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Polyoxometalate-based coordination frameworks for CH4 generation in photoreduction of CO2

Researchers have developed polyoxometalate-based coordination frameworks that selectively reduce CO2 to methane with high photocatalytic activity. The integration of polyoxometalates and metalloporphyrin coordination frameworks enhances the reduction efficiency, allowing for the efficient conversion of CO2 to a valuable hydrocarbon fuel.

SourceScience China Press·JournalNational Science Review·DateAug 5, 2019

One-two-punch catalysts trapping CO2 for cleaner fuels

Scientists at DGIST have created a new photocatalyst that can convert sunlight into hydrocarbon fuels with improved efficiency. The addition of copper and platinum nanoparticles enhances the catalyst's ability to recycle atmospheric carbon dioxide., Researchers aim to further improve the technology to make it commercially viable.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateJun 7, 2019
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Innovative nanocoating technology harnesses sunlight to degrade microplastics

Researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology developed an innovative nanocoating technology that can degrade microplastics using visible light, reducing energy consumption and byproducts. The technology showed a 30% increase in degradation of low-density polyethylene microplastic residues.

SourcePensoft Publishers·JournalEnvironmental Chemistry Letters·DateFeb 21, 2019

Scientists develop metal-free photocatalyst to purify pathogen-rich water in minutes

Researchers from Yangzhou University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences create a metal-free photocatalyst that can purify pathogen-rich water in 30 minutes with over 99.9999% disinfection efficiency under visible light irradiation. The catalyst's high activity and low ecotoxicity make it a promising approach for global clean water sca...

SourceChinese Academy of Sciences Headquarters·JournalChem·DateFeb 7, 2019
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

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New material cleans and splits water

A new MOF-based photocatalytic system has been developed to simultaneously produce hydrogen and degrade organic pollutants in water. The system utilizes nickel phosphide and demonstrates efficient photocatalysis under visible light.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateNov 5, 2018

Nanodiamonds as photocatalysts

Researchers have discovered that nanodiamonds can be used as photocatalysts to produce methanol from CO2 and water. The process requires UV light excitation but recent studies suggest that intermediate stages can be created in the band gap by doping with foreign atoms, enabling visible spectrum usage.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry A·DateOct 18, 2018

A unique combination of catalysts opens doors to making useful compounds

Researchers have developed a new method for making valuable compounds by combining enzymatic and photocatalysts. The study, published in Nature, found that this combination can create important active pharmaceutical intermediates for producing pharmaceutical drugs.

SourceCarl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign·JournalNature·DateAug 16, 2018

Converting carbon dioxide into methane or ethane selectively

A research team led by Professor Su-Il In has developed high-efficiency photocatalysts that can selectively convert carbon dioxide into methane or ethane. The catalysts have shown promising results, with conversion rates higher than conventional reduced titanium dioxide photocatalysts.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateAug 13, 2018

New two-dimensional material could revolutionize solar fuel generation

Researchers have synthesized a new 2D material called hematene from iron ore, which exhibits enhanced photocatalytic properties. Hematene's ability to split water into hydrogen and oxygen makes it an efficient candidate for generating electricity.

SourceFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateJul 26, 2018
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Reducing CO2 with common elements and sunlight

A new photocatalyst composed of an organic semiconductor material and an iron complex selectively reduces CO2 to CO under visible light, converting the major factor of global warming into a valuable carbon resource. The efficiency of this process is comparable to that of precious metal or rare metal complexes.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJun 25, 2018

Nanomaterials hold promise for producing hydrogen from water

Researchers have developed a new method to boost the efficiency of photocatalysts using hollow gold-silver nanoshells. This innovation could lead to the production of large amounts of hydrogen gas using only water and sunlight. The technique has the potential to provide a clean and affordable source of energy.

SourceUniversity of Houston·DateMar 21, 2018

Solar-to-hydrogen conversion: Nanostructuring increases efficiency of metal-free photocatalysts by factor 11

Researchers developed nanostructured polymeric carbon nitrides as catalysts for hydrogen production, increasing efficiency under visible light irradiation. The nanostructure with large pores and specific functionalities improved the catalytic properties, approaching that of inorganic catalysts.

SourceHelmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateFeb 28, 2018
GoPro HERO13 Black

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Highly efficient photocatalyst capable of carbon dioxide recycling

Researchers at DGIST developed a highly efficient titanium dioxide-based photocatalyst that can convert carbon dioxide into methane. The newly created material shows the highest conversion rate of 12.49% and has been proven to increase methane conversion efficiency up to 29 times using platinum nanoparticles.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalMaterials Today·DateDec 1, 2017

New nanomaterial can extract hydrogen fuel from seawater

Researchers have developed a new hybrid nanomaterial that can efficiently extract hydrogen fuel from seawater using solar energy. This breakthrough could lead to a new source of clean-burning fuel, reducing demand for fossil fuels and boosting the economy of Florida.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·DateOct 4, 2017

A new way to produce clean hydrogen fuel from water using sunlight

Researchers at Osaka University developed a new metal-free photocatalyst that absorbs a wider range of sunlight than before, producing visible and near-infrared light-driven hydrogen from water. This breakthrough could lead to cheap and clean hydrogen fuel, tackling the challenges of the hydrogen economy.

