Articles tagged with Physical Chemistry
Researchers at Ritsumeikan University developed a way to control molecular shape, electron transfer, assembly, and pressure-responsive properties by changing counterions. The findings reveal counteranions can modulate ultrafast electron transfer and pressure-responsive photophysical properties, enabling the creation of smart materials.
Researchers at Bielefeld University have discovered that microcline's most common surface is sufficient for ice to form in an ordered manner, known as epitaxial growth. This finding provides a new perspective on the importance of uncommon ice faces for understanding ice nucleation.
Researchers used 3D electron microscopy to capture direct evidence of electric fields at air-water interfaces, opening a path to rationally designed clean-energy materials. The study found a repulsive force holding thinnest films together, reaching 10 megapascals, and provided chemical evidence for the electric field's existence.
An international team of researchers simulated proton motions in water with unprecedented accuracy, finding that the configuration of surrounding water molecules determines proton movement. The study expands current understanding of how water shapes proton transport.
Researchers developed an AI framework that extracts and organizes large amounts of information about plastic chemicals from text and images. The system achieved high accuracy and completeness in extracted data, identifying 2,144 chemicals with persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity characteristics.
A novel measurement cell enables in-situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements under high pressures and temperatures, providing new insights into thermocatalytic processes such as the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The setup is suitable for investigating catalytic gas-solid reactions under realistic operating conditions.
Laser light controls molecular structures by triggering IR-induced isomerization, allowing for precise control over chemical reactions. The technique enables the measurement of molecular fingerprints and provides insight into fundamental dynamics governing chemistry.
A team at Graz University of Technology has solved the puzzle of MOF thin film structure using advanced diffraction techniques and computational modeling. They found that prototypical Cu(bdc) thin films are not porous as expected, but instead densely packed with additional hydroxide groups.
A study by Chiba University researchers reveals the structural origins of widely debated defect peaks in carbon materials. They used isotropic pitch-based carbon fiber to analyze various defects, including oxygen-containing functional groups and vacancy defects.
Applying a magnetic field during catalyst synthesis triples the ammonia yield, making catalytically active sites more accessible. The study demonstrates a scalable strategy for developing next-generation electrocatalysts for efficient and sustainable chemical production.
A new quantum chemistry method predicts the behavior of molecules under light with lower computational cost, enabling the study of larger systems and complex reaction pathways. This breakthrough advances the discovery of next-generation materials and deepens understanding of molecular behavior under light.
Professor Marc Koper has been recognized for his pioneering research in electrochemistry and catalysis, crucial for developing sustainable energy technologies. His team's theoretical models explain copper's pivotal role as a catalyst in converting CO2 into hydrocarbons.
Researchers develop novel microscopy technique to study energy materials, revealing electronic and magnetic phenomena on femtosecond and picosecond timescales. The technique enables spatially resolved imaging of ultrafast electro-magnetic phenomena across large fields of view.
A new study reveals that magnetic fields can shape the behavior of biological molecules, influencing their chirality and interaction with electron spin. This discovery could help explain how chemical processes operate in biological systems and may offer new insights into the origins of life.
A new method using rheo-impedance spectroscopy links slurry shear conditions to battery performance, enabling data-driven optimization and improved manufacturing efficiency. The study found an optimal 'sweet spot' in processing conditions that balances breaking up particle clusters with maintaining electrical pathways.
Three young scientists in Israel have been awarded the prestigious Blavatnik Awards for their innovative research in chemistry, cancer biology, and astrophysics. Sergey Semenov, Uri Ben-David, and Paz Beniamini will each receive US$100,000 to advance their projects on complex materials, cancer treatments, and extreme cosmic events.
The study reveals that the first four layers of water molecules possess a well-defined orientational structure with alternating molecular tilt and twist angles. This new understanding has important implications for processes at aqueous interfaces, including electrochemical devices such as batteries.
Researchers demonstrate a new way to control quantum behavior using materials design alone by freezing molecular hydrogen in dry ice. This technique could improve energy storage for hydrogen fuel, memory for quantum computing, and measure comet temperatures in outer space.
The new facility enables scientists to observe and measure detonation forces in unprecedented detail, shedding light on industrial safety risks and potential breakthroughs. Researchers aim to develop safer designs and protocols by examining detonation disasters like the Buncefield Fire.
A team of researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology has identified the underlying cause of water's unique properties, solving a fundamental mystery in science. They have observed water's liquid-liquid critical point, which marks the transition from two distinct liquid states into a single supercritical liquid state.
