Articles tagged with Catalysis
A new catalytic process converts lignin from plant cell walls into valuable chemical commodities, including fragrance and flavoring ingredients. The process also produces high-octane fuel suitable for use in jets and racecars.
Researchers discovered that enzymes dissipate heat by rapidly accelerating immediately after a reaction, generating a pressure wave called a chemoacoustic wave. This finding explains how proteins cope with the immense heat generated during enzyme reactions without breaking apart.
Computational modeling allows researchers to design efficient and affordable catalysts from gold, reducing the need for large amounts of expensive precious metals. The method has potential impact on energy-and-environment related fields, such as automotive exhaust and hydrogen production.
A new method to produce lactic acid from glycerol, a waste feedstock, has been introduced, reducing CO2 emission by 30% compared to conventional fermentation. The process also lowers production costs, increasing the potential profit by 17-fold.
Researchers at Tufts University have developed new single-atom gold catalysts that demonstrate comparable activity and stability as traditional precious metal nanoparticles. These catalysts show promise for producing high-grade hydrogen for cleaner energy use in fuel-cell powered devices.
Researchers revised classical enzymatic theory by incorporating long-lasting protein-water coupled motions into models of functional catalysis. The study revealed a new biological phenomenon where water motions adapt to substrate binding, critical for effective binding.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a method to isolate atomically thin sheets of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), a promising material for optoelectronics and electronics. The process uses copolymer-assisted gradient ultracentrifugation, allowing for scalable isolation of single-layer, bilayer, or trilayer MoS2 sheets.
Researchers have found that using ethanol instead of methanol in biodiesel production increases the speed of reaction, allowing for greater reactor capacity. Heterogeneous catalysts are used to overcome the separation challenges associated with homogeneous catalysts.
Chemists at Scripps Research Institute developed a new method to modify organic compounds, overcoming a major limitation in previous techniques. The technique generates a reactive catalyst at the desired site on a molecule, allowing for the modification of a wide range of chemical structures.
Researchers have successfully developed a room-temperature fuel cell that uses jet fuel and enzymes to produce electricity. The new cells can be used to power portable electronics, off-grid power, and sensors. This breakthrough could lead to more efficient and cost-effective energy solutions.
Rice chemists create a nanoporous film of molybdenum disulfide for efficient hydrogen evolution reaction and energy storage, with potential applications in fuel cells and supercapacitors.
Scientists developed a deeper understanding of ideal mesoporous nanoparticle design to maximize catalytic output. They modeled molecular movement within narrow channels and found that the optimal channel diameter balances pore size with reactant and product passage.
Washington State University researchers develop a new catalyst using inexpensive iron and rare palladium to remove oxygen from plant-based materials, improving biofuel production. The combination increases activity, stability, and selectivity, reducing costs and increasing yields.
A team of researchers has developed a novel catalyst for oxygen reduction in hydrogen fuel cells, which is more efficient and cost-effective than traditional platinum-based catalysts. The catalyst was synthesized using an ordinary kitchen microwave oven, paving the way for sustainable energy production.
Researchers discovered cesium carbonate generates an aggregate state that acts as the starting point for catalytic reactions. This finding has the potential to impact C-H functionalization reactions and catalytic reaction development.
Researchers developed a hybrid catalyst combining graphene quantum dots and graphene oxide, nitrogen, and boron, outperforming commercial platinum-based catalysts in fuel cells. The new material cuts the cost of generating energy with fuel cells, offering a promising solution to the expensive metal hurdle.
A Wayne State research team is developing new, more efficient catalytic materials to reduce energy consumption in chemical conversion systems. The project aims to create multicomponent catalysts that can improve reaction efficiency and reduce unwanted byproducts.
Researchers have discovered a crucial role of electronic and geometric effects in reducing carbon dioxide using gold-copper bimetallic nanoparticles. This breakthrough could lead to unprecedented improvements in electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction.
Gold nanoparticles work as catalysts to speed chemical reactions despite being inert metals. Researchers have now fully understood the role of water in this process, revealing its crucial role as a co-catalyst for transforming carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide.
Research highlights two types of support in meaningful relationships: source of strength (SOS) support, which helps individuals thrive through adversity, and relational catalyst (RC) support, which fosters full participation in life opportunities. Effective support requires responsiveness and sensitivity.
Scientists at Stanford University have developed a low-cost, emissions-free device that uses an ordinary AAA battery to produce hydrogen by water electrolysis. The battery sends an electric current through two electrodes that split liquid water into hydrogen and oxygen gas.
