Articles tagged with Polymers
A research team has developed a platinum-free biocatalyst that efficiently produces hydrogen using electricity and generates electricity from hydrogen. The enzyme system is embedded in a polymer film, making it viable for industrial use, with potential applications in fuel cells and water electrolysis.
Researchers at UC3M's 4D-BIOMAP project have developed magneto-active polymers that can alter mechanical properties, stiffness, and shape. These materials could be used in epithelial wound healing stimulation, soft robots, and artificial muscles, revolutionizing biomedical engineering.
Scientists at Texas A&M University designed a new type of battery that eliminates the need for metals and flammable electrolytes. The metal-free, water-based battery shows improved energy storage performance despite lower capacity compared to traditional Li-ion batteries.
A team of researchers has developed a method to create biodegradable polymer microcapsules with non-spherical shapes, which can enhance targeted drug delivery. The capsules are designed using soft lithography and have shown promising results in retaining hydrophilic molecules and being internalized by cells without causing toxic effects.
University of Maryland researchers have made surprising discoveries about the behavior of functionalized nanochannels, including the phenomenon of overscreening, where a negatively charged polymer layer can become positively charged due to attraction of positive ions. The team also found that increasing the electric field strength can ...
Researchers have proposed a new microscopic theory of polymer gel collapse, shedding light on the dramatic reduction in volume of zwitterionic hydrogels when cooled. The theory explains the role of electrostatic interactions between polymer units in leading to gel collapse, and identifies key parameters that influence this transition.
A new polymer-based battery can charge in seconds, outperforming traditional lithium-ion batteries. It is also safer and has a lower environmental impact due to the use of nickel instead of cobalt.
Researchers successfully synthesize armchair graphene nanoribbons (AGNRs) on Cu(111) via lateral fusion of poly(para-phenylene). Oxygen introduction reduces temperature required for reaction, opening up new avenues for surface chemistry. This breakthrough could benefit various dehydrogenation reactions in on-surface synthesis.
Researchers developed PTVT-T, a low-cost polymer with high photovoltaic performance, revitalizing classical conjugated polymers for efficient OSCs. The study achieved a remarkable 16.2% efficiency and demonstrated the potential of PTVT-T to match with new emerging acceptor materials.
Researchers at University of Illinois developed a new mechanophore molecule that changes color when applied with stress, enabling rapid detection of material failure. This breakthrough could enable better monitoring and response to overstressed materials in various fields.
GIST scientists create a radiative cooler that keeps wearable devices cool even under direct sunlight, enabling accurate measurements and improving human body monitoring. The innovative material has high reflectivity and emissivity, making it suitable for outdoor wearables.
Scientists from Japan's Institute for Molecular Science have created a new recipe for stable radical-based coordination polymers, which have potential applications in electronics and spintronics. The materials exhibit photoluminescence properties and can be produced using different metal ions or complexes.
Researchers at University of British Columbia discovered a simple polymer additive can cut agricultural pollution in half by improving fertilizer stickiness. The study found that combining fertilizers with a miniscule amount of polyethylene oxide nearly eliminated environmental loss, reducing percentage from 30 to just five.
Engineers at the University of California, Riverside developed a flexible film that combines excellent electromagnetic shielding with ease of manufacture, promising for high-frequency communication technologies. The film, made from a polymer matrix filled with bundles of quasi-one-dimensional van der Waals materials, demonstrates excep...
Researchers found that microbes from termite species can break down lignin, the toughest of three polymers in straw, up to 37%. The microbes also efficiently degrade hemicelluloses and cellulose, which could lead to increased biofuel production.
The new sensor measures small pressure changes in the body with high sensitivity and can detect pressure changes of just 2 kilopascals. It is designed to be implantable for long-term health monitoring and has a resolution of 2.0 kilopascals.
Researchers demonstrate that anionic polymers can inactivate human coronaviruses quickly and efficiently, with full inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 possible in just 5 minutes.
Researchers at Uppsala University have developed a new method to produce sustainable hydrogen using composite polymer nanoparticles. The 'polymer dots' showed promising performance and stability in laboratory tests, with a 7% efficiency rate at 600 nanometres.
Pitt and CMU researchers create a high-torque light-powered actuator that can compete with electrical and pneumatic systems. By forming a polymer sheet into a curved shape, the bending action happens quickly and generates more torque.
