Research on catalysts that speed chemical reactions. Covers methane conversion, zeolite catalysis, and AI-guided catalyst design.
Researchers at Georgia State University have made a groundbreaking discovery in catalytic reactions, revealing that nanoconfinement can actually speed up chemical reactions. This finding has major implications for the engineering of new, more energy-efficient catalysts that could save billions of barrels of gasoline every year.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have developed a new approach to artificial photosynthesis that improves the efficiency of capturing light and splitting water molecules to produce hydrogen fuel. The system uses molecular tethers to attach chromophores to catalysts, allowing for stable and efficient electron transfer and ge...
Researchers have found a way to produce corundum nanoparticles using simple mechanochemistry in a ball mill, which could lead to more robust and easier-to-manufacture automotive catalysts and ceramics. The production method involves grinding lumps of boehmite in a ball mill for 3 hours and then heating them briefly.
Northwestern University chemists create molecules with specific chemical products and arrangements of atoms, suitable for drug development. The catalyst can be reused for additional reactions, producing high yields.
The study investigates the effect of different stearates on in-situ combustion process, revealing copper stearate as a highly effective catalyst. Copper stearate significantly shifted onset and peak temperatures into lower temperatures, showcasing its potential in catalyzing crude oil combustion.
Researchers have developed a new strategy to enhance catalytic activity using tungsten suboxide as a single-atom catalyst, significantly improving hydrogen evolution reaction performance. The study found that the support effect of tungsten suboxide enhances platinum's mass activity for hydrogen evolution by up to 16.3 times.
Researchers at Lehigh University have discovered the mechanism behind a crucial catalyst that reduces harmful industrial emissions. The study found that tungsten oxide changes the structure of vanadium oxide, increasing its activity and reducing undesirable reaction products.
Researchers have developed a catalyst to upcycle polyethylene plastic waste into high-quality liquid products like motor oils and waxes. The new catalyst produces intermediate-sized hydrocarbons, increasing the value of the resulting materials.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen are establishing a new center to study catalysis on high-entropy alloys, aiming to develop sustainable chemistry alternatives. The project aims to identify materials capable of combining carbon and oxygen-containing molecules to produce valuable chemicals.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory and top universities have developed a catalytic method to selectively convert discarded plastics into higher quality products like lubricant oils or waxes. The catalyst converts polyethylene molecules into value-added commercial products with high yield.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a new catalytic method to upcycle single-use plastics into high-quality liquid products, such as motor oils, lubricants, and cosmetics. This breakthrough improves current recycling methods, producing fewer greenhouse gases and toxic byproducts, while contributing to a circular economy.
A team at the University of Michigan developed a new catalyst that selectively produces the correct version of twisted molecules, which are essential for medicines. The catalyst is made from mineral nanoparticles and can work in water, reducing costs and environmental impact.
Scientists developed a machine-learning approach to extract catalytic properties from x-ray signatures of catalysts. This method helps identify the active phase of the catalyst, which converts carbon dioxide to methane, and guides the design of more efficient catalysts.
A new catalyst developed by Stanford University engineers can convert carbon dioxide into fuels like ethane, propane, and butane, yielding four times more fuel than existing methods. The breakthrough could significantly reduce the near-term impact on global warming.
Researchers at OIST Graduate University have developed a simplified approach for studying charge transfer in catalysis, using a tiny ruthenium catalyst and real-time detection. This method provides a complete picture of the reaction mechanics and has potential applications in industrial processes such as solar energy devices.
Researchers have developed a cheap catalyst that can generate hydrogen gas for hours in a commercial device, offering a potential solution to reduce the cost of producing this important industrial chemical. The catalyst, based on cobalt phosphide nanoparticles, was tested in a commercial electrolyzer and operated well over 1,700 hours.
Researchers have discovered that liquid metals, such as gallium, indium, bismuth, and tin, can be used to create catalysts for the conversion of CO2 into useful byproducts. By heating an alloy of these metals, they can melt at a lower temperature than individual metals, producing eutectic alloys with unique properties. These alloys can...
The University of Kansas will develop an innovative graduate training program that combines the disciplines of chemistry, chemical engineering, and computer science. The new program aims to make catalysis design more efficient by using artificial intelligence and machine learning.,
Researchers at Brown University have developed a new production method for the high-performance polymer Zylon using nanoparticle catalysts, which can produce degradation-resistant materials. The new approach reduces energy consumption and eliminates a corrosive acid that causes degradation.