SourceOsaka University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateOct 3, 2017
Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro Equatorial Mount

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New light-activated catalyst grabs CO2 to make ingredients for fuel

Scientists have developed a light-activated material that can chemically convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide without generating unwanted byproducts. The material, a nickel organic crystalline structure, showed near 100% selectivity for CO production and no detection of competing gas products.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience Advances·DateJul 28, 2017

Making hydrogen fuel from humid air

A team of researchers has created a photocatalyst that can generate hydrogen from water vapor using sunlight, producing the fuel without electrolytes or external power sources. The novel paint-like material can be applied to any surface, including building facades, and enables hydrogen production almost anywhere.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Nano·DateJun 14, 2017

New carbon nitride material coupled with ruthenium enhances visible-light CO2 reduction in water

A new nanomaterial capable of reducing CO2 with high selectivity and turnover number has been developed by Tokyo Tech. The material consists of carbon nitride nanosheets combined with a metal structure known as binuclear ruthenium(II) complex, resulting in unprecedented binding of RuRu' to the nanosheet surface.

SourceTokyo Institute of Technology·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 12, 2017

New photocatalyst speeds up the conversion of carbon dioxide into chemical resources

A new titania photocatalyst has been developed to convert carbon dioxide into methane three times more efficiently than existing catalysts. The photocatalyst's controlled band gap improves light absorption and charge separation, increasing the conversion rate of CO2 into methane.

SourceDGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalApplied Catalysis B Environment and Energy·DateMay 26, 2017
Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor

Aranet4 Home CO2 Monitor tracks ventilation quality in labs, classrooms, and conference rooms with long battery life and clear e-ink readouts.

Photocatalyst makes hydrogen production 10 times more efficient

Researchers at Kobe University have developed a new photocatalyst that increases hydrogen production tenfold. By deliberately creating a lack of uniformity in size and arrangement of crystals, the team was able to spatially separate electrons and holes, preventing recombination and increasing conversion efficiency.

SourceKobe University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateMay 18, 2017

Shedding light on the absorption of light by titanium dioxide

Researchers have shed light on the absorption of light by anatase titanium dioxide using cutting-edge spectroscopic techniques and theoretical calculations. They discovered that strongly bound excitons exhibit novel properties, including confinement to a two-dimensional plane and stability at room temperature.

SourceEcole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 13, 2017
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.

Clean water-treatment option targets sporadic outbreaks

David Wendell's technology targets harmful pathogens like E. coli, Listeria, and protozoa while preserving healthy bacteria in public drinking water. It uses light-generated hydrogen peroxide to eliminate outbreaks, without adding contaminants to the environment.

SourceUniversity of Cincinnati·JournalPLOS Biology·DateOct 5, 2016

Penn researchers move one step closer to sustainable hydrogen production

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new material that can produce hydrogen from sunlight and biomass-derived compounds, a step closer to creating a sustainable and clean energy source. The material uses titania nanorods to control the chemical reaction, increasing hydrogen production rates.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 30, 2016
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.

Solar energy: Hydrogen for all seasons

Chemists at LMU München have created a new class of porous organic materials that can be used as molecularly tunable photocatalysts for light-driven hydrogen gas production. These materials exhibit features facilitating photocatalytic processes and offer a combination of practicality and efficiency.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 30, 2015

Photoredox catalyst unlocks new pathways for nickel chemistry

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.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature·DateAug 12, 2015
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Degrading BPA with visible light and a new hybrid photocatalyst

Researchers have developed a hybrid photocatalyst using titanium dioxide nanoparticles, silver, and reduced graphene oxide that can break down BPA under visible light. This new material has significantly improved photocatalytic activity compared to traditional TiO2 nanoparticles.

SourceAmerican Institute of Physics·JournalAPL Materials·DateJul 21, 2015

New synthesis method may shape future of nanostructures, clean energy

A new synthesis method enables the creation of nanostructures that efficiently split water into hydrogen fuel using sunlight. The approach allows for the design and construction of higher-order nanostructures with specific symmetries or shapes, enabling potential applications in quantum computing, sensors, and clean energy.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalNature Communications·DateSep 2, 2014

Chemists challenge conventional understanding of how photocatalysis works

A team of chemists at UC Riverside proposes a new model explaining the promoting effect in photocatalysis, suggesting that excited electrons promote hydrogen reduction on the semiconductor surface rather than transferring to metals. This radical approach could lead to the development of more economical and efficient photocatalysts.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

Keeping fruit, vegetables and cut flowers fresh longer

A recent study published in Chemical Reviews suggests that photocatalysis offers the greatest potential for removing ethylene gas, reducing spoilage and financial losses. By transforming ethylene into carbon dioxide and water, this technology has the potential to increase food quality and availability globally.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalChemical Reviews·DateMay 15, 2013

New material approach should increase solar cell efficiency

Researchers at the University of Illinois have developed a new material approach that enhances visible light absorption in titanium dioxide, leading to increased solar cell efficiency. This breakthrough has significant implications for clean energy production, waste water purification, and other applications.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateApr 23, 2013
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Algal protein gives boost to electrochemical water splitting

Researchers have successfully created a nano-bio PEC electrode, consisting of iron oxide conjugated with a protein from blue-green algae, which is twice as efficient in water splitting as iron oxide alone. The use of phycocyanin, a light-harvesting protein, improves the electrode's ability to absorb photons and generate photocurrent.

SourceSwiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA)·JournalAdvanced Functional Materials·DateDec 19, 2011

A dash of disorder yields a very efficient photocatalyst

Researchers from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory created a durable and efficient photocatalyst that can collect solar energy to extract hydrogen from water. The disorder-engineered nanocrystal absorbs infrared light, making it attractive for use in clean-energy technologies.

SourceDOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory·JournalScience·DateJan 28, 2011