# Shaking Up Photochemistry: The Future Frontiers of Mechanophotocatalysis

## TL;DR

This paper explores a new approach called mechanophotocatalysis that reduces the need for harmful solvents in light-driven chemical reactions.

## Contribution

The paper introduces mechanophotocatalysis as a novel method combining photocatalysis with mechanical mixing to minimize solvent use.

## Key findings

- Mechanophotocatalysis reduces reliance on organic solvents in photochemical reactions.
- The approach uses mechanical mixing to mediate light-driven transformations.
- The paper outlines future research directions to develop mechanophotocatalysis as a practical methodology.

## Abstract

Solution-state photocatalysis is fundamentally reliant
on the use
of organic solvents, which are associated with significant safety,
sustainability, and implementation challenges for conducting light-driven
reactions. Mechanophotocatalysis tantalizingly addresses these issues
by significantly reducing the use of reaction solvents, using mechanical
mixing to mediate light-driven transformations. In this Outlook, we
examine the motivations for combining photocatalysis with mechanochemistry,
assess how this nascent methodology has evolved, and speculate on
future research directions that should be explored in order for mechanophotocatalysis
to emerge as a useful and complementary methodology for conducting
photochemical reactions under solvent-minimized conditions.