Articles tagged with Catalysis
Researchers at Rice University have created nanoparticles that can function as both catalysts and plasmonic sensors. These tiny octopods, composed of gold and palladium, enhance chemical reactions while retaining their optical properties. This breakthrough may lead to more efficient industrial processes and sun-driven chemical reactions.
Rice University scientists have developed a metal-free process to synthesize dozens of organocatalysts, which promise to speed up the making of novel chemicals, including drugs. The new tools eliminate the need for transition metals and simplify chemical processes.
Atomic-level imaging of catalysts using ORNL microscopy has enabled the tracking of atomic reconfigurations in individual platinum-cobalt nanoparticle catalysts during heating. This study provides valuable insights into the evolution of specific atomic configurations and their impact on catalytic performance.
Researchers have developed two new catalysts effective in removing trichloroethylene, a carcinogenic compound found in tap water, through hydrodechlorination. The catalysts, cheaper and more efficient than existing ones, enable a wider use of the reaction to purify water.
A new palladium-based catalyst has been developed to efficiently convert thiols, the source of strong-smelling mercaptans, into stable and useful vinyl thioethers. The catalyst enables the atom-economic synthesis of these monomers with high yield and selectivity.
Scientists at the University of South Carolina have created a new catalyst that efficiently converts CO2 into carbon monoxide, a potential fuel source. The nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes are more stable and cost-effective than traditional metal-based catalysts.
The new catalyst developed by researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory features unprecedented selectivity and a conversion rate nearly twice that of conventional catalysts. This breakthrough enables the selective oxidation of cyclohexane to produce nylon precursor with increased efficiency.
Researchers at Rice University have created a novel, solid-state catalyst that splits water into hydrogen and oxygen, promising lower-cost alternatives to expensive platinum catalysts. The catalyst, made from nitrogen-doped graphene and cobalt atoms, shows high efficiency and durability in generating clean energy.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a manganese-based catalyst that combines high reactivity and selectivity, enabling chemists to install nitrogen into carbon-hydrogen bonds with greater ease. This breakthrough has the potential to accelerate drug discovery and development, reducing costs and increasing efficiency.
Researchers at Tufts University have discovered a new generation of platinum-copper catalysts that can selectively hydrogenate butadiene, a chemical produced in large quantities. The catalysts require low concentrations of platinum and are more cost-effective than traditional palladium-based catalysts.
A new concept correlates geometric and adsorption properties in catalyst design. Researchers developed a platinum-based catalyst for fuel cell applications, showing up to three and a half times greater catalytic activity than existing ones.
Scientists at the University of Delaware have discovered a novel structure for bimetallic catalysts, which offer improved performance and ease of synthesis. The 'patched' surface exhibits dual active sites, enabling more efficient chemical reactions.
Researchers at Sandia National Laboratories have developed a new, efficient catalyst using molybdenum disulfide that can produce four times the amount of hydrogen as before. The catalyst's action can be triggered by sunlight, making it an off-the-grid means of securing hydrogen fuel.
Researchers found that flipping the molecular attachments on an iridium hydride catalyst improves its ability to transform CO2 into formate and carbon monoxide, two precursors for methanol production. The study offers insights into designing more effective catalysts for a carbon-neutral society.
Researchers have developed a high-speed electron tomography technique that sets new standards for 3D imaging of the nanoworld. The method enables visualization of dynamic processes and structures with sub-nanometre precision, opening up new horizons in life sciences and soft matter research.
A recent study by Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research and Institute of Catalysis and Environment in Lyon reveals that oceans produce significantly more isoprene, a gas formed by both vegetation and oceans. This finding suggests that the climate models need to be improved to accurately predict temperature and precipitation changes.
Researchers at Aarhus University are working with international partners to find ways to convert CO2 into valuable materials. The goal is to make CO2 a sustainable resource, potentially even using it as a raw material for future manned missions to Mars.
Researchers at the National Institutes of Natural Sciences have developed stable, crystalline, porous covalent organic frameworks (COFs) that can be used as platforms for functional exploration. The COFs exhibit enhanced catalytic activity and enantioselectivity in asymmetric Michael reactions.
Researchers developed a rotaxane gold catalyst with enhanced properties, which can be controlled by adding acid or metal ion cofactors. The catalyst's shape changes with different ions, leading to varied reaction products and suggesting a potential method for tailoring catalysts.
A new catalyst developed by Michigan Technological University researchers has improved the sensitivity of the PSA test for prostate cancer detection. The palladium-iridium catalyst is 110 times more sensitive than traditional peroxidase-based tests, reducing false negatives and potentially delaying treatment.