Researchers propose a novel molecular system to address surface defects and suppress ion migration in perovskite solar cells. The dual-functional molecule, [12]-C-4POR, traps specific ions with its cyclic binding sites, enhancing device stability and performance.
A new NMR method has enabled the direct observation of heterochalcogen bonds in redox systems, revealing strong redox activity. This innovative approach allows for the generation and characterization of trichalcogenide molecules containing sulfur, selenium, or tellurium.
Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry have developed a unique system that uses magnetic fields to spatially organize endothelial cells onto microparticles, creating vascular systems with well-defined micro-architecture. This technology has the potential to revolutionize personalized drug testing and precision medicine by...
Researchers have developed a new chemistry-based strategy to localize therapeutic drugs to tumors, reducing harm to healthy tissues. The 'lock-and-key' system uses biorthogonal supramolecular chemistry to release drugs in specific locations, offering a potential path to safer and more precise cancer treatment.
A study from Sultan Qaboos University's Department of Physics investigates how surface functionalization affects gold nanoparticle behavior. The research uses molecular dynamics simulations to show that varying surface coverage density can influence thermodynamic behavior and stability.
The study reveals a novel hydrogen-bonding motif in the deprotonated dimer of phosphoric acid, which may be key to understanding proton transport in phosphoric acid-based systems. This finding provides insight into the molecular origin of phosphoric acid's extraordinary proton conductivity.
A team from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, has developed a method to control the shape of microfibers using electricity. This breakthrough enables the creation of miniaturized actuators that can change shape on demand, opening up possibilities for novel applications in micromechanics and soft robotics.
Scientists propose a solution to inactivate bacteriophages without destroying bacterial strains, using polymeric nanospheres that interact with phage surface charges. The nanoparticles are effective against 95% of phages and could provide a safer alternative to existing anti-phage strategies.
Researchers quantify interactions of P407 micelles in PBS to understand gelation behavior and release mechanisms. The study reveals stronger attractive forces between micelles in saline, affecting gel stability and structural fluctuations.
ASU researchers use DNA to store and protect information in fundamentally new ways, offering a nature-inspired alternative to silicon-based solutions. The approach uses tiny DNA structures that act like physical letters to record and analyze electrical signals, providing high accuracy and scalability.
The B-STING silica nanocomposite acts as a nanofactory of reactive oxygen species, activating itself in response to changes in the chemical environment. This material can be used to create biocidal coatings that are safe, durable, and resistant to dirt, with potential applications in medicine and other industries.
A team of researchers investigated electron-transfer-mediated decay (ETMD), a key process in radiation chemistry and biological damage. They found that atoms undergo pronounced roaming-like motion, reshaping molecular geometry and influencing decay timing.
Researchers have successfully controlled the rotation of molecules suspended in liquid helium nano-droplets using a new optical centrifuge. This breakthrough enables scientists to study the behavior of exotic, frictionless superfluids and understand how molecules interact with the quantum environment at various rotational frequencies.
Scientists successfully observed a quinoxalinyl radical forming within nanoseconds using µSR spectroscopy. The technique enabled real-time detection of highly reactive aromatic heterocyclic radicals in isocyanide insertion reactions.
Researchers have discovered a unique cobalt-based molecule that can function as a spin quantum bit, providing a new design strategy for molecular materials used in quantum information technologies. The molecule exhibits slow magnetic relaxation and delocalized electron spins, allowing it to stabilize the quantum state.
Researchers have developed a new microscope that uses nonlinear optics to visualize hBN, a 2D material previously impossible to study. The technique enables live imaging of the material's crystal orientation and reveals its high nonlinearity in vibrational resonance.
Researchers at Hokkaido University developed an environmentally friendly method to synthesize organosodium reagents using ball-milling mechanochemistry. This approach replaces traditional methods using highly reactive and toxic materials, offering a sustainable alternative in organic synthesis.
A ring-shaped 'cap' has been found to regulate the connection of gap junctions, enabling the direct exchange of information between cells. This discovery may hold implications for controlling electrical signals in the heart or intestine.
Researchers at Boston College have identified a novel bacterium that can thrive on spent battery waste, producing protons capable of leaching electrode materials. The bacteria, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, also shows promise in recycling Li-Ion battery cathode materials using iron and stainless steel as food sources.