Researchers discovered that water formation in biofuel conversion slows key chemical reactions, forming an impurity that disrupts the process. The study provides scientific principles to speed up biofuel development, benefiting processes that produce biofuels from plants.
The University of California, Davis's STAIR Grant program provides funding and support for innovative research, allowing selected researchers to generate early proof-of-concept models. The four finalists have been awarded $50,000 each to develop their projects into commercial applications.
Scientists have created a new technique to transform methane-emitting landfill gas into hydrogen, which can be used in fuel cells to generate clean electricity. The breakthrough involves using a highly stable catalyst material that prevents carbon deposition, allowing for more efficient production of hydrogen.
A multi-institutional team has resolved a long-unanswered question about how water interacts with metal oxides. The study reveals two dramatically different pictures of water-metal oxide reactions, one forming amorphous networks on smooth surfaces and the other creating structured domains on hydroxylated surfaces.
Researchers develop a novel fuel cell design that protects sensitive catalysts using a redox hydrogel. This shield prevents deactivation caused by oxygen and extreme electrical potentials, allowing for efficient and long-term energy conversion. The breakthrough has major implications for the development of sustainable energy solutions.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin discovered that gold nanoparticles can form small clusters in a solvent made from chicken feed and urea, which enables efficient catalytic reactions. The particles arrange themselves into groups of up to twelve nanoparticles with average diameter of five nanometres.
Scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered a new catalytic system for converting carbon dioxide to methanol. The catalyst, composed of copper and ceria nanoparticles, reveals highly reactive sites forming at their interface, enabling the conversion of normally unreactive CO2.
Researchers have synthesized a catalyst that improves their system for converting waste carbon dioxide into syngas, a precursor of gasoline and other energy-rich products. The new catalyst uses molybdenum disulfide and an ionic liquid to reduce carbon dioxide in a chemical reaction, improving efficiency and lowering cost.
Yushan Yan's research team has developed a method to create crystalline porous polymers with large pores and excellent thermal stability. These materials have potential applications in catalysis, separations and energy storage, offering new possibilities for the chemical and petroleum industries.
EPFL researchers have developed a novel method to increase the accessible active sites of metal oxide catalysts in water splitting reactions, resulting in improved catalytic properties. The exfoliation method shows increased rates of up to 4.5-fold compared to conventional methods.
Researchers have developed a novel catalyst that efficiently catalyzes the production of clean-burning hydrogen fuel, outperforming cost-prohibitive platinum and other less-expensive alternatives. The technology, based on carbon nanotubes, could make electrolysis reactions commercially viable using renewable energy sources.
Researchers at SLAC and Stanford have found a way to estimate uncertainties in computer calculations used to speed the search for new materials, improving confidence in discoveries. This technique can be applied to thousands of computational studies across various fields.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum developed a new type of catalyst that can facilitate two opposite reactions: electrolysis of water and combustion of hydrogen with oxygen. This catalyst has the potential to make regenerative fuel cells and rechargeable metal-air batteries more cost-efficient.
Using high-brilliance X-rays, researchers have gained a better understanding of the chemical reactions in fuel cells, leading to the development of more efficient systems. This knowledge will help make large-scale alternative energy power systems more practical and reliable.
Gila Stein, a University of Houston chemical engineer, received an NSF grant to build models explaining lithography systems used for device fabrication. Her research focuses on chemically amplified resists, which are crucial for patterning semiconductor devices in smaller sizes.
Researchers from RIKEN have discovered a mineral-based catalyst that efficiently splits water into oxygen and hydrogen ions at neutral pH. The key to this success lies in synchronizing electron- and proton-transfer timing, which greatly improves the catalytic activity of manganese oxides.
Rice University researchers have successfully developed palladium-gold nanocatalysts that convert glycerol, a waste byproduct of biodiesel production, into valuable chemicals. The catalysts produce a 'Goldilocks' effect, striking the perfect balance between palladium and gold to achieve faster conversion rates.
Researchers at Princeton University have made a groundbreaking collaboration between two areas of research, enabling the formation of previously impossible bonds. The breakthrough uses photoredox catalysis and nickel catalysis to create powerful new reactions with unprecedented efficiency and scalability.
The Center for Molecular Electrocatalysis will receive $3.5 million annually to explore chemical reactions at the core of solar energy and fuel cells. Researchers from multiple disciplines will work to design faster catalysts, split molecular oxygen, and improve hydrogen reactions.
Researchers used in situ TEM to study the evolution of platinum/cobalt nanoparticles during reactions in oxygen and hydrogen gases. They found that cobalt atoms migrate to form a cobalt oxide epitaxial film, which affects catalytic performance.