A novel model enables fast prediction of novel alloy materials, significantly accelerating materials discovery in the field of catalysis. The approach uses machine learning to capture complex interactions of molecules on metal surfaces.
Researchers have developed a new mixed oxide catalyst that overcomes inhibition issues, allowing for more efficient engines to meet stricter emission regulations. The unique formulation of copper oxide, cobalt oxide, and cerium oxide enables better oxidation activity at low temperatures without precious metals.
Researchers at Cardiff University have devised a way of increasing the yield of biodiesel by using the waste left over from its production process. By recycling crude glycerol, they can convert it into methanol, which is then used as a starting reactant to create more biodiesel.
A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has discovered a highly efficient catalyst that can produce hydrogen using common elements like phosphorus and sulfur. The new catalyst, which is nearly as efficient as platinum, could make a significant impact on the transition to a hydrogen economy.
Researchers at UMass Amherst aim to develop a reliable, predictive computational framework for designing better-performing materials with reduced development costs. The new approach will address challenges in handling complex systems with millions of variables, rare events, and multi-scale features.
Washington State University Tri-Cities associate professor Hanwu Lei received a $494,000 grant to research catalysts for high-energy biofuels. He aims to convert biomass into aromatic hydrocarbons with industrial applications.
Researchers at California Institute of Technology have developed an artificial leaf that can harness sunlight to produce hydrogen fuels, achieving a high efficiency rate. The system consists of three components: photoanode, photocathode, and membrane, which work together to split water molecules into oxygen and hydrogen gas.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a way to embed metallic nanoparticles into laser-induced graphene, creating a useful catalyst for fuel cells and other applications. The material, called metal oxide-laser induced graphene (MO-LIG), has shown promise as a potential substitute for expensive metals like platinum.
PNNL scientists explore molecular hydrogen storage, catalyst development using abundant metals, and the connection between plants and pollution producing aerosols. Their research aims to improve renewable energy efficiency and reduce pollution.
Researchers have discovered a new pathway to construct carbon-oxygen bonds using a light-activated catalyst, expanding nickel chemistry's potential impact on pharmaceuticals and agriculture. The breakthrough overcomes previous challenges with traditional nickel catalysis.
Researchers at MIT have developed paraffin-based capsules that can enclose multiple reagents and catalysts, simplifying chemical synthesis. The capsules can protect water-sensitive compounds for extended periods, extending the shelf life of common commodity chemicals.
Researchers at Argonne National Laboratory have identified a new catalyst that can efficiently capture and convert carbon dioxide into methanol, a liquid fuel. The copper tetramer, consisting of small clusters of four copper atoms, works by binding to carbon dioxide molecules and accelerating chemical reactions.
Researchers have found a way to capture high-energy electrons from plasmonic metals, opening a new pathway to efficient solar energy conversion. By coupling nano-rods of cadmium selenide with gold nanoparticles, they can harness the energy and use it to fuel chemical reactions.
The book reviews up-to-date accounts promoting energy access in remote areas, covering scientific and technological advances and enabling factors for sustainable development. Experts discuss the importance of coordinated action from governments, private investors, and development funders to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030.
Scientists at MIT discovered that non-wetting surfaces promote chemical reaction rates, while hydrophilic surfaces inhibit them. This finding enables researchers to predict a material's suitability as a catalyst based on its wettability.
Researchers at Princeton University have developed a new chemical reaction that breaks the strongest bond in a molecule instead of the weakest. Using a two-component catalyst system, they selectively activate the strongest bond through proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET), allowing access to previously inaccessible compounds.
Gold compounds demonstrate novel reactivity, competing with traditional catalysts. Acetic acid serves as a proton shuttle, transferring hydrogen atoms between reaction centers.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a new approach to structuring catalysts, using nano cage structures to achieve more potent chemical reactions with less material. The discovery offers a pathway for industries to wean themselves off platinum, a scarce and expensive metal.
Researchers have developed a new fabrication technique to produce ultra-thin hollow nanocages with platinum walls, which can increase the utilization efficiency of the metal by up to seven times. The new structures can use smaller amounts of platinum, making fuel cells more economically viable.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have introduced a new approach to molecular fuel cell catalysts, which uses nitroxyls and nitrogen oxides for more efficient energy storage. The catalyst achieves comparable efficiency to platinum while offering advantages in terms of modifiability.
