A review of designable deep eutectic solvents for green fabrication of advanced functional materials

Abstract

Deep Eutectic Solvents (DESs) have become emerging green solvents within sustainable development and environmental protection. Characterized by their low toxicity, cost-effectiveness, environmental sustainability, and versatility, DESs are increasingly utilized across diverse sectors. Notably, in materials synthesis, these solvents offer the advantages of biodegradability and recyclability, bypassing high-temperature and high-pressure synthesis conditions, thus reducing environmental hazards and energy consumption while enhancing material performance. Consequently, adopting DESs as reactive or nonreactive media in nanomaterial synthesis has attracted significant attention. However, there still needs to be a knowledge gap addressing the roles of DESs in developing and functionalizing advanced materials. This review regards these gaps by elucidating the unique chemical, thermal, and electrochemical properties of DESs. It then explores their recent applications in nanomaterial fabrication and discusses how DESs regulate material synthesis using three typical strategies, including chemical, thermal, and electrochemical processes. Additionally, it outlines the potential, key challenges, and limitations of using DESs in materials science. By providing a comprehensive analysis, this review aims to deepen understanding of DESs, broaden their use, and enhance their integration into materials synthesis practices.