Grand challenges in analytical chemistry: towards more bright eyes for scientific research, social events and human health

Analytical chemistry is a measuring science to probe the compositions and structures of matters, study the chemical constituents, contents, distribution, and interaction of matters, and reveal the space-time rules of matter changes. As the eyes of fundamental scientific research and social activities relative to human security and health, the goals of analytical chemistry are to design sensitive, selective and specific detection strategies, measuring principles and analytical methodologies, and develop modern detection devices and instruments as well as relative softwares or control systems. It has played vital roles in discipline frontiers and social events, and provided important supports for the development of life science, material science, energy science, environment science, and space science. Its significance has been shown in different fields such as new drug development, disease diagnosis and early warning, life process study, food and environment safety, quality control of products, economic, and trade, space exploration, forensic medicine, and even anti-terrorist, etc. Currently analytical chemistry has integrated multidisciplinary research achievements to form itself theory systems and new frontier research fields on fundamental levels, while the development of other related disciplines and the progress of human society constantly challenge analytical chemistry to higher needs, which promotes the continuous development of analytical methodologies and detection instruments. Different from other chemical disciplines, the progress of analytical chemistry mainly benefits from the achievements in other frontier fields. For example, the separation and analysis in micro/nano-scale depend on the early development and successful application of nanotechnology and microfluidics, which are directly related to and benefits from the frontier study of life science, such as genomics and proteomics. The limit of mass and size in space exploration and in vivo analysis is also a catalyst for micro/nano-scaled analytical methodologies and detection devices. Another example is the development of instrumental analysis, which first benefits from the achievements in physics such as electromagnetics, optics, mechanics and electrics, material science, and computer, meanwhile, the needs in life science, environment science, and space science hasten new methodologies and detection technologies. Thus, analytical chemistry is established in multidisciplinary development and has the distinct features and outstanding sense of the times. This article focuses on the development and challenges of instrumental analysis including chromatography and micro/nanofluidic analysis, spectroscopic analysis, electrochemical analysis, mass spectral analysis, and imaging detection. Their future perspectives and needs are also discussed.