Artificial Intelligence (AI) is redefining the landscape of chemical product and process innovation. In response to the increasing demand for advanced, efficient, and sustainable chemical technologies, this Call for Papers in Smart Chemical Engineering (SCE) seeks to showcase cutting-edge research and transformative applications of AI across the chemical engineering domain. As the industry accelerates toward next-generation, high-performance chemical products and cleaner processes, AI offers unprecedented capabilities for material design, process optimization, and intelligent decision-making. We aim to showcase recent scientific breakthroughs, methodological advances, and forward-looking perspectives enabled by AI technologies. We welcome original research articles, reviews, and perspectives focusing on AI-driven chemical and material design, high-throughput and intelligent platforms for chemical synthesis, AI-based theories and methodologies for process optimization and scale-up, as well as the development and application of AI algorithms tailored to chemical engineering challenges. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to: AI-driven precise design of chemicals and materials AI algorithms tailored for chemical engineering applications Applications of generative AI in materials and chemical process design AI-based theories and methodologies for process optimization and scale-up High-throughput and intelligent scientific platforms and agents for chemical synthesis Data-driven discovery and inverse design of functional materialsand catalysts Self-optimizing reactors and autonomous experimentation workflows AI Empowers the Intensification of Chemical Reaction Processes Keywords: Artificial Intelligence in Chemical Engineering, AI Algorithms, Bayesian Optimizations, High-throughput Platforms, Process Optimization, Agent, Intelligent Manufacturing. Prof. Huabin Xing Zhejiang University https://person.zju.edu.cn/xinghb

Since the invention of the first nanogenerator by Wang’s group in 2005, several significant research areas have emerged, including piezoelectric nanogenerators, triboelectric nanogenerators, pyroelectric nanogenerators, self-powered sensors, piezotronics, piezo-phototronics, and tribotronics. Over the years, these technologies have progressed significantly. Nanogenerators are classified based on their energy sources, such as mechanical energy (harvested by piezoelectric and triboelectric nanogenerators) and thermal energy (harvested by pyroelectric and thermoelectric nanogenerators). Moreover, the integration of diverse functional materials has enabled the development of hybrid nanogenerators capable of simultaneously harvesting multiple types of energy. Through the implementation of diverse performance-enhancing strategies, nanogenerators are now capable of powering portable electronics and hold immense potential for transformative applications in the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI), and human–machine interfaces (HMI). This Nanoenergy Communications collection is guest edited by Zhong Lin Wang (Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China), Chenguo Hu (Chongqing University, China), Jeong Min Baik (Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea), Ju-Hyuck Lee (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science & Technology, Republic of Korea), Hong-Joon Yoon (Gachon University, Republic of Korea) and Ya Yang (Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China). It showcases cutting-edge innovations in nanomaterial synthesis, computational modeling, device fabrication, and system integration. These advancements are driving transformative progress in the field, highlighting breakthroughs that bridge fundamental research with technological implementation. Academic Editors Zhong Lin Wang is the Hightower Chair in Materials Science and Engineering and Regents’Professor at Georgia Tech., as well as the chief scientist and director of the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His discoveries and breakthroughs in the development of nanogenerators and self-powered nanosystems have established fundamental principles and technological roadmaps for harvesting mechanical energy from environmental and biological systems, thereby powering personal electronics and future sensor networks. He coined and pioneered the field of piezotronics and piezophototronics, and established the disciplines of piezoelectronics, piezo-phototronics, and triboelectronics. He extended the application of Maxwell’s equations to moving charged media, laid the theoretical foundation for nanogenerators, and unified the physical model of triboelectricity. He has co-authored approximately 2,620 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5530-0380 Chenguo Hu is a full professor at Chongqing University and director of the Key Lab of Materials Physics of Chongqing Municipality. She received her Ph.D. from Chongqing University in 2003. From February 2005 to February 2006, she served as a Visiting Professor at the Center for Nanoscale Science and Technology, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA. Her research primarily focuses on surface and interface physics, as well as the design and application of related functional devices. She has made numerous innovative contributions, particularly in the areas of triboelectric nanogenerators and self-powered sensors. Her research interests include investigating the morphology- and size-dependent physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials, and designing and fabricating electronic devices such as nanogenerators and self-powered sensors. She has co-authored approximately 336 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3019-493X Jeong Min Baik is a full professor in the School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU). He received his Ph.D. from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Pohang University in 2006. His recent research interests focused on synthesizing nanomaterials and nanostructures, such as nanoparticles, nanowires, nanolayers, and nanopores, for applications in energy-conversion devices and nano-photonic devices. His particular interests include the development of piezoelectric/triboelectric nanogenerators and artificial photosynthesis. By tailoring nanoscale architectures, Professor Baik’s research bridges fundamental material properties with scalable device applications, driving innovations in renewable energy and photonics. He has co-authored approximately 209 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8113-6860 