Articles tagged with Chemical Engineering
Researchers propose a Coulomb attraction-driven spontaneous molecule-hotspot pairing mechanism to achieve synergistic enhancement of electromagnetic and chemical mechanisms in surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. This synergy enables efficient detection of single molecules with improved universality, uniformity, robustness, and stability.
A research team at Politecnico di Milano has created a single-atom catalyst capable of selectively adapting its chemical activity. The catalyst, composed of palladium encapsulated in an organic structure, can 'switch' between two key reactions in organic chemistry by varying reaction conditions.
Researchers from the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences studied the biological effects of permanent magnetic fields and found that their distribution in space plays a critical role in healing. The study's detailed field maps offer practical guidance for optimizing magnet use in medicine and magnetobiology.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have created a more efficient method for manufacturing computer chips using ultraviolet-enabled atomic layer deposition (UV-ALD). This approach reduces the number of manufacturing steps, saving time and materials, while also minimizing the use of harmful chemicals.
MIT researchers developed a fully autonomous experimental platform that can efficiently identify optimal polymer blends. The system uses a genetic algorithm to explore a wide range of potential combinations and autonomously identifies hundreds of blends that outperform their constituent polymers. This workflow could lead to advancement...
Researchers have demonstrated a novel vaccine delivery method using dental floss, which stimulates the production of antibodies in mucosal surfaces, such as the lining of the nose and lungs. This technique has shown superior antibody response compared to current oral vaccination methods.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis have developed a new type of bioplastic, called LEAFF, which is strong, biodegradable, and printable. This innovation uses cellulose nanofibers to address the limitations of current bioplastics and has potential applications for sustainable packaging.
Researchers from NUS develop non-alternant carbon nanobelts featuring five-membered cyclopentadienyl units, allowing for improved electron flow and new electronic properties. The novel structures emit bright red light and exhibit small energy gaps, making them suitable for organic light-emitting diodes and solar cells.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute has received a National Science Foundation grant to study an electrochemical system for removing insoluble mineral deposits in water treatment. The goal is to develop a lower-cost, environmentally friendly system that can selectively remove scale-forming cations and prevent the buildup of harmful minerals.
Scientists create a new class of mechanochromic mechanophores that can detect and respond to mechanical stress in polymeric materials through fluorescence. The developed molecule exhibits excellent stress-sensing with high durability, offering a powerful tool for real-time monitoring of mechanical damage.
Researchers at Shibaura Institute of Technology have developed a scalable and safer method to generate hydrogen fluoride, eliminating the need for pressurized HF gas and corrosive liquid reagents. The new fluorinating complexes can be used for pharmaceuticals, functional materials, and molecular probes.
Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a novel method to generate metal carbenes, highly useful for drug synthesis and materials development. The new approach is 100 times better than previous methods, making it easier and safer to produce these short-lived carbon atoms.
Researchers developed a theoretical model that accurately describes the relationship between mechanical stress and chemical reactions, resolving discrepancies in previous studies. The new model helps predict mechanochemical reactions, promising for greener manufacturing and lubricant design.
Researchers developed a self-driving lab that collects at least 10 times more data than previous techniques, dramatically expediting materials discovery research while slashing costs and environmental impact. The system uses dynamic flow experiments to continuously characterize samples, capturing data every half second.
A new palladium-loaded a-IGZO catalyst achieved over 91% selectivity when converting CO2 to methanol, leveraging electronic properties of semiconductors. The study demonstrates novel design principles for sustainable catalysis based on electronic structure engineering.
Researchers developed a controlled 'living' click polymerization system to achieve well-defined polymers with narrow dispersity, enabling bidirectional synthesis of ABA-type block copolymers. The method leverages copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition and initiators to selectively drive monomer addition in a controlled manner.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have created a new way to build and control tiny particles that can move and work like microscopic robots. The team's method combines high-precision 3D printing and microstenciling, allowing for precise surface patches on active particles of arbitrary shape.
Researchers at OIST have synthesized a stable 20-electron ferrocene derivative, defying the traditional 18-electron rule. This breakthrough could lead to new applications in energy storage, chemical manufacturing, and sustainable chemistry.
University of Sydney researchers have developed a method to produce ammonia in gas form using electricity, offering a more sustainable alternative to the current Haber-Bosch process. This new approach reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, making it a promising solution for the agricultural and hydrogen industries.
The University of Illinois team created a user-friendly process to improve enzyme performance using AI and automated robotics. By predicting sequence changes and testing variants, they increased the activity of two key industrial enzymes by up to 26 times and 90 times.
