The Kiel research team has developed a process called nanoscale-sculpturing, which allows metals like aluminium and titanium to be permanently joined with almost any surface. This enables the creation of water-repellent surfaces and improves biocompatibility for medical implants.
A simple chemical method has been developed to extract gold from old mobile phones, potentially recovering up to 300 tonnes of gold per year. The new process uses a mild acid and an oily liquid containing a specific compound to selectively extract gold from other metals, eliminating the need for toxic chemicals.
Max Frenzel estimates that the annual global production of gallium and germanium could be at least 7 times higher than it is currently. Gallium production could reach 2,900 tonnes per year, while current production is 440 tonnes, and germanium production could reach 1,200 tonnes.
Researchers at MIT have discovered a new method for producing metal antimony using electricity, which could lead to more efficient and environmentally friendly metal production systems. The process uses electrolysis to separate the metal from a compound, reducing pollution and energy costs.
Washington State University researchers create a novel nanomaterial, an aerogel, to reduce the amount of precious metals required in fuel cells. This innovation speeds up production time and makes large-scale production more viable.
Researchers are using naturally occurring fungi to extract valuable materials from waste batteries, including cobalt and lithium. The process uses oxalic acid and citric acid generated by the fungi to leach out the metals, with results showing up to 85% lithium and 48% cobalt extraction.
Researchers at RMIT University have developed self-propelling liquid metals, a critical step towards flexible and dynamically reconfigurable soft circuit systems. The breakthrough enables liquid metal to move autonomously in three dimensions, opening the door to new applications in smart engineering solutions and biomedicine.
Scientists have developed a method to predict which alloys can form bulk metallic glasses, overcoming the complex process of synthesizing these alloys. The new approach identifies hundreds of new candidates for metallic glass made from simple two-element alloys, opening up possibilities for novel strong and conductive materials.
Research suggests that cigarette butts can leach metal contaminants into the marine environment and potentially harm local species. The study found varying levels of metals in cigarette butts at nine locations along the Persian Gulf, with significant changes not detected between assessments.
A 94-million-year-old climate event led to a decline in essential trace metals, affecting ocean life and potentially causing larger dead zones. This ancient shift may hold insights into future climate change scenarios.
Researchers found that Lake Michigan painted and snapping turtles carry all eight metals, with concentrations correlating with soil assessments in the wetlands. The turtles' long lifespan and position in the food chain make them useful indicators of wetland pollution, potentially posing a health risk to humans who consume them.
A national assessment of metal contamination in bats reveals high levels of metals such as lead, copper, and cadmium that can cause toxic effects in bat populations. Around 21% of sampled bats contained residues of at least one metal above toxic thresholds, indicating a significant proportion may be affected by metal exposure.
New study finds evidence of Asian metal traded on Alaska's northwest coast to prehistoric North America prior to European contact. The discovery sheds light on the ancient Inuit people's access to metals and technological innovation in the Arctic region.
Researchers at JMU successfully stabilize beryllium in its elemental state, marking a significant step towards developing alternatives to toxic heavy metals. This achievement opens up new possibilities for catalyzing challenging chemical reactions with abundant main group elements.
Scientists have identified a novel metal scavenger, staphylopine, produced by the pathogenic bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. This discovery could lead to the development of new antibiotics targeting the bacteria's addiction to metals.
A new study found that nickel and vanadium, emitted by burning fuel oil, may be damaging to children's developing lungs. The research, presented at the ATS 2016 International Conference, analyzed data from 1,911 elementary school-aged children in Southern California communities.
Researchers at NREL discovered a way to tune the Schottky barrier in 2D semiconductors using certain metals as electrodes. This adjustment reduces power losses and improves device performance by suppressing metal-induced gap states and Fermi level pinning effects.
An international team of scientists has proven that technetium carbide cannot be synthesized, contrary to previous claims. The researchers used computational models to calculate the stability of various transition metal carbides and found that only low-carbon technetium compounds can exist.
Scientists at Michigan State University have discovered a microbial protein fiber that transports charges at high speeds, exceeding current manmade nanotechnologies. The fibers are biodegradable, biocompatible, and potentially cheaper to produce, making them suitable for medical sensors and electronic devices.
Researchers have found that bacteria play a crucial role in the dispersion and re-concentration of platinum group elements in surface environments. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, suggests that bacterial processes can reform nuggets of platinum at the surface, shedding new light on the formation of these valuable metals.
