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Punching holes in graphene to boost hydrogen production

Scientists at the University of Tsukuba have created an electrode based on 'holey' graphene that efficiently catalyzes the hydrogen evolution reaction in acidic electrolyte, making it cheaper and more effective. The new system outperforms regular non-holey graphene electrodes in acid conditions.

No corners or edges

Peter Wasserscheid receives second Advanced Investigator Grant from European Research Council to explore fundamental new concept in catalysis based on metal droplets with low melting point. This research has the potential to replace expensive precious metals with cost-effective alternatives.

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only)

Sony Alpha a7 IV (Body Only) delivers reliable low-light performance and rugged build for astrophotography, lab documentation, and field expeditions.

Novel reaction could spark alternate approach to ammonia production

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered a new type of catalytic reaction that generates ammonia from nitrogen and water using an electric field and nanoscale carbon spikes. The process occurs at room temperature and could lead to more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly methods for fertilizer production.

New catalyst turns ammonia into an innovative clean fuel

Researchers at Kumamoto University developed a new catalyst that improves NH3 combustibility and suppresses NOx generation. The catalyst allows for the decomposition of NH3 into H2 with low ignition temperature and purification through oxidation.

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

New natural gas catalyst would boost clean transportation

A new natural gas catalyst aims to reduce methane emissions from vehicle exhaust, a potent greenhouse gas. The US Department of Energy-funded project will develop and optimize a lower-cost, more efficient catalyst to eliminate unreacted methane, making natural gas a cleaner-burning fuel option.

New theory shows how strain makes for better catalysts

Researchers have developed a new theory to explain why stretching or compressing metal catalysts can make them perform better. The theory suggests that applying a strain to a catalyst's atomic lattice can tune its reactivity, enabling fine-tuning of catalyst performance throughout different reaction steps.

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Faster, cheaper wastewater treatment through improved oxidation reactions

UCR researchers have developed a cost-effective way to improve the removal of pollutants from wastewater using Advanced Oxidation Processes. By adding a co-catalyst, they can dramatically reduce the amount of hydrogen peroxide and ferrous catalyst needed, preventing the formation of an iron-containing sludge.

Swansea scientists discover greener way of making plastics

Researchers at Swansea University's Energy Safety Research Institute have found a way to convert CO2 into ethylene, the basis of making plastics, at room temperature. This process has the potential to offset global carbon emissions and utilise half a billion tonnes of emitted CO2 annually.

Robust and inexpensive catalysts for hydrogen production

Researchers developed alternative catalysts made of cheaper and more readily available materials with equally high efficiency. The study found that the structure and composition of iron-nickel sulphide influence its electrocatalytic properties.

Apple iPhone 17 Pro

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Diverse metals mix it up in novel nanoparticles

Scientists have developed a method to combine up to eight different metals in a single nanoparticle, creating stable alloys with useful applications in the chemical and energy industries. The new technique uses shock waves to heat and cool the metals, producing homogeneous nanoparticles with broad catalytic properties.

Scientists mix the unmixable to create 'shocking' nanoparticles

Scientists at the University of Maryland have created nanoparticles composed of up to eight distinct elements, greatly expanding the landscape of nanomaterials. This breakthrough enables a wide range of applications in catalysis, energy storage, and bio/plasmonic imaging.

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

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Edges and corners increase efficiency of catalytic converters

Researchers at DESY's NanoLab found that nanoparticles with a large number of edges are more efficient in catalytic reactions. The study revealed that the different facets of the nanoparticles become inactive due to growing oxide islands, leaving active sites for the reaction.

Custom sequences for polymers using visible light

The team developed a process to make sequential polymers by switching light on and off, allowing precision control over physical properties. This method simplifies existing synthesis methods and has potential for creating new polymers with desired functionality.

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Blue holes bring forgotten chemical element back on stage

Researchers found that bonds based on antimony yield powerful new catalysts, enabling precise molecular transformations and opening up untried prospects. The discovery puts antimony back into the spotlight, highlighting its exceptional qualities for molecular transformation.

USTC reports diamond ring architecture of a protein complex

The researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to provide a high-resolution view of the NuA4/TIP60 complex. The structure reveals that Tra1/TRRAP serves as a scaffold for NuA4/TIP60 assembly and that human TRRAP mutations are largely centered on interaction surfaces mediating this assembly.

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm)

Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) tracks health metrics and safety alerts during long observing sessions, fieldwork, and remote expeditions.

Turbocharging fuel cells with a multifunctional catalyst

A new catalyst developed by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers can significantly improve the efficiency of fuel cells by speeding up oxygen processing. This breakthrough could enable the widespread adoption of clean energy technology and reduce costs associated with producing hydrogen fuel, a key ingredient for fuel cells.

A catalyst with self-defense against oxygen

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum have developed a new catalyst with a self-defense mechanism against oxygen damage, using DuBois-type complexes based on abundant metals. The protection system involves an immobilization matrix that electrically disconnects the catalyst from the electrode surface.

Glass matters

The chemical topology of silica surfaces can significantly impact the effectiveness of various chemical processes, including catalysis, filtration, and nanofabrication. Researchers found that hydrophilic silanol groups attract water molecules, forming a barrier that reactants must overcome to proceed with the desired process.

A new cross-coupling simplifies the synthesis of drug-like molecules

Researchers at TSRI have developed a new desulfonylative cross-coupling reaction that simplifies the synthesis of drug-like molecules, including alkyl-fluorinated compounds. This method paves the way for creating new types of compounds and facilitating the synthesis of pharmaceuticals.

Researchers convert CO to CO2 with a single metal atom

Scientists at Washington State University and Tufts University have demonstrated that a single metal atom can act as a catalyst in converting carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective catalytic converters, essential for reducing harmful emissions from car exhaust.

