Laser light controls molecular structures by triggering IR-induced isomerization, allowing for precise control over chemical reactions. The technique enables the measurement of molecular fingerprints and provides insight into fundamental dynamics governing chemistry.
Professor Marc Koper has been recognized for his pioneering research in electrochemistry and catalysis, crucial for developing sustainable energy technologies. His team's theoretical models explain copper's pivotal role as a catalyst in converting CO2 into hydrocarbons.
The study reveals that the first four layers of water molecules possess a well-defined orientational structure with alternating molecular tilt and twist angles. This new understanding has important implications for processes at aqueous interfaces, including electrochemical devices such as batteries.
Researchers investigate Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 nanoparticles using operando TEM, revealing dynamic structural changes during methanol synthesis. A 'frustrated phase transition' is identified, where the catalyst constantly transforms between states, driving its high activity and stability.
A new study developed an AI-driven strategy that accelerates catalyst discovery while revealing the underlying chemistry. The approach, referred to as 'gray-box,' provided meaningful insights into the effect of individual promoters and synergistic interactions between them.
The study reveals a novel hydrogen-bonding motif in the deprotonated dimer of phosphoric acid, which may be key to understanding proton transport in phosphoric acid-based systems. This finding provides insight into the molecular origin of phosphoric acid's extraordinary proton conductivity.
A team of researchers investigated electron-transfer-mediated decay (ETMD), a key process in radiation chemistry and biological damage. They found that atoms undergo pronounced roaming-like motion, reshaping molecular geometry and influencing decay timing.
Researchers at Fritz Haber Institute have made significant strides in understanding fuel-cell catalysts under industrially relevant conditions. They discovered that the rate-limiting steps and their degree of rate control change as a function of overpotential and pressure, challenging traditional views on multi-step reactions.
Researchers have developed a new microscope that uses nonlinear optics to visualize hBN, a 2D material previously impossible to study. The technique enables live imaging of the material's crystal orientation and reveals its high nonlinearity in vibrational resonance.
Researchers discovered that carbonates promote molecular ordering and facilitate charge transfer on gold electrodes, accelerating CO2-to-fuel conversion. The study provides new insights into the competition between CO2 electroreduction and hydrogen evolution, shedding light on strategies to enhance reaction efficiency and selectivity.
Researchers have successfully trapped and cooled a stable molecule, aluminum monofluoride (AlF), using deep ultraviolet light. The AlF molecule has an extremely strong chemical bond, making it chemically inert and easy to produce in the lab.
Researchers at the Fritz Haber Institute have made significant strides in understanding the complex interactions within multi-promoted ammonia synthesis catalysts. The study reveals that promoter phases and structural transformations are crucial for forming an active catalyst configuration.
The study discovered a critical transition point where the catalyst's activity shifts from being limited by excess charge to becoming highly active. Interfacial solvation plays a crucial role in this process, enabling the catalyst to interact with solvated ions from the liquid electrolyte.
Researchers have discovered a method to convert CO2 into valuable fuels using copper catalysts with pulsed electric potential treatments. The technique, applied to well-defined copper surfaces, results in the formation of specific crystalline facets and oxidation states that enhance the conversion of CO2 into hydrocarbons and alcohols.
Electrons penetrate into water layers increasing capacity, enabling more efficient computer simulations and promising new materials
A research team successfully observes single-molecule spectroscopy of hydrogen and deuterium molecules in a picocavity. They discover an isotope-dependent effect on vibrational modes, which cannot be captured by conventional methods.
Researchers developed Automatic Process Explorer (APE) to overcome biases in traditional kinetic Monte Carlo simulations, revealing nearly 3,000 processes on Palladium surfaces. APE's machine-learning integration enhances simulation accuracy, leading to more efficient catalysts for energy production and pollution control.
Physicists introduce a novel method to trace electric fields inside cavities using electro-optic Fabry-Pérot resonators, achieving sub-cycle timescale measurements. This study explores terahertz spectral range, where low-energy excitations dictate material properties.
AISelf-driving laboratories integrate AI with lab automation and robotics to plan experiments, enhance throughput, reproducibility and safety. Humans play a crucial role in creative tasks and will continue to control the loops, but AIs can optimize within given frameworks.
Research reveals that cubic Cu2O pre-catalysts do not transform into the expected metallic state during reaction, instead maintaining a mix of Cu metal, Cu oxide, and Cu hydroxide. The composition and shape of evolved catalysts depend on applied electric potential, chemical environment, and reaction duration.
Researchers have redefined the mechanisms of OER and Ir dissolution in highly dimensional amorphous hydrous iridium oxides. A novel surface H-terminated nanosheet model reveals elongated Ir-O bond lengths and thermodynamically driven Ir dissolution, challenging traditional understanding.
Researchers have discovered the atomic-level interaction between nickel and CO2, enabling more efficient conversion into carbon monoxide. The study provides detailed insights into the evolving structure of active sites during the CO2 reduction reaction.
Researchers have determined complex acid-base equilibria for sulfur dioxide in water and found unique behavior at the liquid-vapor interface under acidic conditions. This knowledge is crucial for developing strategies to reduce air pollution and its harmful effects on health and the environment.