Ju-Hyuck Lee is an Associate Professor in the Department of Energy Science and Engineering at Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST). Dr. Lee received his Ph.D. in Nanoscience and Engineering from Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in 2016. Dr. Lee’s recent research focuses on designing and developing advanced functional materials—including engineered polymers, ceramic composites, and hybrid nanostructures—specifically tailored for high-efficiency piezoelectric/triboelectric nanogenerators (PENGs/TENGs) and intelligent self-powered sensors. His work bridges sustainable energy harvesting with intelligent sensing systems, developing autonomous devices capable of real-time environmental monitoring, healthcare diagnostics, and IoT applications without external power sources. He has co-authored approximately 60 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5383-5894 Hong-Joon Yoon is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electronic Engineering at Gachon University, Republic of Korea. He received his Ph.D degree from the School of Advanced Materials Science and Engineering, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU) in 2018. From 2018 to 2022, he served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Advanced Materials, Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU), and the Center for Bio-Integrated Electronics (CBIE), Northwestern University. Dr. Yoon’s current research interests include designing and developing piezoelectric, triboelectric nanogenerators for wearable and implantable applications, as well as bioresorbable materials-based 3D sensors and devices. His groundbreaking innovations in triboelectric/piezoelectric material fabrication and their applications in energy harvesting and bio-integrated systems have earned significant international recognition. He has co-authored approximately 55 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5668-3192 Ya Yang is a full professor at the Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China. He received his Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Science and Technology Beijing, China. He has developed various new hybridized and multi-effects coupled devices, introducing new principles of device design and coupled effects, as well as new approaches to improving the output performance of energy-related devices. His research interests primarily focus on hybridized and coupled devices for energy conversion, self-powered sensing, and exploring new physical effects. He has made significant progress in designing and integrating novel composite and hybrid nanogenerators, self-powered multifunctional sensors based on composite and hybrid nanogenerators, and flexible large-scale sensing arrays. He has co-authored approximately 300 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0168-2974

Photochemistry and Spectroscopy (PS) is delighted to launch a volume to honour Professor Giuseppe Zerbi, a visionary scientist whose groundbreaking contributions have profoundly shaped the fields of molecular spectroscopy and advanced materials. As early as the 1960s, Professor Zerbi was among the first to recognize the potential of molecular spectroscopy — particularly vibrational spectroscopy — not only as an analytical tool but also as a powerful method for investigating molecular structure and dynamics. Inspired by this insight, he established a truly interdisciplinary school where chemists, experimental and theoretical physicists, and engineers trained side by side, harnessing the synergy between experimentation and theoretical modeling. In the study of polymers, Professor Zerbi connected the molecular approach with solid-state physics methods, illustrating how symmetry principles can be used to understand phenomena that arise from the structural regularity of polymer crystals and the effects of chemical and conformational defects. This methodological framework supports his original contributions to understanding π-conjugated materials, which include conducting polymers, molecular systems, and graphene-based materials. He also pioneered the innovative use of instrumentation, consistently seeking new experimental setups and techniques to explore unique materials resulting from collaborations with leading groups in the design and synthesis of organic materials for molecular electronics and photonics. Those of us who had the privilege of working in the research group he led feel proud and deeply grateful for the scientific and human legacy he has left behind. It is with great joy that we celebrate Professor Zerbi through this volume. We are pleased to welcome the contributions of his colleagues and friends who, over the years, have come to appreciate not only his scientific excellence but also his open, warm, and engaged approach to collaboration and mentorship. All articles published in Photochemistry and Spectroscopy (PS) are Gold Open Access: immediately freely available to read, download, unlimited use, and reuse of articles. Article Processing Charges (APCs) are waived before December 2026. For the PS journal website, please visit: https://www.sciltp.com/journals/ps For the submission, please visit: https://ojs.sciltp.com/journals/ps/about/submissions For the News, please visit: https://www.sciltp.com/news/2505141015299232 Chiara Castiglioni Matteo Tommasini Rui Fausto Professor Giuseppe Zerbi was born in Saronno in 1933. He earned his degree in Chemistry from the University of Pavia in 1956. Soon after, he began his career as an assistant to Nobel laureate Giulio Natta at the Politecnico di Milano . Expanding his research experience internationally, he worked as a guest scientist at the University of Minnesota from 1959 to 1962. Upon returning to Italy, he joined the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) as a researcher, once again working at the Politecnico di Milano . During this period, he also spent a year at the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, D.C. In 1968, Zerbi was appointed director of the Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry at CNR in Milan, a position he held for seven years. In 1975, he transitioned fully into academia, accepting a chair in Molecular Spectroscopy at the University of Trieste. In 1980, he returned to the Politecnico di Milano , where he held a chair in Materials Science and continued his academic and research activities for the remainder of his career. Zerbi is recognized as a pioneering figure in Vibrational Spectroscopy. His approach — combining experimental research with empirical and quantum mechanical modelling — provided profound insights into the molecular and electronic structures of materials. His research primarily focused on the use of vibrational spectroscopy to study the structure, dynamics, and properties of organic materials, polymers, and organic electrically conducting polymers. Notably, polyacetylene (PA) was first synthesized by Natta et al. in 1958 but remained largely overlooked until 1975, when Japanese researchers demonstrated its electrical conductivity. This discovery ignited tremendous scientific and industrial interest, leading to debates between two schools of thought: one rooted in chemistry and the other in physics. At the Politecnico di Milano , Zerbi led a multidisciplinary research team comprising experts in chemistry, spectroscopy, physics, theoretical chemistry, and materials science. His molecular approach became a cornerstone of research in this field. Over his career, Zerbi published more than 500 papers in international journals and delivered numerous invited lectures at specialized conferences, industries, Gordon Conferences, and cultural institutions. He also served on the editorial boards of several scientific journals. His contributions were widely recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including: Coblenz Society Award (1964) OSA Lippincott Medal (1996) Ital Gas Prize (1986) Max Planck Society Prize (1993) Bonino Medal of the Italian Physico-Chemical Society (2022) He was also honoured as a Fellow of the American Physical Society (1981) and elected a member of the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei (2004). Beyond research, Zerbi was deeply involved in education and academic governance. He served for four years as an elected member of the Academic Senate of the Politecnico di Milano . He played a pivotal role in advanced training programs, serving as Director of the Specialization School in Polymer Science and of the Doctoral School at the Politecnico di Milano . For several years, he also designed and directed a course on cultural heritage conservation, where he lectured on the applications of infrared and Raman spectroscopy in art and archaeology. In recognition of his exceptional contributions, the Politecnico di Milano awarded him the title of Professor Emeritus in 2010. Academic Editor s Chiara Castiglioni is a full Professor of Materials Science and Technology in the Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta at Politecnico di Milano . She coordinates the Laboratory of Molecular Spectroscopy within the Laboratory of Organic Functional and Nanostructured Materials. From 2010 to 2019, she served as Coordinator of the PhD Program in Materials Engineering at Politecnico di Milano . She is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, a member of the International Advisory Board of the Congress on Synthetic Metals (ICSM), and a member of the Steering Committee of the European Congress on Molecular Spectroscopy (EUCMOS). She has been mentored by Giuseppe Zerbi and Mariangela Gussoni, and the collaboration with them had a profound impact on her research journey, dealing with the molecular spectroscopy and theoretical modeling of semi-conducting organic materials and polymers, polycyclic aromatic molecules, graphenes, and carbon nanotubes. Her recent interests concern the development and spectroscopy of graphene nanoparticles and doped conducting polymers and applications of the micro-spatially offset Raman spectroscopy (SORS) to cultural heritage. She has co-authored approximately 260 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. h -index is 44. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6945-9157 M atteo Tommasini is a full professor of Materials Science and Technology in the Department of Chemistry, Materials, and Chemical Engineering Giulio Natta at Politecnico di Milano . He coordinates the Vibrational Spectroscopy group (VISPEC) within the Società Italiana di Ottica e Fotonica (SIOF). He has investigated the spectroscopic behavior of materials since completing his thesis in Nuclear Engineering (1998) and earning his PhD in Materials Engineering (2002) under the guidance of Professors Chiara Castiglioni and Giuseppe Zerbi. His research focuses on characterizing molecular materials using electronic and vibrational spectroscopy techniques interpreted through quantum chemical methods. The investigated systems include nanostructured carbon, graphene molecules, organic functional materials, and polymers. He also examined drug detection methods for clinical applications that utilize Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). He has co-authored approximately 200 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed international journals. h -index: 44; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7917-426X Rui Fausto is full Professor and the Coordinator of the Computational Chemistry, Spectroscopy and Thermodynamics research group at the University of Coimbra (Portugal), and Professor and the ERA-Chair holder of the Spectroscopy@IKU: Manipulating and Characterizing Molecular. Architectures: From Isolated Molecules to Molecular Crystals at the Istanbul Kultur University (Türkiye). He is the President of the Steering Committee of EUCMOS, the Editor-in-Chief of Photochemistry and Spectroscopy and a member of the editorial boards of several scientific journals. Throughout his career, Rui Fausto has hold prominent administrative and scientific roles in the Academia, including the presidency of the Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, the presidency of the Coimbra Chemistry Research Centre, and the vice-presidency of the Scientific and Directive Boards of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology of the University of Coimbra. He was awarded twice the Excellence Prize in Sciences by the Portuguese Science Foundation. Rui Fausto has published or edited nearly 50 scientific books and is author of over 500 research articles mostly focusing the photochemistry of organic molecules and of matrix-isolated reactive intermediates. He is one of the pioneers in using vibrational excitation to induce chemical reactivity in organic molecules under matrix-isolation conditions, and has also an extensive and influential work on the photochemistry of reactive intermediates and quantum mechanical tunnelling. Besides science, his interests also extend to music, painting, and human rights advocacy. h -index: 58. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8264-6854