Research on catalysts that speed chemical reactions. Covers methane conversion, zeolite catalysis, and AI-guided catalyst design.
Researchers at Shinshu University developed a new photocatalyst design that enables efficient solar hydrogen production, with the ability to achieve near-perfect quantum efficiency. This breakthrough has significant implications for scalable and economically viable hydrogen production.
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science improve light-driven water-splitting to produce hydrogen by etching the reaction catalyst with plasma jets in solution. This technique enhances the properties of BiVO4 nanocrystals, resulting in better catalytic performance and improved water splitting.
Researchers at KAIST developed a novel approach to modulate local CO2 concentration in gas-diffusion electrode-based flow electrolyzers. This method improves the selectivity, conversion rate, and electrode stability, promoting C-C coupling reactions for multi-carbon molecule production.
Scientists from Japan and Italy use synchrotron X-ray total scattering and vibrational spectroscopies to determine the structural disorder and dimensions of a building unit in the heterogeneous Ziegler-Natta catalyst. The research sheds new light on the full elucidation of nanostructure in practical heterogeneous catalysts.
A hybrid sensor is being developed to detect diabetes from exhaled breath using nanoparticles loaded on 1D metal oxides. This innovative technology aims to provide a non-invasive, affordable, and rapid detection method for continuous diabetes monitoring, potentially reducing serious health problems and life-threatening side effects.
University of Delaware researchers have developed a technique to visualize the three-dimensional structure of materials in detail while maintaining context. This approach enables scientists to study specific particles on the material's surface and observe how they evolve over time under different conditions.
UC Berkeley researchers develop a new catalyst to add functional groups to the strongest carbon-hydrogen bonds, opening doors to novel molecule synthesis. The breakthrough could lead to rapid production of complex structures for drugs, plastics, and other chemicals.
Avium is developing a Dual Element Matrix Water Electrolyzer to generate hydrogen from water using electricity. The technology has the potential to make hydrogen production friendlier to the environment by reducing materials costs and increasing on-site generation.
Researchers discovered molybdenum telluride (MoTe2) nanoflakes exhibit high activity and selectivity for H2O2 production in acidic media. The nanosheets show improved performance over state-of-the-art Pt-Hg and Pd-Hg alloys, with potential applications in decentralized H2O2 production.
Scientists developed hollow structured photocatalysts with controllable spatial location of active metals, chemical compositions, and tunable shell thickness. AuPt@HMZS nanoreactors exhibited excellent catalytic activity in cinnamyl alcohol oxidation under visible light.
Researchers have discovered a new kind of rubber and catalyst that can be used to make flexible, repairable, sustainable objects. The new rubber material can be completely repaired and returned to its original strength in minutes, even at room temperature, with an amine catalyst.
Researchers at Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg have developed a method to significantly improve the properties of inexpensive nickel hydroxide electrodes during electrolysis. The treatment process increases the material's stability and activity, allowing it to outperform more expensive catalysts.
Researchers used AI to speed up the search for a key material in a new catalyst that converts carbon dioxide into ethylene with record efficiency. The resulting electrocatalyst has an 80% faradaic efficiency, a new record for this reaction, and shows promise for clean energy storage and carbon capture.
Japanese researchers have successfully developed an asymmetric iodoesterification catalyst, combining four chemical bonds to coordinate the formation of one catalyst. This breakthrough enables the industrial-scale production of optically active esters with high efficiency and precision.
Researchers have introduced a new concept for designing photocatalytic systems with reversed configurations, which significantly improve light absorption, charge separation, and surface catalysis. This design concept can be extended to other systems and reactions to promote solar-to-chemical conversion.
A theoretical study found that defects in graphene can increase charge transfer rates by an order of magnitude, selectively catalyzing electron transfer to certain reagents. This property has great potential for developing efficient electrochemical sensors and electrocatalysts.
A study by Dr. Yuqin Zou and colleagues reveals that hierarchically nanostructured NiO-Co3O4 electrodes with plentiful interface defects exhibit excellent HMF oxidation activity and stability. The researchers demonstrate the positive role of cation vacancies in catalyzing the electro-oxidation process.
Researchers have discovered an enzyme that converts low-cost sugars into hard-to-produce alpha-GalNAc sugars with therapeutic properties, particularly relevant for cancer vaccines. The enzyme, GH109, has anti-cancer qualities and can be optimized for large-scale production.
Scientists have discovered three essential roles for water in the catalytic conversion of methane to methanol, which facilitates high selectivity while blocking unwanted side reactions. The findings could speed the development of catalysts that make use of methane escaping from gas and oil wells.
