Articles tagged with Metals
Scientists have discovered a new method for producing pure hydrogen from renewable energy, a significant step towards a greener future. The breakthrough uses specialized techniques to understand how a catalyst works, enabling the creation of clean fuels like hydrogen.
Researchers at Brookhaven Lab used pulse radiolysis to study a key class of water-splitting catalysts, revealing the direct involvement of ligands in the reaction mechanism. The team discovered that a hydride group jumped onto the Cp* ligand, proving its active role in the process.
A large-scale study published in JAMA Neurology has demonstrated an association between trichloroethylene (TCE) exposure and the development of Parkinson's disease. Researchers compared health data from approximately 160,000 Navy and Marine veterans who served at Camp Lejeune or Camp Pendleton between 1975-1985, where TCE was used for ...
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new procedure, SCRIBE, that enables precise printing of microdevices into existing materials. The technique uses multiphoton lithography to selectively modify regions of the material's interior and manufacture custom small-scale optical devices.
A new study by Tulane University found that five out of 60 beverages tested contained elevated levels of toxic metals above federal drinking water standards. Mixed-fruit juices and plant-based milks were more likely to contain these elements, highlighting the importance of moderation in consumption.
Researchers analyzed 90 samples of raw pheasant dog food and found that 77% exceeded the maximum residue level for lead in animal feed. The mean lead concentration was 34 times higher than in human-consumed pheasant meat, posing health risks to dogs, especially puppies.
Researchers have developed a method to extract valuable metals from old mining waste using microbes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 30%. This process also captures carbon dioxide from the air and stores it in the tailings as new minerals.
Researchers from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics developed a strategy to inhibit lithium dendrite growth on modified 3D carbon film. Uniform bottom-up Li deposition behavior was achieved, enabling stable lithium stripping/plating cycling up to 4000 hours.
The study developed conductive hydrogels with high sensing performance, excellent stretchability, and tensile strength, thanks to the use of cationic cellulose nanofiber-dispersed liquid metal. The hydrogels demonstrated a very high sensing sensitivity and good repeatability and durability.
A team led by Associate Professor Jonathan Boreyko has discovered that ice can quench heat more effectively than water, especially at high temperatures. The study found that ice absorbs heat as it melts, reducing the amount of heat available for vapor bubbles to form.
Researchers from the University of Manchester have discovered that graphene displays a remarkably strong response to magnetic fields, reaching above 100% in standard permanent magnets. This is a record magnetoresistivity among all known materials, attributed to the presence of Dirac fermions in high-mobility graphene.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a simplified Birch reduction method that avoids liquid ammonia and can be carried out in ambient air, making it faster and more eco-friendly. The mechanochemical approach uses a ball mill to break through the surface layer on lithium metal, enabling the Birch reduction to proceed.
Researchers at Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) have identified seven types of zirconium metal clusters found in MOFs and fourteen potential new metal building blocks. This discovery provides a crucial clue to accelerate the development of carbon-neutral porous materials.
The institute aims to shorten the cycle required to design, manufacture, and test parts that can withstand space travel conditions. It will develop detailed computer models of additively manufactured parts using digital twins.
A team of researchers at KAUST has developed a biological method to produce size-controlled palladium nanoclusters anchored on the surface of Geobacter sulfurreducens, outperforming benchmark catalysts in water-splitting reactions. This eco-friendly approach could provide a sustainable solution for high-performance catalysis.
A team led by Xueyan Song at West Virginia University has created an oxide ceramic material that solves a longstanding efficiency problem plaguing thermoelectric generators. The breakthrough achieved record-high performance, opening up new research directions to further increase performance and enabling large-scale waste heat recovery.
A team from Chalmers University of Technology has developed a method to observe the formation of lithium microstructures in real-time using X-ray tomographic microscopy. This breakthrough aims to improve the safety and capacity of lithium metal batteries, which could replace traditional lithium-ion batteries in the future.
Researchers developed a new AI-driven method to detect and predict defects in 3D printed metals, enabling rapid improvements in additive manufacturing. The method uses X-ray imaging and machine learning to identify pore generation in real-time with near-perfect accuracy.
A Berkeley Lab-led team has designed a new type of solid electrolyte consisting of a mix of various metal elements, resulting in a more conductive and less dependent material. The new design could advance solid-state batteries with high energy density and superior safety, potentially overcoming long-standing challenges.