Tomsk Polytechnic University scientists create composite coating based on diamond and cubic boron nitride to improve durability and protect against high temperatures. The coating integrates the properties of diamond and nitride coatings, making it applicable to most metals.
UC Riverside researchers have successfully transmitted electrical signals through insulators in a sandwich-like structure, potentially revolutionizing electronic device efficiency. The breakthrough exploits the 'spin' of electrons rather than their charge, enabling new generations of spintronic devices.
A team led by Prof. Tae-Woo Lee at POSTECH has fabricated highly-efficient solution-processed fluorescence organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) using pure-organic thermally-activated delayed-fluorescence (TADF) emitters. This breakthrough reduces the need for precious metals, lowering production costs.
A team of NJIT students, backed by the EPA, is designing a low-cost water filter to combat chronic kidney disease in rural Sri Lanka. The filter aims to absorb heavy metals and disease-causing pathogens using locally available materials.
A gold sensor developed by a Nebraska researcher uses DNA to detect gold and other metals in water samples. The sensor has potential applications for monitoring household water supplies for lead, mercury, arsenic, and other contaminants.
Researchers found that by-product metals and minerals are indeed more price volatile than commodity materials, with a 50% increase in volatility over the past 50 years. However, monthly price data showed mixed evidence, which may be attributed to smaller transaction volumes and unchanged published prices for several months at a time.
The four empty lots in Chicago's South Side have poor-quality soils with high alkaline levels and excess chemicals, including lead and heavy metals. Soil testing is crucial to determine the extent of contamination and guide remediation efforts.
Researchers at Carnegie Institution explore the rules behind metallic glasses, materials that are stronger and more resistant than traditional metals. By studying alloys under extreme pressures, they found a consistent numeric relationship between structure and properties, which could aid further discovery and synthesis.
Researchers at Penn State have developed a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way to extract rare-earth elements from coal byproducts. This breakthrough could provide an economic boon for companies and reduce the US's dependence on importing these metals, which are essential for producing high-tech equipment.
A Dartmouth College study reveals that climate change will cause a shift from coniferous to deciduous trees in New England's forests, affecting nutrient cycling and metal storage. This change could lead to decreased accumulation and retention of major metals, with potential impacts on forest ecosystems.
Dr. Paul Leu's CAREER award will support research on flexible metals for thin, efficient solar cells. His work aims to develop new hierarchical structures for adaptive transparent conductors and solar cells.
A new hybrid filter membrane has been developed to remove heavy metals from water, including industrially relevant elements like lead and mercury. The membrane's efficiency is high, with over 99% of toxic substances bound in just a single pass.
A recent study by high school student Gleb Rukhovich reveals that autocatalysts in modern cars can break down, releasing toxic heavy metals into the environment. The study found that contact with water facilitates the aggregation of platinum and palladium salts into clusters, which exhibit higher toxicity than simple salts.
A team of Northwestern University engineers has created a new way to print three-dimensional metallic objects using rust and metal powders, expanding the types of metals, alloys, and architectures that can be additively manufactured. The method uses liquid inks and common furnaces, resulting in a cheaper, faster, and more uniform process.
Researchers at NREL have developed a new approach to producing hydrogen using solar energy, which uses molecular catalysts instead of precious metals. The new method showed comparable activity to metal-based catalysts and has the potential to be scalable and cost-effective.
UCLA researchers have developed a super-strong yet light structural metal by infusing magnesium with dense silicon carbide nanoparticles, achieving record levels of specific strength and stiffness-to-weight ratio. The new metal has potential applications in airplanes, cars, mobile electronics, and biomedical devices.
Researchers at NREL have developed a new photoelectrochemical process for producing hydrogen that uses molecular catalysts instead of precious metals. The new method is more efficient and cost-effective, making it a promising solution for scalable hydrogen production.
Researchers at Penn State have discovered a new material that is both highly transparent and electrically conductive, potentially replacing indium tin oxide in display technology. The new material, a correlated metal, has a structure that allows it to behave like a liquid, resulting in high optical transparency and conductivity.
Rice University scientists have developed a metal-free process to synthesize dozens of organocatalysts, which promise to speed up the making of novel chemicals, including drugs. The new tools eliminate the need for transition metals and simplify chemical processes.
Researchers at North Carolina State University and Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a technique to make titanium stronger while maintaining its ductility. The new material combines ultrafine-grained strength with coarse-grain ductility, enabling the creation of strong yet flexible materials for vehicle manufacturing.