Researchers developed an electrochemical conversion technology that achieves unprecedented performance in CO2-to-alcohol conversion, achieving a Faraday efficiency of 66.9%. The technology selectively produces allyl alcohol, a multi-carbon high-value-added compound, with potential applications in various industries.
A groundbreaking study reveals that small zooplankton like copepods and krill enhance carbon sequestration through seasonal migrations. These tiny creatures store around 65 million tonnes of carbon annually in the deep ocean.
Scientists developed a precise, cost-effective way to make chiral ketones for medicines, agrochemicals, and more using photocatalysis. This approach solves the challenge of reaching remote stereocenters in molecules, allowing for eco-friendly production of valuable chemicals.
Scientists developed an algorithm that can accurately simulate atomic interactions on material surfaces, reducing the need for massive computing power. This breakthrough enables the analysis of complex chemical processes in just two percent of unique configurations, paving the way for improved battery performance.
A team of researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology, Japan, has developed a novel fluorinating quaternary ammonium complex with extremely low hygroscopicity, making it an excellent reagent for electrochemical fluorination. The new agent was synthesized by combining KF with tetrabutylammonium bromide and showed promise in pharma...
International Journal of Extreme Manufacturing (IJEM) achieves a new Impact Factor of 21.3, surpassing 20 for the first time and maintaining its position as top journal in the field. IJEM has attracted submissions from 853 institutions in 81 countries.
Researchers at MIT and Scripps Research Institute developed a vaccine that generates many more HIV-targeting B cells in mice with just one dose, using two adjuvants. The dual-adjuvant vaccine produces a wider diversity of antibodies against an HIV antigen, allowing the immune system to build up a stronger response.
A new study reveals how nanoparticles can interfere with photosynthesis in plants, reducing their ability to convert sunlight into food. The research team found that nanoparticles undergo changes in pH and pick up lipid coatings from plant membranes, boosting their binding to RuBisCO and impairing its function.
Researchers at Politecnico di Milano have developed a system that allows bacteria to sense light and convert it into electrical signals without genetic modification. This method has the potential to develop next-generation antimicrobial platforms and biocompatible 'bacterial robots' for targeted drug delivery.
A team of researchers from the University of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering has successfully applied metabolic labeling to platelets, enabling targeted drug delivery systems. The innovation uses chemical tags to track platelet activity, allowing for precise cargo loading and reduced long-term exposure.
Researchers at Pohang University of Science & Technology have developed a novel iron-based catalyst that more than doubles the conversion efficiency of thermochemical green hydrogen production. The new catalyst, iron-poor nickel ferrite (Fe-poor NiFe2O4), enables significantly greater oxygen capacity even at lower temperatures.
Triboelectric and piezoelectric nanogenerators convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, enhancing robotic autonomy and efficiency. The technology has the potential to reshape future robotic capabilities, particularly in industrial automation, healthcare, and smart home applications.
The Carbon Hub brings together scientists, industry leaders, and policymakers to reimagine hydrocarbons as sources of clean hydrogen and advanced carbon materials. This process could address energy access, emissions, and unsustainable material usage, potentially avoiding gigatons of CO2.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new approach to boost the efficiency of electrochemical carbon dioxide capture and release by introducing a simple intermediate step that facilitates both capture and release. The new method uses nanofiltration membranes to separate ions in the solution based on their charge, allowing for more effici...
Scientists at the University of Surrey have developed a breakthrough in eco-friendly batteries that store more energy and capture carbon dioxide. The new lithium-CO₂ 'breathing' batteries use a low-cost catalyst to overcome efficiency issues, potentially leading to widespread adoption and reducing emissions.
Researchers introduced tetramethylammonium chloride to suppress SnO2 nanoparticle agglomeration, reducing pinhole defects and improving colloidal stability. The molecular anchor strategy bridged the performance gap between laboratory-scale and large-area devices, achieving high efficiency and durability.
Wiley adds new data to its KnowItAll Raman Spectral Library collection, bringing the total to over 27,000 spectra. This expansion enhances lab efficiency and accuracy through reliable spectral analysis.
Researchers at Virginia Tech have designed a new metallic material alloy with superior mechanical properties, leveraging data-driven frameworks and explainable AI. This breakthrough accelerates the discovery of advanced metallic alloys, offering insights into materials' structure-property relationships.
Researchers at the University of Córdoba have created a formula for a self-repairing grout that can seal cracks in large buildings. The grout incorporates crystalline additives, which react with water to generate crystals capable of sealing cracks, minimizing infrastructure deterioration.