A new strategy enhances the performance of polymer membranes for filtering CO2 from industrial emissions by integrating metal-organic frameworks. The MOF-filled polymer membranes demonstrated outstanding characteristics, including high permeability and selectivity towards CO2, as well as stability and tolerance to harsh conditions.
Researchers have developed a novel inkjet printing method to fabricate biocompatible polymer microdisk lasers for biosensing. The approach allows for the production of both laser and sensor in an open-air environment, enabling on-site biosensing for health monitoring and disease diagnostics.
Researchers developed segmented polyurethane polymers with hard and soft functional segments containing a 'mechanophore' molecule that splits into radicals under mechanical stress. This triggers cross-linking between polymers, enhancing their strength and enabling intuitive damage detection.
The KAUST team created conjugated microporous polymers with uniform pore sizes and high surface area through electropolymerization. These membranes showed faster solvent transport and narrow molecular sieving due to their unique structure.
A new polymer patch provides controlled release of a drug blocking COX-2 enzyme, driving pain and inflammation. The patch can provide three to four days of localized pain control for critical post-surgical period.
Researchers at the Niels Bohr Institute designed a porous polymer capable of capturing small molecules, including toxic ammonia. The polymer's strong binding properties have significant implications for reducing environmental harm and improving human health.
Scientists at Incheon National University investigated the impact of crosslinker length on anion-exchange membrane fuel cell performance. They found that excessive crosslinker length can compromise properties, but optimal lengths improve AEMs' hydrophilicity and conductivity.
Researchers from RUDN University have synthesized new chitin-based antibiotics with enhanced antibacterial activity, outperforming existing compounds like ampicillin and gentamicin. The newly created substances also exhibit non-toxicity and potential as catalysts in organic synthesis.
Researchers have developed a new method for storing digital information in biological molecules using aerolysin nanopores. This technology has the potential to revolutionize data storage by offering high accuracy, low costs, and compactness.
Researchers at Hiroshima University created a blended solar cell by adding a compound that absorbs long wavelengths of light, increasing the device's efficiency by 1.5 times. The team discovered that distributing the material is key to further improved power generation efficiency.
Researchers at Dartmouth College have discovered a class of molecular materials that can be used to make temporary adhesives that don't require force for removal. These non-permanent glues offer expanded design strategies for bonding surfaces together and can lead to new manufacturing techniques and pharmaceutical design.
Researchers have developed a method to pattern hundreds-of-meters-long multimaterial fibers with embedded functional elements, enabling the creation of customized devices. This breakthrough could pave the way for new fiber-based devices and smart textiles.
Researchers at Penn State created functional membraneless 'protocells' from short polymers that can sequester RNA and maintain distinct internal microenvironments. The protocells were stable in various salt concentrations and performed certain functions of a protocell, suggesting they could be relevant models for early life on Earth.
Researchers designed a catapult-like hydrogel that can store and release elastic energy, achieving high contractile force and ultrahigh work density. The material overcomes mechanical weakness in traditional hydrogels, enabling controllable multistable deformation and programmable elasticity.
Researchers developed a high-throughput approach to analyze interactions between materials and viruslike particles, identifying competitive adsorbents of Lassa and Rubella viruses. The study aims to expand to SARS-CoV-2 and evaluate viral infectious lifetime on the materials.
Researchers developed silicon-polymer hybrid modulators that can transmit 200 gigabits of data per second at up to 110 °C, enabling fast and reliable optical data interconnections in harsh environments. This breakthrough could help reduce datacenter cooling costs by nearly 40%.
Researchers developed an implantable smart wrap that detects when the bladder needs to be emptied and sends a signal to expand or contract. The device addresses the under-active bladder condition, where patients have difficulty urinating regularly.
Researchers from TUM have visualized the changes in bottle-brush polymers using neutron radiation, enabling a deeper understanding of their behavior at different temperatures. This knowledge can be used to optimize their chemical structure for practical applications.
Membraneless compartments, known as complex coacervates, respond predictably to wet-dry cycling, a process likely common during the early development of life on Earth. The behavior informs current applications of the droplets found in household items and has implications for the evolution of life.
Researchers have developed a new polymer that can be applied to textile fibers, turning them into flexible solar collectors. These solar concentrators can capture a wider spectrum of light and offer an immense benefit for portable devices.
A randomized trial found that durable polymer drug-eluting stents are non-inferior to biodegradable polymers in patients with acute coronary syndrome, with a higher risk of device-oriented composite endpoint. The study suggests improved outcomes for patients with significant coronary stenosis and eligible for stent implantation.
