![halogen bonding for selective electrochemical separation path to sustainable chemical processing demonstrated](https://utterbuzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/halogen-bonding-for-selective-electrochemical-separation-path-to-sustainable-chemical-processing-demonstrated-640x459.png)
A team has reported the first demonstration of selective electrochemical separation driven by halogen bonding. This was achieved by engineering a polymer that modulates the charge density on a halogen atom when electricity is applied. The polymer then attracts only certain targets — such as halides, oxyanions, and even organic molecules — from organic solutions, a feature that has important implications for pharmaceuticals and chemical synthesis processes.