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CityU chemists develop a strategy for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

A research team from City University of Hong Kong and Imperial College London developed a new strategy for highly efficient and stable perovskite solar cells using ferrocene molecules. The breakthrough invention can achieve efficiency of up to 25% while maintaining stability, making it a promising alternative to silicon solar cells.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 21, 2022

Rural air pollution may be as hazardous as urban, study finds

Researchers found that rural areas have similar levels of oxidative potential as urban areas, challenging the misconception that air pollution is more toxic in urban settings. The study also showed that summertime agricultural activity can produce PM2.5 particles that are just as toxic as those from urban settings.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Hazardous Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 27, 2022

Predict phosphine reactivity with one simple metric

Researchers developed a predictive tool using %V bur (min) to categorize phosphine structures as active or inactive in many experimental datasets. This advancement will facilitate organometallic chemistry and catalysis, enabling easier computation and prediction of phosphine reactivity.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalScience·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateOct 14, 2021

Mining waste could be used as an ingredient for cheaper hydrogen fuel production

Researchers have discovered a way to use mining waste as part of a potential cheaper catalyst for hydrogen fuel production. The new catalyst triggers water splitting reactions using aluminosilicate minerals found in mining waste, which could lead to lower production costs and increased efficiency.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalAdvanced Energy and Sustainability Research·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 7, 2021

MTU engineers clean up water pollution with sunlight

Michigan Tech researchers developed a model to calculate how particular chemicals break down in surface water using singlet oxygen, which degrades contaminants and helps protect our waterways. The study's findings can aid environmental engineers and scientists in estimating half-lives of chemicals and predicting their degradation rates.

SourceMichigan Technological University·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 10, 2021

Machine learning innovation to develop chemical library

Researchers at Purdue University have developed a machine learning model that can predict reaction outcomes and test new reactions in a blind prospective manner. The model uses statistical robust machine learning models trained on a small number of reactions to provide interpretable chemical reactivity flowcharts.

SourcePurdue University·JournalOrganic Letters·DateNov 18, 2020

Big game hunting for a more versatile catalyst

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.

SourceHarvard University·JournalScience·DateSep 12, 2019

Green plastic production made easy

Researchers have developed an energy-efficient method to synthesize bioplastic ingredients, overcoming a key limitation in large-scale production. The new technique uses a gold nanoparticle catalyst and achieves high conversion rates, making it more practical for commercial production of sustainable 'green products'.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalACS Catalysis·DateApr 16, 2019

Novel in vitro approaches for toxicity testing of inhaled substances

Researchers have made significant progress in developing computational models, human tissue-based assays, and other advanced systems to assess the toxicity of inhaled materials without using animals. These novel approaches aim to improve safety and regulatory compliance in industries such as pharmaceuticals and personal care.

SourceMary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News·JournalApplied In Vitro Toxicology·DateJun 14, 2018

Water is not the same as water

Scientists have successfully separated two forms of water, ortho- and para-water, which exhibit different chemical reactivities due to their nuclear spin orientations. These findings were reported in Nature Communications and confirmed by computer simulations.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 29, 2018

Bubbly graphene: how cool or hot are you?

Researchers at the Center for Multidimensional Carbon Materials successfully measured and controlled the temperature of individual graphene bubbles using a single laser beam. The study found that the temperature oscillates with bubble height, allowing for efficient heating of specific regions within the bubble.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateMay 10, 2018

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.

SourceBrown University·JournalNature Catalysis·DateApr 20, 2018

Name that scotch

Researchers developed a novel sensor array that can detect and differentiate among a diverse range of aldehydes and ketones, providing a sensitive, fast, and inexpensive method for identifying volatile compounds. The array allows for the detection of chemical toxins, safety inspections, and preventative screening in various fields.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 21, 2017

Chemistry on the edge

A team of researchers at Berkeley Lab used a unique infrared probe to pinpoint areas on single metallic particles where chemical reactivity occurs. This technique reveals the detailed chemistry occurring on the surface of particles, enabling customization of structural properties for more effective catalysis.

MIT team creates ultracold molecules

Researchers successfully cooled sodium potassium molecules to a temperature just above absolute zero, creating exotic states of matter with strong dipole moments. The ultracold molecules exhibited long lifetimes and resisted reactive collisions, paving the way for new discoveries in quantum mechanics.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateJun 10, 2015

Chemistry with sorted molecules

Scientists successfully sort individual conformers of a molecule using an electric field, showing that their spatial structure affects their chemical reactivity. The new method provides insight into fundamental reaction mechanisms with potential applications in chemical catalysis and molecule synthesis.

SourceUniversity of Basel·JournalScience·DateOct 3, 2013

How basil gets its zing

Researchers at the Salk Institute have solved part of the molecular puzzle behind basil's characteristic warm and sweet aroma, providing a three-dimensional snapshot of the enzyme Eugenol Synthase. The study reveals how this enzyme produces eugenol, a fragrant molecule responsible for basil's spicy overtones.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 2, 2007