Organic Synthesis
Chemical reactions proceed more quickly when you heat them. The Arrhenius equation states that for every ten degrees increase in temperature, there is a doubling of the reaction rate. Hence the use of oil baths, heating mantles and reflux condensers in any laboratory involved in chemical synthesis. But in these instances, you are always limited by the boiling point of the solvent you are using, achieving the temperature you need can be slow, and it is difficult to control the temperature and the heating time accurately. Developing ways of improving chemical synthesis is of great benefit.