Researchers discovered that polyphosphate synthesis is deeply integrated with cellular metabolism, allowing organisms to adapt to nutrient deprivation. This knowledge could enable scientists to engineer the metabolism of organisms to be more resilient in a range of environments.
Researchers have developed core-sheath polymer fibers that combine strength with bioactivity, enabling various biomedical applications. The fibers can be tailored to specific needs by carefully selecting inner and outer layer materials, and can even include antiviral agents or drugs.
Researchers found that molecular dynamics simulations confirm interactions between triplet excitons and impurities in polymer layers significantly enhance PLED efficiency. This new understanding could lead to more widespread applications of the devices in the future.
Researchers from Eindhoven University of Technology and University Paris-Saclay found a five-phase equilibrium in mixtures, breaking the Gibbs phase rule. The discovery provides useful insights for industries working with complex mixtures.
Scientists from KIT and Heidelberg University have developed a photoresist for two-photon microprinting, enabling the creation of three-dimensional polymer microstructures with cavities in the nano range. The novel material allows for controlled porosity and affects light scattering properties.
Researchers have successfully observed the desorption of long polymer chains from a surface, classifying it as a first-order phase transition. This breakthrough study uses fast scanning calorimetry to measure heat exchange and characterizes the elusive adsorption/desorption transition.
Researchers developed a smart wall that functions as both a support structure and a cooling system, potentially lowering energy bills. Scientists also discovered a way to control the size of magnetic quasi-particles called skyrmions, which could advance high-density data storage and quantum magnets. Additionally, a new method for gaugi...
Researchers create temporary synthetic coating that can be adapted to deliver drugs, aid in digestion, or prevent nutrient absorption. The coating, made from dopamine molecules, can improve lactose digestion efficiency up to 20-fold and potentially treat conditions like diabetes and obesity.
Researchers at Ehime University have successfully synthesized a new type of polymer with a carboxy-functionalized dendron structure. The polymer demonstrates pH-responsive behavior due to the dense accumulation of side chains, paving the way for the development of new functional poly(substituted methylene)s.
Scientists have created next-generation solar modules with high efficiency and good stability using perovskite material. The breakthroughs address key issues such as scalability and durability, paving the way for commercialization.
Researchers created jellyfish-bots that can outswim real-life counterparts and exhibit powerful movement. The new technique uses pre-stressed polymers to make soft robots more efficient, enabling faster speeds and improved performance.
Stanford researchers developed a new ultrafast insulin formulation that stabilizes monomeric insulin for over 24 hours, allowing it to take effect almost immediately upon injection. The formulation could potentially reduce the time it takes for insulin to reach peak activity by four-fold.
Researchers have developed a multifunctional nanofiber material that can protect wearers from both extreme temperatures and ballistic threats. The material combines the strength of woven fibers with the thermal insulation of porous aerogels, providing a lightweight solution for protecting extremities in explosive environments.
Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed a new method to produce more efficient and precise diffraction gratings, which can be used to create miniaturized optical devices. These devices have potential applications in futuristic smartphone cameras, biosensors, and autonomous vision for robots and self-driving cars.
Scientists at Tokyo University of Science developed a novel laser-based strategy to degrade cellulose into glucose and cellobiose, precursor molecules for bioethanol production. The technique uses an infrared-free electron laser and achieves high yields without harsh reaction conditions.
Researchers have synthesized a porphyrin polymer that can capture precious metals from chemically digested electronic waste. The polymer, COP-180, shows high efficiency in capturing gold, with an estimated worth of $64 per $5 of the material.
Adding polymers to a solution containing hollow silica nanocubes can adjust their attractions, leading to stable mixtures. By varying polymer concentrations, researchers can manipulate the behavior of colloidal mixtures and explore new technologies in light sensing and manipulation.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are using a new scalable manufacturing method to create customizable types of nanocarbons directly on flexible materials. This process enables patterning functional nanocarbons needed for emerging flexible-device applications in healthcare, energy, and consumer electronics.
Researchers developed an artificial molecular pump to install rings onto polymer strings, enabling precise control over ring threading and opening up new possibilities for scratch-resistant coatings and actuators. Polyrotaxanes show promise in soft materials and can be fine-tuned by accurately defining the polymer's structure.
Researchers have successfully synthesized a 2D honeycomb kagome polymer, revealing predicted topological properties and opening up new possibilities for electronic devices. The material's unique structure combines the properties of graphene and superconductors.