Researchers at the University of York have developed a self-assembling gel that can selectively extract precious metals like silver and gold from electronic waste. The gel is then converted into conducting nanoparticles, enhancing its electrical conductance and making it suitable for various high-tech applications.
The study found that mercury affects the bright yellow hues on the great tit's breast, making males less attractive to females. Copper increases the size of the bird's 'black tie', while chrome reduces its area, impacting dominance and aggression.
A promising new iron-based alloy has been discovered that can be used in next-generation cooling technologies, offering a more efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional cooling methods. The alloy's use of magnetic fields to change refrigerant temperature holds potential for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a new welding technique that produces 50% stronger bonds while consuming 80% less energy. The process uses high-voltage pulses to vaporize metal foils and directly bond atoms, creating seamless welds without weakened seams.
New study predicts metal combinations for glass-forming ability, enabling mass production of strong and flexible alloys. The development paves the way for applications in electronics, space exploration, and energy storage.
A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has discovered a highly efficient catalyst that can produce hydrogen using common elements like phosphorus and sulfur. The new catalyst, which is nearly as efficient as platinum, could make a significant impact on the transition to a hydrogen economy.
Researchers found malformed fossil plankton with high concentrations of toxic metals, linked to ocean anoxia and potential extinction causes. The study suggests that metal poisoning may have contributed to some world's largest extinction events.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to embed metallic nanoparticles into laser-induced graphene, creating a useful catalyst for fuel cells and other applications. The material, called metal oxide-laser induced graphene (MO-LIG), has shown promise as a potential substitute for expensive metals like platinum.
Researchers at OIST have developed a way to prevent noble metal nanoparticles from compacting by encapsulating them individually in a porous shell made of a metal oxide. This technique improves the rate of electrochemical reactions in methanol fuel cells, leading to more efficient fuel cell performance.
A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology has found associations between lower blood manganese levels and higher blood mercury levels with a greater risk of glaucoma diagnosis. The research suggests that trace metals may play a role in the pathogenesis of glaucoma, and future investigations could explore potential neuroprotective effects.
Researchers at the University of Leeds have successfully altered quantum interactions to generate magnetism in non-magnetic metals by removing electrons using a carbon molecule interface. This breakthrough enables the use of abundant and harmless elements like carbon and copper, crucial for future technologies such as quantum computers.
Berkeley Lab researchers have generated and detected plasmons with one of the strongest confinement factors ever, confining photon energy to a spatial dimension smaller than its wavelength. This breakthrough enables novel plasmonic devices with extraordinary sub-wavelength confinement.
Scientists at Purdue University have made a groundbreaking discovery by finding that metal can be deformed into folds while being cut, contrary to long-held assumptions. The team found that suppressing this folding behavior can reduce cutting force by up to 50%, leading to faster and more efficient machining with improved surface quality.
Researchers developed a new material that mimics the structure of coral, a natural adsorbent of heavy metals, and found it could remove around 2.5 times more mercury from water than traditional aluminium oxide nanoparticles. The synthetic coral-like material has potential applications in environmental remediation.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new approach to structuring catalysts, using nano cage structures to achieve more potent chemical reactions with less material. The discovery offers a pathway for industries to wean themselves off platinum, a scarce and expensive metal.
Research from the University of Washington finds that seafloor hot springs provide a significant source of iron to the world's oceans. The dissolved metals are carried by deep-sea currents for decades, supporting phytoplankton growth and impacting global ocean chemistry.
Scientists at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research discovered the fundamental parameters of Mott conduction, a key effect in magnetic memories and technologies. They found that traditional measurements underestimated the spin-asymmetry in electron scattering, which is responsible for magnetic sensor operation.
Researchers discovered a single material, samarium hexaboride (SmB6), that displays dual metal-insulator properties, violating conventional wisdom. The material's behavior is attributed to the existence of a potential third phase, neither insulator nor conductor.
A new study found that certain pollutants penetrate further into the feto-maternal system, causing harm to fetuses. The research analyzed pollutant levels in cord blood and maternal tissues, revealing heavy metals like mercury and lead easily pass through the placental barrier.
A new study from Arizona State University has revealed the causes of stress-corrosion cracking in metal alloys, leading to a deeper understanding of how to design crack-resistant materials. The research team's findings suggest that certain metals can fracture at high speeds, threatening the mechanical integrity of critical infrastructure.