The KIST research team developed a high-performance ceramic fuel cell that can operate at mid-to-low temperatures below 600°C using butane fuels. This technology enables the use of affordable fuels like butane in smaller, integrated systems for portable and mobile power sources.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a novel method to mix immiscible metals at the nanoscale, creating a range of bimetallic materials. This breakthrough enables the rapid synthesis of copper-based alloys with uniform structure and morphology.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have created a catalyst that enables the production of ammonia at just 50°C, using half the energy required by existing techniques. This breakthrough has significant implications for sustainable agricultural food production and reduces carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel use.
A new catalyst has been developed that can convert ethane into ethylene with improved efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. The discovery could have a significant economic impact on the plastics industry and energy extraction operations.
A KIST research team developed a catalyst that converts CO2 into chemicals using 20% less iridium than existing catalysts, showing at least 31% higher performance. The catalyst maintains high durability for hundreds of hours, reducing energy required during the process by more than half.
Chemists have developed a titanium catalyst that makes light usable for selective chemical reactions, producing highly selective products that can be used for antiviral drugs or luminescent dyes. The new catalyst uses green light to trigger reactions without destroying organic compounds.
Researchers have developed Fe <sub>1-x</sub> S-decorated mesoporous carbon spheres as a nanoreactor for lithium-sulfur battery cathodes, showing excellent polysulfide catalytic activity and cyclic stability. The design strategy provides a new protocol for building high-capacity and long-cycle rechargeable batteries.
A team of researchers developed a microwave heating strategy for synthesizing a transition metal chalcogenide nanostructure that efficiently catalyzes CO2 electroreduction to carbon monoxide. The catalyst achieved a record conversion current of 212 mA cm-2 and selectivity of ~95.5%.
A team of scientists has developed a new 2D catalyst that can improve the efficiency of water purification using hydrogen peroxide. The catalyst, composed of two co-catalysts on one nanosheet, was designed to increase the efficiency of the process without additional chemical treatment.
Researchers have developed a new type of oxygen reduction catalyst using nitrogen-doped porous carbon supported Fe single atom catalysts. These catalysts outperform commercial platinum-based catalysts in terms of ORR activities, stability, and methanol resistance.
The research team developed an intelligent microsystem employing machine learning and automation to reduce chemical waste by two orders of magnitude and catalytic discovery from weeks to hours. By screening catalysts and polymers faster, the method could lead to more efficient design and environmentally benign plastics.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science devise a new method to synthesize complex acyl fluorides from widely available acyl fluorides through a reversible reaction involving palladium. The technique uses an 'acyl-exchange reaction' to produce adequate amounts of complex acyl fluorides with high efficiency.
Researchers have created a new Pt-based catalyst using the 'composite energy trap' model, which effectively inhibits migration and agglomeration of loaded nanoparticles. The model catalyst retains high activity even after aging at 1000°C, offering promising results for sintering-resistant nano-catalysts.
Scientists have developed a catalyst that converts nitrate into nitrite without high temperatures or acidity, addressing water pollution concerns. The catalyst's mechanism mimics natural enzymes, offering a promising solution for detoxifying nitrate in mild environments.
Researchers created a platinum-titania catalyst that selectively breaks carbon-oxygen bonds in plant derivatives, producing biofuels. The strategy could be applied to design stable and active catalysts for industrial chemical production from biomass-derived molecules.
Researchers from the University of Münster have developed a novel approach to allyl functionalization using radical chemistry, generating π-allylpalladium complexes through visible light activation. The method has been shown to be highly selective and sustainable, with over 60 examples demonstrating its utility in various applications.
Researchers at Aalto University developed a new graphene-carbon nanotube catalyst to improve the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells and water electrolyzers. The catalyst's electrocatalytic activity can be altered depending on the material it is deposited on, offering a promising strategy for producing green technology.
Researchers found that core-shell configuration of a Ni-Au catalyst is lost during reaction and recovered afterwards. The Ni-Au alloy, not the shell, acts as the active surface, explaining high CO selectivity.
Researchers at UNIGE have developed a new technique for creating chains of molecular rings that do not use standard chemical interactions but instead contact with large molecular surfaces. This discovery helps answer an old contradiction in classical chemistry and provides new prospects for molecular cyclization.
Researchers at TIFR create metal-free catalyst that converts CO2 to methane with excellent productivity and selectivity. The catalyst is recyclable and shows significant increase in production rate after regeneration cycles.
Researchers at KAIST developed a 3D hierarchically porous nanostructured catalyst that efficiently converts CO2 to CO, overcoming mass transport limitations. The new catalyst shows high selectivity and mass activity, promising large-scale applications for green energy.
