Smart mechanochemistry—Charge transfer control for tailored solid-state reaction under minimum external energy

Abstract The present overview focuses on the process and its significance of charge transfer across the particulate boundary under mechanical stressing, by referring to examples of solid-state reactions in various systems. By utilizing charge transfer and related phenomena with and without additives, methods for smarter mechanochemical reaction are explored. Chemical interactions between organic species like amino acids and metals are understood under the concept of coordination, where charge transfer between the metal and the ligands play a principal role. Importance of forced symmetry breakage and intimate contact between dissimilar species under mechanical stressing is emphasized. Case studies are given on the role of amino-related organics added to the precursors to BaTiO3.