A new nano-catalyst filter, developed by KIST, can remove 100% of particle substances in cigarette smoke, converting them into water vapor and carbon dioxide. The air cleaning equipment based on the catalyst can purify over 80% of cigarette smoke within 30 minutes and 100% within 1 hour in a 30 square meter smoking room.
Scientists at Hiroshima University successfully compounded ultra-thin all-inorganic molecular nanowires composed of Mo and Te, exhibiting high activity as an acid catalyst. The wires' diameters were only 1.2 nm, making them a promising material for heterogeneous catalysts, thermochromic materials, and semiconductors.
Researchers at KU Leuven have developed a method to produce bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), more efficiently and with less waste. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more sustainable production of biodegradable plastics.
A study at Umea University has successfully captured a protein structure previously impossible to study, providing insights into enzymes' catalytic capabilities. The discovery enables the development of designed enzymes for new chemical reactions in biotechnology.
Researchers used atom probe tomography to create the first 3-D atomic map of an industrially relevant zeolite material, revealing clues to extending catalyst life. The study found that steaming causes aluminum atoms to cluster, shutting down the catalytic factory and affecting its efficiency.
A new bio-inspired zeolite catalyst converts methane to methanol with high efficiency and selectivity, enabling small-scale 'gas-to-liquid' technologies. The catalyst's trinuclear copper-oxo-cluster active center is stabilized in the zeolite micropores.
A new technique combines electron microscopy and synchrotron X-rays to track chemical reactions under real operating conditions. This powerful operando approach reveals atomic-scale changes during catalytic reactions, providing unparalleled insight into nanoparticle structure.
Researchers developed a low-voltage, single-catalyst water splitter that produces hydrogen and oxygen continuously for over 200 hours. The device uses a single, inexpensive nickel-iron oxide catalyst, reducing cost and increasing efficiency.
Researchers from UNC School of Medicine provide direct experimental evidence for the rapid synthesis of two classes of proteins necessary to create life on Earth. They found that a single ancient gene probably used its two opposite strands of DNA to code for different catalysts that both activated amino acids.
A new method of converting squalene from microalgae to gasoline or jet fuel has been developed by Tohoku University researchers. The process uses a highly dispersed ruthenium catalyst supported on cerium oxide, producing branched alkanes with high stability and low freezing points.
Researchers at EBI create a new process to produce drop-in aviation biofuels with superior cold-flow properties, density and viscosity. The process yields jet fuel or lubricant base oils with up to 80-percent net life-cycle greenhouse gas savings.
A team of researchers has developed a hydrogel that can protect sensitive catalysts from oxygen-caused damage, making it possible to create efficient and affordable hydrogen fuel cells. The hydrogel acts as both solvent and protective environment, allowing the catalysts to remain functional even in high-oxygen concentrations.
A study by the University of Sydney found that an ABC TV program questioning the link between cholesterol and heart disease resulted in 14,000 fewer people taking statins per week. The program's impact was seen in those at high risk of cardiovascular disease, potentially leading to preventable heart attacks and strokes.
Researchers have developed TAML activators that effectively break down harmful chemicals in water, reducing the risk of fish feminization and other adverse effects. The catalysts were tested on water samples from municipal wastewater plants and found to be at least as effective as ozone treatment systems.
Researchers at NIST have created a fast process for making platinum nano-raspberries, which can act as catalysts in fuel cells. The nano-raspberries exhibit high surface area and stable clumping behavior, encouraging efficient reactions. This breakthrough could lead to more practical fuel cell technology.
The new cobalt-catalyzed [2π+2π] reaction overcomes limitations of other transition metal catalyzed methods, producing cyclobutane compounds with potentially beneficial properties. The research team used redox active bis(imino)pyridine ligands to pass electrons to and from the metal, leading to a detailed understanding of the mechanism.
KU Leuven researchers create sustainable process to convert wood waste lignin into chemical building blocks for various products. The resulting chemicals can be used in paint, insulation foam, and several other applications.
Research from the University of Cincinnati explores solvent-free chemistry, finding it can be just as reliable for chemical reactions without drawbacks. This approach reduces waste and costs, offering a financial savings.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have discovered a key mediation pathway that explains why sodium-oxygen batteries are more energy efficient compared to their lithium-oxygen counterparts. The discovery could pave the way for developing highly efficient and affordable energy storage solutions.
Yale University chemists have developed a family of new palladium-based catalysts, expected to lower production costs and boost sustainability. These catalysts create a better infrastructure for catalysis, reducing the need for expensive metals.