Articles tagged with Polymers
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...
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 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.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
The TWILIGHT trial found that bioabsorbable polymer DES (BP-EES) performed similarly to durable polymer DES (DP-DES) in high-risk patients undergoing PCI. The study also showed a lower frequency of prior MI in BP-EES patients compared to DP-DES patients.
Researchers at Kyoto University have created a coordination polymer glass membrane that functions similarly to liquid-based counterparts but offers improved mechanical and thermal stability. The new membrane enables efficient proton movement under dry conditions, leading to higher voltage production in hydrogen fuel cells.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have discovered a polymer composite material with bismuth trioxide particles that can effectively shield against ionizing radiation while being lightweight and non-toxic.
Researchers at ICFO have developed a new photothermal sensitizer using tungsten oxide nanoparticles, enabling the production of high-color-purity 3D objects and overcoming previous limitations. The new method allows for efficient and cost-effective fabrication of complex geometries with precise color control.
A new method of making gecko-inspired adhesive materials has been developed, enabling mass production and the spread of versatile gripping strips. The materials can be used to make extremely versatile grippers that pick up different objects on the same assembly line.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have created mesh-like mats with prolonged antioxidant activity that can be used in bandages or food storage containers. The mats are made from an intertwined network of ultra-fine strands of a polymer and tannic acid, which enhances antioxidant functionality.
Researchers at University of Nottingham have developed biomaterials that can control the body's immune response, potentially reducing implant rejection rates. The new materials use surface shape and chemical composition to influence macrophage attachment and behavior.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have developed a new tool for controlling reactions in microrobots and microreactors, leveraging capillary forces to create self-assembling hanging droplets of aqueous polymer solutions. This technique enables selective transport of chemicals and can be used as encapsulated reaction vessels.
Researchers at Linköping University have discovered a quantum phenomenon that influences the formation of free charges in organic solar cells. Vibronic coherence contributes to photocurrent generation and can be used to increase efficiency.
Researchers at Penn State developed a laboratory method to create membraneless compartments within a liquid, allowing them to segregate and concentrate components for important cellular functions. The findings could provide insight into how cells use these compartments to perform different tasks in different locations, with potential a...
Scientists have successfully developed a rotary micromotor with a diameter of 5 millimeters that can rotate using laser power. The motor utilizes liquid crystal elastomers, which exhibit fast and reversible shape changes under visible light illumination.
A new Australian technology developed by Flinders University and Clean Earth Technologies can absorb pollutants, including mercury and oil spills. The solution uses a polymer made from sulfur and plant oil to capture toxic substances in water, reducing environmental harm.