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“The magic of making electricity from metals and air” The vexing carbonate has achieved it!

Researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology have developed a high-energy, high-efficiency all-solid-state sodium-air battery that can reversibly utilize sodium and air without additional equipment. The breakthrough overcomes the challenge of carbonate formation, increasing energy density and reducing voltage gap.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 28, 2024

University of Bath scientists develop new battery-free lactic acid sensor

The researchers created a chemosensor that detects lactic acid levels in saliva without the need for an electrical power source, opening up possibilities for easy use in remote locations. The sensor uses graphene foam technology to measure changes in quantum capacitance when lactate binds, allowing for lower-cost and more reliable trac...

SourceUniversity of Bath·JournalACS Sensors·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 22, 2024

Taking electroretinography to the next level with a soft multi-electrode system

A new soft multi-electrode system for electroretinography has been developed to overcome the limitations of traditional devices. The system uses a commercially available soft disposable contact lens with gold mesh electrodes, allowing for simultaneous measurement of electrical potentials from different regions of the retina. This innov...

SourceWaseda University·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 13, 2024

Getting dirty to clean up the chemical industry’s environmental impact

Researchers discovered that adding water-resistant materials to an electrode can dramatically speed up chemical reactions in water, known as 'fouling'. This process can increase reaction rates up to six times faster than traditional methods. By leveraging this method, the chemical industry may be able to reduce its reliance on fossil f...

SourceCurtin University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 8, 2024

DGIST develops three-dimensional retinal electrodes in a convex braille shape to partially restore sight in patients with blindness

Researchers at DGIST have developed three-dimensional retinal electrodes with a convex braille shape, which can stimulate remaining normal nerve cells in the retina. This technology aims to partially restore vision to patients with blindness by minimizing distance to cells and reducing current required for stimulation.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalAdvanced Materials Technologies·DateMay 6, 2024

Rubber-like stretchable energy storage device fabricated with laser precision

Researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology have fabricated a small-scale energy storage device that can stretch, twist, fold, and wrinkle. The device features fine patterning of liquid metal electrodes using laser ablation, allowing it to maintain its energy storage performance under repeated mechanical deformations.

SourcePohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH)·Journalnpj Flexible Electronics·DateApr 24, 2024

Utilizing palladium for addressing contact issues of buried oxide thin film transistors

Researchers developed a novel hydrogen injection method using palladium to address contact issues of buried oxide thin film transistors. This method reduces contact resistance by two orders of magnitude and increases charge carrier mobility, enabling the application of amorphous oxide semiconductors in next-generation storage devices.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2024

Development of soft and highly durable brain electrodes that stick to the brain to treat brain diseases

Researchers at DGIST have created highly durable brain electrodes made of soft and elastic materials, sticking well to the curved brain surface. These electrodes can maintain stable performance over long-term use, enabling various applications in brain–machine interfaces and electronic medical devices.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalSensors and Actuators B Chemical·DateMar 28, 2024

Advancing towards sustainability: turning carbon dioxide and water into acetylene

Researchers at Doshisha University have developed a new method to electrochemically synthesize acetylene from carbon dioxide and water, using high-temperature molten salts and metal carbides. This approach offers advantages over conventional synthesis pathways, including the direct use of CO2 as feedstock and reusable electrodes.

SourceDoshisha University·JournalACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 27, 2024

Supercharging fuel cells with caffeine

Researchers at Chiba University have discovered that adding caffeine to certain platinum electrodes can increase the activity of the oxygen reduction reaction. This discovery has the potential to reduce platinum requirements in fuel cells, making them more affordable and efficient.

SourceChiba University·JournalCommunications Chemistry·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2024

New strategy boosts direct electrolysis of dilute carbon dioxide

A new strategy for direct electrolysis of dilute CO2 has been proposed, using a molecular enhancement method to improve performance. The approach involves modifying CoPc electrodes with poly(4-vinylpyridine) to create a reaction microenvironment that effectively captures and converts CO2 from flue gas.

SourceDalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences·JournalACS Energy Letters·TypeCommentary/editorial·DateMar 5, 2024

Releasing “brakes” in the brain

A team of researchers used deep brain stimulation to localize disrupted neural pathways in patients with Parkinson's disease, dystonia, OCD, and Tourette's syndrome. The study identified specific brain circuits associated with each disorder, revealing overlapping malfunctions that suggest a complex network of brain dysfunctions.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalNature Neuroscience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 22, 2024

Advancing precision diagnostics at the patient point-of-care

A new nanocomposite porous antifouling coating has been developed, enabling higher numbers of biomarker-detecting probes and up to 17-fold higher sensitivities than previous best-in-class sensors. This breakthrough broadens the diagnostic horizon for multiplexed electrochemical sensors across multiple diseases.

SourceWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 8, 2024

Transforming clinical recording of deep brain activity with a new take on sensor manufacturing

A new approach to sensor manufacturing allows for minimally-invasive, high-resolution recording of deep brain activity, enabling the analysis of specific brain signals. The technology has the potential to enhance physicians' ability to acquire and understand brain signals at a higher resolution.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 17, 2024

Transparent brain implant can read deep neural activity from the surface

A new transparent brain implant has been developed to read deep neural activity from the surface, providing a step closer to building a minimally invasive brain-computer interface. The technology enables high-resolution data about deep neural activity by using recordings from the brain surface and correlating them with calcium spikes i...

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJan 11, 2024

An electrophysiological breakthrough for diabetic brain studies

Researchers developed a novel low-invasive neural recording technique for diabetic mice, overcoming tissue damage and enabling stable recordings for an entire month. This breakthrough technology has significant potential for broader applications, including drug discovery and brain-machine interface development.

SourceToyohashi University of Technology (TUT)·JournalBiosensors and Bioelectronics·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 3, 2024

Heart vest could help predict sudden cardiac death risk

A new study by UCL researchers suggests that a vest mapping the heart's electrical activity could help identify people at high risk of sudden cardiac death. The electrocardiographic imaging (ECGI) vest combines signals with MRI images to generate 3D models, potentially predicting risk factors for life-threatening heart rhythms.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalJournal of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateDec 18, 2023

Researchers obtain promising results against capacity loss in vanadium batteries

A computational study conducted by Brazilian researchers found that current density and active species concentration are the main variables affecting capacity loss. The approach successfully mitigated cross-contamination, providing an optimal flow between electrolyte tanks under different operating conditions.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·DateNov 22, 2023

GIST researchers improve water splitting reaction for green hydrogen gas production

Researchers from GIST have developed a new electrode using Schottky junctions to overcome the conductance limit of active catalysts, achieving high-performance water splitting and hydrogen evolution reactions. The electrode demonstrated remarkable current density and durability during continuous operation for 10 days.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalApplied Catalysis B Environment and Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 15, 2023

Template for success: Shaping hard carbon electrodes for next-generation batteries

Researchers at Tokyo University of Science developed nanostructured hard carbon electrodes using inorganic zinc-based compounds, which deliver unprecedented performance and significantly increase the capacity of sodium- and potassium-ion batteries. The new electrodes improve energy density by 1.6 times compared to existing technologies.

SourceTokyo University of Science·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 13, 2023

The little things matter: Chemists develop new sensor for microvolume pH detection

Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University have developed a sensitive and robust pH sensor that can detect pH variation in just a few microliters of samples. The new sensor uses novel materials and methods to overcome the current method's limitations, which are not sensitive enough or fragile for commercial-scale use.

SourceXi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University·JournalMicrochimica Acta·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 3, 2023

Screen printed electrodes for measuring endothelial barrier integrity

Scientists have developed a novel organ-on-a-chip device with customizable screen-printed electrodes for measuring endothelial barrier integrity. The device overcomes traditional electrode fabrication challenges, providing a reliable and accurate method for studying the crucial roles of endothelial barriers in healthy and disease states.

SourceTerasaki Institute for Biomedical Innovation·JournalBiomedical Microdevices·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 25, 2023

An electrical switch to control chemical reactions

A UNIGE team has developed an electrical device that can activate and accelerate chemical reactions using a simple electric field. The device, called an electrochemical microfluidic reactor, enables chemists to control chemical reactions with ease, reducing the need for complex strategies and resources.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalScience Advances·TypeNews article·DateOct 12, 2023

Novel battery technology with negligible voltage decay developed at CityU, a world’s first

A breakthrough in battery technology has been achieved by City University of Hong Kong, overcoming the persistent challenge of voltage decay in lithium-ion batteries. The new development stabilises a unique honeycomb-like structure within the cathode material, resulting in longer-lasting and more efficient batteries.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 28, 2023

Diamond materials as solar-powered electrodes - spectroscopy shows what's important

Researchers have found that diamond materials can release electrons in water and trigger chemical reactions when excited by light. The team used X-ray spectroscopy to precisely track the processes taking place on the surface of diamond materials, revealing that they are well-suited for use in aqueous solutions.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalSmall Methods·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 21, 2023

Structure formation during freeze casting filmed in 3D and real time

Researchers used X-ray tomoscopy to study freeze casting processes, observing the formation of complex, hierarchically structured materials with large surface areas. The technique provided high spatial and temporal resolution, revealing the dynamics of directional ice crystal growth and the formation of organic-looking structures.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 6, 2023

New study finds ways to suppress lithium plating in automotive batteries for faster charging electric vehicles

A new study led by Dr. Xuekun Lu has found a way to prevent lithium plating in electric vehicle batteries, which could lead to faster charging times and improve the battery's energy density. The research also reveals that refining the microstructure of the graphite electrode can minimize the risk of lithium plating.

SourceQueen Mary University of London·JournalNature Communications·DateAug 24, 2023