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

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Metal-free catalyst extends the range of ester synthesis

A team at Nagoya University developed a metal-free catalyst, tetramethylammonium methyl carbonate (TMC), that expands the substrate range of trans-esterification. TMC reacts with alcohols to form alkoxide ions, which attack esters to produce complex target esters in high yields.

Converting CO2 into usable energy

Researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory have identified a new electrocatalyst that efficiently converts carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, a highly energetic molecule. Single nickel atoms were found to catalyze the reaction with up to 97% efficiency, paving the way for recycling CO2 for usable energy and chemicals.

Successful synthesis of gamma-lactam rings from hydrocarbons

A team of researchers has developed a novel reaction to insert nitrogen into C-H bonds, creating useful ring-shaped molecules. The breakthrough synthesis uses inexpensive feedstock hydrocarbons as substrates, offering a new solution to the long-standing challenge in pharmaceutical and chemical industries.

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

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Rice U. sleuths find metal in 'metal-free' catalysts

Researchers at Rice University have found that graphene catalysts contain trace amounts of manganese, which activates the oxygen reduction reaction and improves fuel-cell efficiency. The study used inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry to detect manganese atoms in samples made by the Rice lab.

New symmetry-breaking method opens way for bioactive compounds

Researchers at EPFL have developed a new desymmetrization strategy to access chiral building blocks containing urea sub-structures. The method uses a non-chiral cyclopropane precursor and an engineered copper catalyst to selectively form the desired enantiomer.

Newly designed molecule binds nitrogen

A newly designed borylene molecule has been found to bind nitrogen at room temperature and normal air pressure, surpassing the capabilities of traditional catalysts like iron and molybdenum. This breakthrough may pave the way for a more energy-efficient method to convert nitrogen into ammonia.

Chemical waves guide scientists to catalysts of the future

Researchers at TU Wien observed chemical waves on polycrystalline catalyst surfaces, creating fascinating spiral wave structures. The team learned that the orientation of crystal grains determines the frequency and movement of these waves, providing insights into superior catalytic characteristics.

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Precision experiments reveal gaps in van der Waals theory

Researchers performed synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments on titanium disulfide and compared results with theoretical calculations. They found that interlayer interactions are stronger than theory indicates, involving significant electron sharing.

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Light and copper catalysis improves amine synthesis

A new method has been developed for synthesizing alkyl amines using photocatalysis alongside copper catalysis, overcoming the challenge of alkyl group synthesis. The approach allows for high selectivity and compatibility with functional groups, and can be carried out at ambient temperatures.

Army research leading to materials of the future wins national award

Researchers at Cornell University developed a novel analytical technique to visualize polymer chain growth in real-time. By combining magnetic tweezers, optical microscopy, and spectroscopic techniques, they discovered that individual polymer chains undergo consecutive wait-and-jump steps.

Highly efficient ammonia synthesis catalyst developed

Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have discovered a highly efficient ammonia synthesis catalyst that functions at low temperatures, exceeding the efficiency of conventional ruthenium and iron catalysts. The catalyst's unique structure expands surface area to improve performance.

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New method could open path to hydrogen economy

Researchers at Washington State University have developed a simple method to generate high-quality hydrogen from water using inexpensive nickel and iron. The technique could be scaled up for large-scale testing and store renewable energy generated by solar and wind sources.

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

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New, low cost alternative for ethylene production

Scientists at Waseda University have developed a novel reaction mechanism for the oxidative coupling of methane, enabling the efficient synthesis of ethylene at a lower temperature. This breakthrough could significantly reduce production costs and make the process more accessible to small-scale manufacturers.

Making fuel cells for a fraction of the cost

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have created a new, highly efficient catalyst material that could significantly reduce the cost of producing fuel cells. The material, made from porous carbon nanofibers embedded with cobalt, outperforms industry-standard platinum-carbon systems but at a fraction of the cost.

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Ultrathin black phosphorus for solar-driven hydrogen economy

Researchers at Osaka University have developed a novel catalytic system to split water and make hydrogen using normal sunlight. The new catalyst combines nanostructured black phosphorus for water reduction and bismuth vanadate for water oxidation, achieving an ideal 2:1 ratio of hydrogen and oxygen production.

New catalyst for hydrogen production is a step toward clean fuel

A new carbon-based nanocomposite with embedded metal ions has shown impressive performance as a catalyst for electrolysis of water to generate hydrogen. The material's high catalytic activity and stability could lead to low-cost and efficient hydrogen production, a key step towards clean fuel.

An efficient approach of conjugated tetraenes from butadiene and alkynes

Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have developed a one-pot approach to synthesizing conjugated tetraenes from inexpensive reagents, eliminating waste production and simplifying the process. The new method has potential applications in electronic materials, natural products, and pharmaceutical molecules.

Anker Laptop Power Bank 25,000mAh (Triple 100W USB-C)

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New catalyst for making fuels from shale gas

Researchers at UCL and Tufts University developed a platinum-copper alloy catalyst that breaks carbon-hydrogen bonds in methane with reduced energy consumption. The new catalyst is resistant to coking, rendering it more effective than traditional materials.

Rice U.'s one-step catalyst turns nitrates into water and air

Researchers at Rice University's NEWT Center have discovered a catalyst that converts nitrates into nitrogen and water, effectively removing the toxic pollutant from drinking water. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for addressing nitrate pollution in agricultural communities and improving public health.

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Locating the precise reaction path: Methane dissociation on platinum

An international team of researchers has combined experiments with quantum theory to explore methane dissociation reactions in minute detail. They found that dissociation reactions are at least two orders of magnitude more efficient on steps than on terraces, providing new insights for optimizing catalysts.