Researchers bridge the size gap to study kinetic behavior of Ag nanocatalysts using SERS, providing real-time reaction information. The stepped surface of etched nanoparticles mimics sub-5-nm environment, increasing active surface atoms' participation in catalysis.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have identified a new class of zeolite catalysts that can withstand the formation of hydrocarbon deposits, which clog pores and block active sites. The key to their improved performance lies in the internal structure of the catalysts, with well-connected nano-sized channels and numerous openings.
Researchers have developed a new nickel catalyst that catalyzes the cross-coupling reaction between carbonyl compounds and phenol derivatives to form alpha-arylketones, which are found in many biologically active compounds. The study has potential applications in synthesizing biologically active molecules and organic materials.
A metal-organic framework (MOF) has been found to catalyze the conversion of ethane from natural gas into ethanol, a process previously thought to require complex biological steps. The discovery showcases the potential for laboratory-made materials to mimic nature's processes.
Researchers identified a mutated enzyme called LovD9 that produces simvastatin 1,000 times more efficiently than the natural enzyme. The team used computer simulations and X-ray crystallography to determine the molecular structures of both enzymes, revealing subtle variations in their behavior when immersed in water.
Scientists at Ames Laboratory have developed a nanoparticle that can perform two processing functions at once for green diesel production. Using iron as the catalyst reduces costs and improves efficiency, making it a promising alternative to traditional biodiesel production methods.
Researchers at EPFL used lasers to study how specific vibrations in a water molecule affect its ability to dissociate, enabling the optimization of theoretical models for water dissociation. This breakthrough can impact the design of future catalysts for industrial and commercial chemical reactions.
Researchers at University of Wisconsin-Madison develop a dual-catalyst technique using sunlight to control the 'handedness' of product molecules, overcoming UV's limitations. This breakthrough enables easier synthesis of complex chemicals with well-defined chirality.
Researchers have successfully captured a view of a molecular catalyst that converts hydrogen into electricity, confirming previous hypotheses and providing insight into its structure. The study's findings offer potential improvements to hydrogen-powered fuel cells, which could be more expensive but also carbon-neutral.
Researchers have found a novel electrode made of oxide-derived copper that can efficiently convert carbon monoxide into liquid ethanol. The discovery could provide an eco-friendly alternative to conventional ethanol production, which relies on land- and water-intensive crops like corn.
Syracuse University chemists discover enzyme-like activity in seven amino acid peptides, shedding light on the origins of life and potential new catalysts for metabolic reactions. The breakthrough supports the theory that amyloid fibrils may have triggered early forms of life.
A UIC chemistry professor has been awarded a prestigious international sustainability grant to lead the US effort in developing novel catalytic methods. The project aims to replace rare metals with inexpensive and abundant metals, reducing environmental pollution and resource depletion.
Chemists at the University of Utah discovered a method to predict chemical reactions using bond vibrations, which can lead to more efficient catalysts for medicines, industrial products, and new materials. The researchers used infrared spectroscopy to analyze bond vibrations and built a mathematical model to predict reaction outcomes.
Researchers at JCAP have developed a new hybrid material that stores nearly 90% of the electrons generated by solar energy in hydrogen molecules. This breakthrough could address one of the major challenges in using artificial photosynthesis to produce renewable solar fuels. The material, which combines gallium phosphide and cobaloxime ...
Researchers at the University of Vienna developed a new, atom-economical chemical synthesis for α-arylated Carbonyl derivatives. The method eliminates the need for additional reagents, reducing product contamination and labor-intensive reaction conditions.
Researchers have identified two intermediate steps in water oxidation reactions using an Earth-abundant solid catalyst, cobalt oxide. This discovery provides a better understanding of the individual events in the four-electron cycle and enables the design of improvements to boost efficiency.
Scientists at Stanford University have developed a new, potentially clean catalyst that can convert hydrogen and carbon dioxide into methanol with fewer side-products. The nickel-gallium catalyst offers promise for low-cost, low-pressure methanol production using renewable energy sources.
Researchers at Berkeley and Argonne National Labs developed a new class of bimetallic nanocatalysts, hollow polyhedral nanoframes of platinum and nickel, which feature a three-dimensional catalytic surface activity. These catalysts are significantly more efficient and far less expensive than the best platinum catalysts used in today's ...
A UConn team developed a novel process creating monomodal mesoporous metal oxides with uniform pores, allowing targeted molecules to flow in and out of the material. This 'green' technology has significant applications in adsorption, sensors, optics, magnetic, and energy products.