Researchers developed a wireless communication system that enables quantum computers to send and receive data using high-speed terahertz waves, reducing power consumption and error-causing heat. The system uses a transceiver chip and tiny mirrors to transmit data wirelessly, making it suitable for large-scale quantum systems.
A new study from Kyushu University examines the spillover effects of rising energy prices following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. The research finds that a 20% increase in energy prices has little impact on global prices and social surplus, with only a small effect on certain sectors.
A recent study by University at Buffalo researchers found toxic elements like arsenic, lead, mercury, and cadmium in many commercial baby foods. The study highlights the need for stricter regulations to protect infants from these harmful substances.
A team of researchers led by Boston College Assistant Professor Brian Zhou developed a new quantum sensor technique to image and understand the origin of photocurrent flow in Weyl semimetals. They found that the electrical current flows in a four-fold vortex pattern around where light is shined on the material.
A new digital twin of laser-directed energy deposition repair technology has been developed to improve industrial sustainability. The system automatically determines optimum forming conditions, reducing metal powder waste and increasing the effectiveness of the repair process.
Researchers at KAUST developed a high-efficiency metal-free battery using ammonium cations as charge carriers, outperforming existing analogues with a record operation voltage of 2.75 volts. This breakthrough provides potential for lowering battery costs and enabling large-scale applications.
A team of Clemson researchers has developed a new method to evaluate the efficiency of thermoelectric materials, called the figure-of-merit (zT), which considers temperature, electrical conductivity, and thermal conductivity. The new method uses Peltier cooling to measure zT with higher resolution and accuracy.
A UVA research team developed a real-time detection method for keyhole pore generation in laser powder bed fusion, achieving a 100% prediction rate. This approach expands additive manufacturing capabilities for aerospace and other industries relying on strong metal parts.
A new study finds higher arsenic and uranium concentrations in public drinking water linked to communities with higher proportions of Hispanic/Latino and American Indian residents. The findings highlight inequalities in public water contaminant exposures affecting regions with more residents from communities of color.
Researchers developed a new lidar technique using 3D flash lidar combined with super-resolution algorithm for hazard avoidance during landing. The technique improved the precision and safety of robotic vehicles on Mars, enabling them to navigate through challenging environments.
A systematic review of cutting friction behaviors in the metal cutting process reveals its significant impact on tool wear and surface quality. The study contributes to the development of high-quality cutting technology by understanding cutting friction mechanisms, simulation technologies, and anti-friction strategies.
Researchers at MIT discovered that mechanical stresses can prevent dendrites from forming in solid-state lithium batteries. The team developed a way to apply controlled pressure to divert the growth of dendrites, making lightweight batteries safer and more efficient.
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital identified eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) as a biocompatible liquid metal for biomedical applications. The team found that EGaIn can be formulated to break down in the body, providing a controllable end-of-life for devices like drug delivery systems and stents.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a new method for creating high-quality contacts between metal and semiconductor materials, enabling faster and more efficient computer chips. The technology uses crystalline aluminium and a sophisticated silicon-germanium layer system to overcome the problem of oxygen contamination.
A team of researchers from Japan and the USA have proposed an optimized design strategy for additive manufacturing using laser powder bed fusion. They simultaneously optimized laser hatching orientation and lattice density distribution to minimize residual stress in metal parts, reducing warpage by up to 39%.
The introduction of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC) into a poly(1,3-dioxolane)-based polymer electrolyte improves the performance of sodium metal batteries. FEC forms a passivation layer that inhibits side reactions between DOL and the Na metal, reducing interfacial resistance and improving battery overall performance.
Using transformation-induced plasticity (TRIP) and twinning-induced plasticity (TWIP), researchers design metastable alloys that can overcome the strength-ductility trade-off. The resulting materials are self-strengthening, making them suitable for applications such as earthquake construction, naval ships, and aerospace.
A research team from DTU has successfully designed and built a structure that concentrates light in a volume 12 times below the diffraction limit, paving the way for revolutionary new technologies. The breakthrough could lead to more sustainable chip architectures that use less energy.
Researchers from Northwestern University have synthesized open-channel superlattices with pores ranging from 10 to 1,000 nanometers in size. The new findings will enable the use of these colloidal crystals in molecular absorption and storage, separations, chemical sensing, catalysis, and optical applications.
A pooled data analysis found that workplace exposure to gases, fumes, and aromatic solvents is associated with a decline in lung capacity. Regular check-ups are recommended for workers in these environments to prevent respiratory illness.