A new composite catalyst has been developed to enhance the performance of metal-air batteries (MABs), which are considered a strong candidate for next-generation electric vehicles. The catalyst, combining two types of materials, improves charge and discharge efficiency by synergistically enhancing the reaction rates.
Researchers at UNIST have developed a novel catalyst for electrochemical chlorine generation, overcoming the drawbacks of existing metal oxide-based catalysts. The new catalyst, Pt1/CNT, exhibits high efficiency and selectivity for chlorine ions, enabling more efficient and affordable production.
Chemists at the University of Miami have created an artificial enzyme with improved catalytic abilities. The new molecule is designed to tackle chemical reactions in industrial settings and could lead to the development of more efficient biofuel production, drug creation, and other applications.
Researchers have developed a new process to produce polyolefins with varying levels of branching, allowing for easier recycling and potentially reducing plastic waste. The method also enables the creation of plastics from natural oils and other substances, addressing environmental sustainability issues.
Researchers have developed a method to synthesize one-handed chiral rotaxanes, which can selectively bind to gold atoms and catalyze chemical reactions. This breakthrough enables the creation of single-handed chiral molecules, addressing potential issues with pharmaceutical drug efficacy.
A collaborative research team has developed a system that uses less expensive materials to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, comparable to the current most popular system but without precious metals. This advance holds promise for affordable renewable energy storage and could increase hydrogen production rates nearly tenfold.
Scientists propose a new method to produce thermally stable single-atom catalysts (SACs) with high metal loading. The method uses a simple and environmentally friendly approach, achieving kilogram-level production of commercial Fe2O3 supported Ru SACs.
The μMap technology uses a photocatalyst to identify spatial relationships on cell surfaces, enabling precise mapping of protein micro-environments. This breakthrough could impact proteomics, genomics, and neuroscience, with potential applications in fundamental biology.
Researchers developed oscillating catalyst technology that accelerates chemical reactions without side reactions, improving performance and cost-efficiency. This breakthrough has the potential to reduce waste by thousands of tons annually and transform the way chemicals are manufactured.
A new study by Dr. Martina Preiner and colleagues simulates the emergence of life in a lab environment using hydrogen gas and carbon dioxide as starting materials. The team found that these simple chemical reactions can produce the same building blocks used by early cells, providing insight into the origins of life.
Researchers at Waseda University developed a new method to convert carbon dioxide into methane at low temperatures. This process can improve carbon capture and utilization, enabling the production of valuable energy resources.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science develop a new method to produce hydrogen fuel efficiently using a catalyst derived from rust. The process, powered by light, can increase hydrogen production up to 25 times compared to existing methods.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology design and test a catalyst composed of single platinum atoms trapped in C12A7 crystals, demonstrating high stability and activity for selective hydrogenation of nitroarenes. The approach could be adapted to various transition metals and withstand harsher conditions.
The Rice University team has introduced an inexpensive organic synthesis technique that catalyzes the transfer of nitrogen atoms to olefins, making valuable pharmaceutical precursors. The process combines nitrogen and hydrogen atoms in triangular aziridine products, which are readily available to react with other agents.
Researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology developed catalytic nanoreactors that can simplify the manufacturing process of fine chemicals like drugs and medicines. The new catalysts allow for multistep cascade reactions with high yields and optical activity.
Researchers have developed an efficient method to convert biomass-derived fatty acids into alkanes under mild conditions. The process utilizes photocatalytic decarboxylation with light, generating alkyl radical intermediates and achieving high yields of Cn-1 alkanes.
Researchers have found a cost-effective method to produce catalysts for hydrogen engines, reducing material costs and increasing efficiency. Molybdenum sulfide is proposed as a suitable alternative to expensive platinum or molybdenum-based catalysts.
A team of scientists from Tokyo University of Science has developed a novel method to use protected boronic acids in the Suzuki-Miyaura reaction, reducing the number of steps and increasing atom economy. The new process enables the direct use of masked molecules, leading to faster and cheaper synthesis of complex molecules.
Researchers at KAIST have developed a long-lasting and economical catalyst that converts greenhouse gases into hydrogen gas and fuel. The catalyst, made from nickel, magnesium, and molybdenum, can work efficiently for over a month without degrading.
Researchers have developed a new method of depositing catalyst particles to tiny electrodes, providing a clean and easy-to-use approach for testing various catalyst materials. This innovative technique allows for the stable and reproducible application of different catalysts on liquid cell TEM chips.