A research team from Bochum and Marseille has developed a self-defence mechanism in biocatalysts that shields them from oxygen, extending their service life up to 22,000 years. The new design uses tiny molecular spheres to create an extremely thin protective film that maintains efficiency.
University of Oregon researchers have identified a design principle that points to making catalytic particles really small for increased efficiency. Smaller nanoparticles collect excited positive charges, preventing recombination and generating higher voltages.
Researchers at MIT have developed a mathematical approach to understanding zeolites, revealing why only a small subset has been discovered or made. The graph-based model predicts which pairs of zeolite types can be transformed from one to the other, opening doors for new pathways in production and potential discoveries of novel materials.
Researchers have created a new measurement method to determine the electrochemical activity of individual noble-metal-free nanoparticle catalysts. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient hydrogen production through water electrolysis by using affordable alternatives to precious metal catalysts.
Researchers have developed a series of new catalysts for the asymmetric synthesis of alcohols, which could be used to make high-value chemicals such as pharmaceuticals and electronics chemicals. The new method is faster, cheaper and more sustainable than traditional methods, requiring less material and reducing waste.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory successfully stabilized single atoms using record-high temperatures of up to 2000 K. The method enables the creation of stable single atom catalysts, which can remain in their place for unprecedented periods of time, maximizing atom-use efficiency and improving catalytic performance.
Researchers at Osaka University have developed a palladium-based alloy nanocatalyst that promotes the selective production of deuterium isotope compounds from formic acid. The catalyst enables a cost-effective and scalable process for producing these gases, which are useful in fine chemical production and research applications.
Researchers developed a method to immobilize nanoparticles in living bacterial biofilms, enabling scalable and tunable catalysis. The approach utilizes engineered amyloid monomers to anchor functional nano-scale catalysts, demonstrating efficient degradation of pollutants and organic dyes.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology developed platinum-graphene fuel cell catalysts with unprecedented catalytic activity and longevity. The new catalysts outperformed nanoparticle platinum in dissociation energy, suggesting potentially longer-lasting catalytic systems.
Researchers have discovered a way to convert CO2 into energy-rich carbon monoxide using electricity and an Earth-abundant catalyst, which can be used to produce fuels like synthetic diesel and jet fuel. The team's breakthrough could lead to the development of carbon-neutral products, reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at ICIQ develop a new catalytic reaction that can edit the skeletons of organic molecules, enabling skeletal remodelling and circumventing long-standing challenges in metal-carbyne generation. This breakthrough expands synthetic possibilities for creating new materials or medicines.
Researchers at Harvard University have discovered the architecture of a copper-nitrenoid complex that can transform carbon-hydrogen bonds into valuable building blocks for chemical synthesis. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and sustainable production methods for pharmaceuticals, household products, and other chemicals.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a method to create highly active catalysts from precious metal nanoparticles, improving fuel cells' efficiency. The new catalysts can also be recycled from spent catalysts, reducing waste and increasing their lifespan.
Researchers have created a targeted transport system using palladium-based exosomes to deliver chemotherapy drugs directly to cancer cells. This method has the potential to reduce side effects and increase treatment efficacy.
Researchers have developed a molecular shuttle system to deliver precious metal catalysts directly to cancer cells, potentially reducing side effects of chemotherapy. The new method uses artificial exosomes to transport palladium catalysts straight to primary tumours and metastatic cells.
SUNCAT researchers have made significant breakthroughs in converting CO2 into chemicals, fuels, and plastics using electrochemical reduction. By increasing the surface area of copper-based catalysts, they've improved selectivity and efficiency, offering a potential solution to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers from the Salk Institute have discovered how a specific enzyme called chalcone isomerase enables plants to manufacture essential compounds, such as flavonoids, through a unique catalytic process. This knowledge could inform the development of new medicines and improved crops.
The study successfully overcomes two bottlenecks in the production process by optimizing iron metabolism and using KdcA as a decarboxylase. The engineered yeast strain produces 1.7g/L of 1,2,4-butanetriol, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based production.
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a new platinum-based catalytic system that is far more durable than traditional commercial systems. The system, which uses selenium anchors to stabilize platinum particles, shows enhanced durability and catalytic activity.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed new technologies that combine light-gathering semiconductors and catalytic materials to produce clean fuel. The technologies use solar energy to drive chemical reactions capable of producing fuels, which store the sun's energy in chemical bonds.
The Rice University lab has developed an efficient electrolyzer that can turn greenhouse gases into pure liquid fuels. The process uses renewable electricity and produces highly purified formic acid with high concentrations.