Aarhus University researchers have developed a transparent layer with silver nanorings that adapts to sunlight intensity, controlling heat entry through glass without dimming the view. The thermoplasmonic effect reduces near-infrared transmission, lowering cooling demand and CO₂ emissions in energy-efficient buildings.
Researchers at the Fritz Haber Institute have made significant strides in understanding the complex interactions within multi-promoted ammonia synthesis catalysts. The study reveals that promoter phases and structural transformations are crucial for forming an active catalyst configuration.
Researchers Jeremy McCormack and Andrei Kuzhelev at Goethe University are investigating the reasons behind prehistoric shark extinctions using new isotopic analysis methods. They also develop a novel nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique to study large biomolecules.
Researchers developed a new model and theory to explain nanoparticle growth dynamics, accounting for six essential characteristics of nanoparticle growth. The new theory provides fresh physical insights into the role of nanoparticle motion and configurational degeneracy on their nucleation and growth.
Scientists have created a new class of nanocrystals with exceptional thermal and chemical stability, showcasing impressive gas adsorption capabilities. The discoveries could lead to the development of advanced porous solid-state materials.
Researchers discovered a new 'In and Out' mechanism where CO₂ briefly dips into the topmost layer of water, reacts, and then reemerges. This challenges previous assumptions about where and how CO₂ can turn into carbonic acid, suggesting faster ocean acidification.
A team led by Ruth Signorell at ETH Zurich has found a previously unknown reaction pathway for urea formation on water surfaces under ambient conditions. This spontaneous reaction could have occurred on prebiotic Earth and provides insights into the origin of life.
Researchers have developed a new approach to create defective carbon nitride, a metal-free semiconductor that enhances solar-driven chemical reactions. The material shows improved photocatalytic performance due to its increased surface area and density of active sites, leading to higher yields in hydrogen peroxide generation.
Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, used molecular-scale simulations to understand ice formation. They found that the arrangement of water molecules in the two layers closest to the surface is crucial for nucleation, promoting a low-dimensional hexagonal crystal lattice at the surface.
Researchers have developed a theoretical model that enhances passive radiative cooling by generating positive photon chemical potential, allowing for more efficient heat emission. The system can reach cooling powers of up to 485 watts per square meter, surpassing typical radiation power from a blackbody at room temperature.
The Mass Query Language (MassQL) tool empowers scientists to uncover previously unknown pollutants in massive chemical datasets. It has identified toxic compounds hidden in plain sight, including organophosphate esters and chemicals from breaking down over time.
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 from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, have identified unusual phosphorus molecules in space. These molecules, including phosphabutadiyne and vinylphosphaethyne, were studied using cryogenic techniques and infrared spectroscopy, providing new insights into their formation and properties.
Scientists used radiation-induced reactions to convert corrosive Cr³⁺ to less-corrosive Cr²⁺, potentially mitigating metal alloy corrosion in molten salt nuclear reactors. The findings could improve the long-term reliability of these new reactors.
A new study by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo hints that calcium ions played a crucial role in shaping life's earliest molecular structures. The team discovered that calcium dramatically alters how tartaric acid molecules link together, favoring homochiral polymers and potentially influencing the emergence of life.
Scientists at Ruhr University Bochum have shed light on the structure of supercritical water, finding that water molecules form few hydrogen bonds in this state. The research reveals that water behaves like a gas, with short-lived molecular interactions between hydrogen and oxygen atoms.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered the first organometallic molecule containing berkelium, a highly radioactive element. The discovery reveals that berkelium exhibits a unique tetravalent oxidation state, challenging traditional understanding of its behavior in the periodic table.
A recent study found that polyester microdroplets can form in salt-rich environments, at low alpha-hydroxy acid concentrations, and in small reaction volumes. This expands on previous research and suggests that polyester protocells were likely more common on early Earth than previously thought.
A research team led by Paolo Falcaro has developed a microporous crystal compound that detects toxic chemical compounds produced when protein-rich foods spoil. The ERC Proof of Concept Grant will explore practical applications for the composite ink, which changes color depending on the concentration of toxic compounds.
An international team of scientists created a platinum-nickel nanolayer on an electrode using electrodeposition, observing the formation of spherical nanoparticles with densely branched structures. TEM and STXM imaging revealed the layer's composition as nickel(II) oxide and metallic platinum.
Researchers have developed a simple model system to break down fibrils into their constituent single units or liquid droplets. This discovery has the potential to treat neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's by targeting pathological fibrils.