Researchers have made substantial progress in understanding the dynamics of ion solvation at electrocatalyst surfaces. By tracking activation enthalpy and entropy with millisecond time resolution, they found that pH can impact activation entropy and induce non-Nernstian activity changes.
Researchers unveil critical intermediates and active sites for producing ethylene and ethanol from CO2, enabling more efficient and sustainable chemical production. The study's findings have significant implications for reducing CO2 emissions and promoting environmentally-friendly plastics and fuels.
A new catalyst design combines copper and zinc oxide nanocubes to favor the reduction of CO2 into ethanol. This approach enhances selectivity, efficiency, and reduces unwanted by-products.
Researchers develop novel method to probe solvation shells using resonant intermolecular Coulombic decay, revealing key findings on ion pair formation and electron binding energies. This breakthrough provides new insights into the complex nature of solvation shells, with implications for various scientific fields.
Scientists at the Fritz Haber Institute have achieved a 96% purity in the quantum state of one enantiomer of a chiral molecule, moving closer to perfect selectivity. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities for studying fundamental physics and chemistry effects involving chiral molecules.
Researchers achieved precise control over photoreactions at the atomic level using localized surface plasmons, enabling reversible switching of single organic molecules on a silicon surface. The team also demonstrated tunable optoelectric functions through atomic-level molecular modification.
Researchers have overcome limitations to visualize nanostructures using a new microscopy technique that combines light manipulation. This breakthrough enables deeper understanding of metasurfaces, paving the way for advancements in flat optics and novel light sources.
A new study from the Fritz Haber Institute reveals a way to control CO2 reduction by manipulating the catalyst's structure, addressing a major challenge in scaling up this technology. The developed process allows for precise control over the distribution of CO2 reduction products.
Research elucidates catalyst selectivity in electrocatalysis through a multi-scale kinetic model. The study demonstrates the importance of surface roughness on reaction mechanisms, providing insights for optimizing catalyst performance and long-term operation.
A new catalytic promoter has been discovered through a fast learning collaboration, accelerating the discovery process by weeks instead of years. The novel promoter formulation rivals those discovered through decades of research, offering insights into more efficient methodologies for creating multi-promoter catalysts.
Researchers studied oxygen's role on nickel catalysts, discovering three metastable oxygen species with different catalytic properties. The interplay between these species regulates the catalyst's surface states and function, leading to oscillations in reaction rates.
Scientists discovered special polaritons that can trap light in tiny spaces, about the size of a nanometer. Less symmetric crystals create better interactions, leading to new possibilities for controlling light.
The study focuses on minimizing costs associated with electrolyser fabrication and operation. It aims to enhance our understanding of structure-reactivity relationships for a rational electrocatalyst design. The research uses crystalline mixed thin film oxide anodes, exploring various Co:Fe ratios.
Researchers observed Ga-oxide islands embedded in the Cu surface and an ultrathin layer forming under CO2 hydrogenation reaction conditions. This finding exposes previously unconsidered catalytically active sites, providing insight into the reaction mechanism of methanol synthesis catalysts.
Scientists have developed an AI-guided workflow to efficiently discover novel thermal insulators. By approximating target properties and applying machine learning methods, they identified over 50 strongly thermally insulating materials, reducing the number of calculations needed by over two orders of magnitude.
Scientists from NOMAD Laboratory have elucidated fundamental microscopic mechanisms for tailoring materials for heat insulation. They found that temporary formation of defect structures can trigger lower thermal conductivities in strongly heat insulators.
Scientists have developed a way to control the microscopic origin of high-efficiency solar cells by applying a sudden electric field spike in the form of terahertz radiation. This precise control over atomic twist motions may contribute to dynamic protection mechanisms and novel non-equilibrium material properties.
Researchers developed a method to investigate surfactant arrangement at the liquid-vapor interface using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. They achieved Ångstrom-depth resolution and distinguished between hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends of perfluorinated pentanoic acid molecules.
Scientists used ultrafast electron microscopy to observe fleeting excited electrons and revealed that only one electron is excited directly in the process. This discovery sheds light on the mechanism of excitation-doubling and could lead to significant improvements in photovoltaic applications.
Researchers at Fritz Haber Institute develop a new technique to analyze negatively-charged chiral molecules using PECD spectroscopy. The method offers improved sensitivity and ability to distinguish between enantiomers, enabling the study of isolated molecules at low concentrations.
Researchers have developed a method to control the rotational states of chiral molecules, allowing for specific separation of enantiomers. By irradiating chiral molecules with UV radiation and microwaves, the team has gained more control over which 'hand' is in which state.
Active learning is used to identify promising organic molecules for efficient solar cells by iteratively deciding which data to learn from. This approach allows the algorithm to efficiently explore a vast molecular space and continuously improve its performance.
Researchers at the Fritz Haber Institute have developed a novel method for fast material manipulation using laser pulses, significantly reducing switching times. The technique involves shining light on a semi-metallic crystal to re-organize its internal electronic structure, changing conductivity and allowing for ultrafast control.
Researchers found that minute amounts of zinc oxide in intimate contact with copper significantly improve the methanol production process. The study reveals how the choice of support material affects the behavior of active catalyst components, leading to changes in reaction selectivity.