Researchers at Vienna University of Technology have successfully incorporated individual metal atoms into a surface, enabling precise control over their chemical behavior. This breakthrough enables the creation of more efficient catalysts for environmentally friendly processes.
Scientists have discovered a new catalyst material that speeds up hydrogen production using topological surface states. The material, Co3Sn2S2, has been shown to outperform conventional nano-structured catalysts despite having much lower platinum content.
Researchers developed a new process to form high-value chemicals called amides by coupling carbon and nitrogen bonds in an electrochemical reaction. This breakthrough enables the production of useful substances in various industries, including pharmaceuticals.
Researchers found that microdroplets of pure water spontaneously produce hydrogen peroxide at a concentration of around 1 ppm. This novel process has the potential to provide an inexpensive and environmentally friendly method for hydrogen peroxide production.
Scientists from the López Group study Pt single atoms supported on CeO2, proposing a dynamic charge that enables CO-oxidation at 150ºC. This new concept explains the unique reactivity of activated single platinum atoms, meeting the DOE emissions challenge.
Researchers developed a synthetic catalyst that produces chemicals like methanol using less energy, a cheaper alternative to gasoline. The catalyst mimics the function of natural enzymes in the laboratory, showing promise for industrial applications.
Researchers at Kanazawa University have identified catalysts that facilitate the photolysis of cyclopropenones under visible-light conditions. This novel method yields highly reactive alkynes without UV light dependence, making it a valuable alternative for industrial applications.
Researchers have developed amorphous/crystalline heterophase PdCu nanosheets with high chemoselectivity and catalytic activity. The phase transformation behavior of these nanosheets affects their properties, leading to improved catalysis in hydrogenation reactions.
A study found that customers who buy gifts for others spend 63% more in the year following the purchase, increasing their frequency and cross-buying. Gift design characteristics like assistance during the gift process and branded wrapping can enhance the effect.
The Rice team found that the Janus configuration, with a half-circle of zigzags opposite six armchairs, allows for tight contact with solid catalysts and preserves continuous nanotube growth. This discovery advances understanding of growth mechanisms and has implications for designing efficient catalysts.
Scientists at ETH Zurich developed a new catalyst technology converting CO2 and hydrogen directly into methanol, enabling the production of fuels and chemicals from renewable resources. The approach has significant potential to close the carbon cycle and produce sustainable methanol on an industrial scale.
Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum and University of Oxford reveal the mechanism behind activating hydrogenases, complex enzymes that produce hydrogen efficiently. The discovery sheds light on the process of introducing a chemical cofactor into the enzyme's active center.
Researchers at KIST developed an eco-friendly nanocomposite catalyst made from agricultural byproducts to effectively remove environmental hormones from sewage and wastewater. The catalyst achieved a high removal rate of over 95% in less than one hour, outperforming existing methods.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Institute for Green Science unveiled a new field of sustainable chemistry using bioinspired oxidation catalysts. The catalysts, called NewTAMLs, can eliminate pharmaceutical micropollutants from water in under five minutes and have major cost savings over current water treatment techniques.
University of Utah chemists developed an algorithm that analyzes previous chemical reaction data to predict hypothetical reactions, narrowing the range of conditions needed for successful synthesis. The model successfully predicted outcomes for various reactions, offering a time-saving solution for pharmaceutical and materials research.
The study uses a novel neutral phosphonium salt catalyst to synthesize optically active oxazolidinones from glycidols and isocyanates, achieving high yields and selectivities. This breakthrough catalyst overcomes the challenges of conventional catalysis methods, paving the way for new drugs against drug-resistant infections.
The Bertarelli Foundation has awarded two grants to researchers at EPFL, focusing on developing smart upper limb prostheses that can provide sensory feedback to patients. Additionally, a non-invasive brain stimulation system is being developed to improve cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment or brain injury.
A new imaging method developed at Cornell University helps remove pollutants from water by identifying optimal catalyst particle sizes and shapes. The technique, called COMPEITS, reveals previously unknown behaviors of catalysts, rendering pollutants nontoxic.
Researchers chemically treat zinc oxide nanowires to apply a uniform coating of titanium dioxide, enhancing catalytic activity and stability for the water-splitting reaction. The resulting nanowire-shell structures exhibit an amorphous structure with crystalline domains limited to a few nanometers.
Researchers at TUM have developed platinum nanoparticles that double the performance of current fuel cells. The particles are about one nanometer big and contain approximately 40 platinum atoms, resulting in high mass activity. This breakthrough could lead to widespread adoption of fuel cells in electric cars.