Researchers use machine learning to generate beta-barrel proteins that can detect metal ions in water, a potential solution for identifying pollutants like lead in waterways. The 'deep-fake' protein is designed to be ideal for binding specific metals and creating conductance differences.
Researchers developed a technology to create nonspherical nanoparticles through ion implantation, enabling the growth of custom shapes and controlling their properties. This allows for the creation of metamaterials with improved optical absorption and energy conversion efficiency.
A new category of shape-memory materials made of ceramic, rather than metal, has been discovered by MIT researchers. The ceramic material can actuate without accumulating damage and withstand much higher temperatures than existing metals, making it suitable for applications such as actuators in jet engines.
A research group has developed an innovative methodology to quantify the electrochemical reversibility of a lithium metal anode in practical lithium battery systems. The method enables the precise quantification of active and inactive lithium, allowing for a better understanding of the degradation and failure of Li metal batteries.
A new study by the University of Bern has discovered 21 highly-active metal compounds that demonstrate good activity against various resistant fungal strains. These compounds were up to 30,000 times more active against fungi than human cells.
Rare-earth metal alloys create new types of color-changing and branching sparks. The study found that these alloys, such as ytterbium and neodymium, produce more colorful sparks than single-metal powders.
Researchers from Rice University and partners identified three promising candidate materials using a new framework that cross-references information in a database of known materials with theoretical calculations. The method could help explore strongly correlated topological matter, a large and largely uninvestigated landscape.
Researchers from the University of Groningen developed a new formula that classifies metals into a simple systematic manner. The formula, which describes the temperature-dependent resistivity response, reveals a surprising similarity among previously categorized 'strange' metals.
Researchers create a mathematical framework for probabilistic computing using magnetic tunnel junctions, which can infer potential answers from complex input. This technology could revolutionize data interpretation and pattern recognition.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have developed a novel, inexpensive catalyst that efficiently reduces carbon dioxide to formate under visible light. The new photocatalyst, KGF-9, boasts high performance and simplicity, with potential applications in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A new method to improve solid-state hydrogen fuel cell charging times has been developed by researchers from the University of Technology Sydney. The study used a semi-cylindrical coil heat exchanger, which significantly improved heat transfer performance and reduced charging time by 59%. This innovation has the potential to revolution...
Rice University researchers create a technique to make surfaces superhydrophobic by combining sanding with powder materials, resulting in water-repelling properties. The treatment also exhibits excellent anti-icing properties, slowing down freezing and reducing ice adhesion strength.
Inserting magnesium fluoride between perovskite and electron-transport layers reduces charge recombination and enhances performance, leading to a 50 millivolt increase in open-current voltage and a stabilized power conversion efficiency of 29.3 percent.
A Rutgers study found that women are more likely to die or require repeat surgery five years after abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. The researchers highlighted the need for increased inclusion of women in aortic device creation and trial enrollment, given differences in aortic anatomy between men and women.
A team of researchers from Tokyo University of Science has developed a novel multi-proton carrier complex that shows efficient proton conductivity even at high temperatures. The resulting starburst-type metal complex acts as a proton transmitter, making it 6 times more potent than individual imidazole molecules.
Researchers demonstrate a new platform for guiding compressed mid-infrared light waves in ultra-thin van der Waals crystals, enabling strong light-matter interactions and improved detection limits. The use of atomically-smooth gold crystals provides a low-loss environment for the propagation of phonon-polaritons.
Researchers have developed a new method to detect metal impurities in high-throughput screening, reducing false positive hits and saving time and resources. The technique uses acoustic mist ionization mass spectrometry to identify eight different metal contaminants, outperforming previous methods.
A team of WVU researchers has developed a biodegradable composite material using cotton fibers from recycled mattresses, with the goal of replacing single-use plastics. The new material will be created through 3D printing and can be used to produce various consumer products, such as beverage straws and disposable packaging.
Asteroid Psyche's varied surface suggests a dynamic history, with metallic eruptions, asteroid-shaking impacts, and a lost rocky mantle. The new maps hint at the asteroid's ancient core, which could be composed of silicate-rich material that has since disappeared.
A new platform mimics live cellular environment to guide stem cell differentiation outside the body. Researchers from Chung-Ang University developed a novel platform based on metal-organic frameworks, which offers advantages over conventional methods for in vitro stem cell differentiation.
Researchers at KAUST have developed a new class of oriented mixed-matrix metal-organic framework (MMMOF) membrane that selectively removes detrimental gases like H2S and CO2 from natural gas. The membrane demonstrates far better separation efficiency compared to conventional methods.