
In this virtual special issue, Dr. Zacharias Amara’s Perspective is titled “More than Catalyst Recycling: Tuning Synthetic Photocatalytic Processes via Heterogenization on Silica and Alumina” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00088). In this work, he and his co-workers show that immobilizing molecular photocatalysts on insulating oxides such as SiO2 and Al2O3 preserves their intrinsic photophysical properties while allowing the local environment to be deliberately tuned. The Perspective demonstrates that heterogenization can improve catalyst stability and reactivity, broaden compatibility with green solvents, and enable continuous-flow operation, extending far beyond simple catalyst recovery. By comparing silica and alumina supports, the Perspective also points to underexplored opportunities to control selectivity and performance through surface effects, positioning heterogenized photocatalysts as versatile platforms for sustainable synthesis.
Eteri Svanidze
Eteri Svanidze links chemical discovery with physical insight, transforming serendipitous findings into rationally designed quantum materials through tightly integrated synthesis, measurement, and theory.
Eteri Svanidze is currently a group leader of the Research of Exotic Actinide- and Lanthanide-based Materials (REALM) group at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids (MPI CPfS) https://www.cpfs.mpg.de/realm-group. Dr. Svanidze’s research centers on the discovery and design of novel quantum materials, with a particular emphasis on compounds and alloys that host unconventional superconductivity, emergent magnetism, and strongly correlated electronic behavior. A core goal of her work is to bridge the disciplines of chemistry and physics, not only to address fundamental scientific questions but also to unlock the application potential of both simple and complex solid-state materials. Dr. Svanidze received her bachelor’s degree in physics and mathematics from the State University of New York at Fredonia (USA) in 2009, followed by a Master of Science in Applied Physics from Rice University (Houston, USA) in 2011. She completed her PhD in 2015 under the supervision of Prof. Emilia Morosan, defending a thesis entitled “Itinerant Magnets Composed of Nonmagnetic Elements.” Afterward, she joined MPI CPfS as a postdoctoral researcher (2016–2017). In 2018, she was awarded a Fulbright Research Chair position, which she carried out jointly at McMaster University (Hamilton, Canada) and the Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas Físicas (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). She returned to MPI CPfS to establish the REALM group, where her research continues to advance the field of quantum materials. Her work has been recognized by numerous awards, including: the 2024 Early Career Actinides Research Award; the 2023 European Rare Earth and Actinide Society Junior Award; a 2022 Plus 3 Perspectives Programme grant; and the 2022 UNESCO–L’Oréal Women in Science Award.
In this virtual special, Dr. Eteri Svanidze’s article, titled “Complex Magnetism in the Mixed-Valence Europium Mercuride Eu11‑xHg54+x ” (DOI: 10.1021/acsorginorgau.5c00099) examines how mixed europium valence gives rise to unusual magnetic behavior in a noncentrosymmetric intermetallic compound. The study shows that the coexistence of Eu2+ and Eu3+, stabilized by distinct crystallographic environments, leads to magnetic ordering below 5.5 K and an unusually rich magnetic phase diagram. Detailed structural, magnetic, and spectroscopic analyses reveal fragile ferrimagnetic behavior, valence inhomogeneity, and strong coupling between electronic structure and magnetism, positioning Eu11–x Hg54+x as a model system for exploring correlated electron phenomena in rare-earth materials.
Views expressed in this editorial are those of the author and not necessarily the views of the ACS.
Published as part of ACS Organic & Inorganic Au special issue “2025 Rising Stars in ACS Organic & Inorganic Au”.