A policy case is made for a global project on artificial photosynthesis including its scientific justification, potential governance structure and funding mechanisms.

The pillars of Green Chemistry necessitate the development of new chemical methodologies and processes that can benefit chemical synthesis in terms of energy efficiency, conservation of resources, product selectivity, operational simplicity and, crucially, health, safety, and environmental impact. Implementation of green principles whenever possible can spur the growth of benign scientific technologies by considering environmental, economical, and societal sustainability in parallel. These principles seem especially important in the context of the manufacture of materials for sustainable energy and environmental applications. In this review, the production of energy conversion materials is taken as an exemplar, by examining the recent growth in the energy‐efficient synthesis of thermoelectric nanomaterials for use in devices for thermal energy harvesting. Specifically, “soft chemistry” techniques such as solution‐based, solvothermal, microwave‐assisted, and mechanochemical (ball‐milling) methods as viable and sustainable alternatives to processes performed at high temperature and/or pressure are focused. How some of these new approaches are also considered to thermoelectric materials fabrication can influence the properties and performance of the nanomaterials so‐produced and the prospects of developing such techniques further.

Three coordination polymers formed between CuI and bpds [bpds = bis(4-pyridyl)disulfide] have been prepared and fully characterised illustrating rare examples of solvent dependent topological isomerism in [(CuI)₂(bpds)]_∞; tetrahedral Cu₄I₄ cubane junctions are linked to give either necklace or tubular polymers.

This perspective highlights the state-of-the-art solid-state hydrogen storage and describes newly emerging routes towards meeting the practical demands required of a solid-state storage system. The article focuses both on the physical and chemical aspects of hydrogen storage. Common to both classes of storage material is the concept of nanostructure design to tailor kinetics and thermodynamics; whether this be control of functionalised porosity or crystalline growth on the nanoscale. In the area of chemical storage, different processing and nanostructuring techniques that have been employed to overcome the barriers of slow kinetics will be discussed in addition to new chemical systems that have emerged. The prospects of porous inorganic solids, coordination polymers (metal organic frameworks; MOFs) and other polymeric matrices for physical storage of hydrogen will be highlighted. Additionally the role of inorganic nanostructures as evolving materials “intermediate” between physical and chemical storage systems will be discussed and their place within the fine thermodynamic balance for optimum hydrogen uptake and release considered.