Scientists have developed a novel CT-ICT system that utilizes a pyrazinacene derivative to facilitate reversible color-changing properties. The system, which co-crystallizes with naphthalene, demonstrates a dramatic color shift from greenish-blue to red-violet.
Researchers have developed an innovative catalyst made from cobalt-nickel alloy encapsulated within ceramic material Sm2O3-doped CeO2 (SDC), achieving 90% energy efficiency and sustaining performance over 2,000 hours. The breakthrough could significantly reduce operating costs by 60-80% compared to existing technologies.
Researchers develop new recycling concept using fatty acids to extract silver from electronic waste, making it financially viable. The process uses light and diluted hydrogen peroxide, resulting in a sustainable separation method.
The article reviews current AI applications in chemical product design, process synthesis and design, process control and monitoring, and process safety and hazards. Hybrid AI approaches are being developed to find optimal processing routes and designs, considering sustainability criteria.
Researchers developed a tin (Sn)-modified Ce–Nb mixed-oxide catalyst that enhances NOx conversion rates and hydrothermal stability. The study provides a promising solution for diesel vehicle emission control, improving air quality and meeting environmental regulations.
Researchers at TUM have developed a new material that exceeds existing records for ion conductivity in solid-state batteries by incorporating scandium into a lithium antimonide compound, creating specific gaps for easier lithium movement
Scientists create two innovative electrolysis systems that use urea found in urine and wastewater to produce green hydrogen at a lower cost than traditional methods. The breakthrough overcomes limitations such as toxic by-products and corrosion issues, paving the way for scalable production.
Rasika Dias, a renowned chemist at UTA, has been named a 2025 fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry for his groundbreaking contributions to chemical sciences. He is the second chemistry faculty member to receive this honor.
Physicists at the University of Miami have discovered a unique molecule that can conduct electricity without losing energy, paving the way for smaller and more powerful computing devices. The molecule, composed of chemical elements found in nature, offers unparalleled electrical conductance and stability under everyday conditions.
Researchers develop advanced materials from plant waste, enhancing wood strength without increasing weight or harming the environment. The treatment used is simple, cost-effective and safe, making it a potential replacement for traditional construction materials.
Researchers developed a new model called React-OT that can predict the transition state of chemical reactions in under a second with high accuracy. The model uses linear interpolation to generate better initial guesses, reducing the number of steps and computation time needed.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new method to fabricate stretchable ceramics, glass, and metals using a double-network design. This material can stretch over four times its size without breaking, making it suitable for tear-resistant textiles and flexible semiconductors.
Bacteria use tactile sensors to detect surfaces and trigger biochemical signals for colonization. Understanding mechanosensing is crucial for improving gut health and preventing biofouling in industries.
Chemists have confirmed a 67-year-old theory about vitamin B1 by stabilizing a reactive molecule in water. The discovery opens doors to more efficient ways of making pharmaceuticals using cleaner solvents.
Researchers demonstrate ultrafast transparency switching across multiple wavelengths using single laser excitation in germanium, opening possibilities for advanced optical technologies. The study highlights the potential of Ge as a key material for ultrafast optical switching with promising applications in high-speed data transmission ...
Researchers have developed a building material that uses fungal mycelium and bacteria cells, which can self-repair for at least a month. This innovation has the potential to replace conventional building materials with high carbon footprints like cement, reducing emissions and promoting sustainability.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed new membranes for desalination that can help eliminate brine waste and produce more sustainable freshwater. The membranes are packed with charge and increase conductivity, allowing them to move more salt with less power.
Researchers develop novel synthesis method for multi-shelled gold clusters and precisely remove atoms to study magnetic spin influence on catalytic behavior. They find that spin density concentrates more on iodine atoms than sulfur atoms, indicating potential role in tuning catalytic properties.
Researchers from Waseda University used machine learning to enhance the performance of photomechanical crystals, achieving up to 3.7 times greater force output compared to previously reported values. This breakthrough has significant implications for remote-controlled actuators, medical devices, and energy-efficient systems.
A new phenomenon in modern batteries has been discovered by Texas Engineers, which could improve their life cycles. Researchers found a temporary version of the film that forms on the metal anode during discharge speeds and dissolves back into the battery when finished.
Researchers at MIT engineered bacteria to produce unique wavelengths of light that can be detected using hyperspectral cameras. This technology could enable the development of bacterial sensors for agricultural applications, such as monitoring crop health and detecting pollutants.