Articles tagged with Surface Chemistry
Researchers have developed a novel catalyst platform that enhances the selectivity of catalytic reactions by trapping nanoparticles to prevent agglomeration. The distance between particles plays a crucial role in determining the product yield, with increased separation leading to more efficient production of intermediate chemicals.
Researchers fabricated a soccer ball-shaped construction using edge-to-edge assembly of 2D semiconductor materials, exhibiting exceptional mechanical stability and durability. The new technique improves the efficiency of catalytic reactions and facilitates the smooth movement of reactants, paving the way for the development of stable a...
Researchers developed a novel deep learning method to study crystal structure and molecular interactions of perchlorate salts. The analysis revealed that the explosives' nature is linked to chemical bonding and intermolecular interactions.
Researchers have found that the key step to protein formation can occur in droplets of pure water, where amino acids connect to form peptides with the same 'L' handedness. The discovery resolves a paradox and provides new insights into the early stages of life's chemical evolution.
Researchers at Stockholm University have successfully studied the surface of iron and ruthenium catalysts during ammonia production, shedding light on the reaction mechanism. The findings open up possibilities for developing more efficient materials, which could contribute to a green transition in the chemical industry.
Professor Anne Bentley has developed innovative 3D-printed models to visualize nanoparticles, allowing students to grasp the material's special properties. Her research focuses on low-index shapes, which have catalytic properties and can convert carbon dioxide into fuel materials.
Researchers at McGill University discovered a strong, quick-release connection between living and non-living tissues in marine mussels. The biointerface is mediated by serotonergic cilia-based adhesion, which can be controlled by neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed a miniature, injectable glucose biosensor and wearable device that enables user-friendly, minimally-invasive continuous glucose monitoring. The device addresses challenges associated with existing CGMs, including size and skin tone compatibility.
Researchers have developed a new self-assembling nanosheet that can create functional and sustainable nanomaterials for various applications. The material is recyclable and can extend the shelf life of consumer products, enabling a sustainable manufacturing approach.
Scientists at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln have developed a system that can adjust the size, shape, and refractive index of microscopic lenses in real-time. The design uses hydrogels and polydimethylsiloxane to create a dynamic platform for soft robotics and liquid optics applications.
Researchers developed a method to form tailored nanoscale windows in porous materials called MOFs using an architectural arch-forming template. This approach enables precise control over structure formation, leading to the creation of new materials with potential gas separation, medical applications and energy security benefits.
Researchers investigated the factors affecting water-based paint evaporation, revealing that pigment concentration and temperature impact pattern formation. The study found that lower pigment concentrations result in 'fried egg' patterns, while higher temperatures produce uniform distributions.
University of Liverpool researchers develop a new material that captures coronavirus particles with minimal impact on breathability, increasing efficiency by approximately 93%. The new material has the potential to be used in various applications, including face masks and air filters.
Millimeter structures moderately improve the overall entrainment process, accommodating liquids in larger quantities with less deviation. The capillary effect and viscous force drive entrainment, while gravity acts as resistance.
Scientists successfully synthesized long-chain mobile polymers on metallic surfaces using N-heterocyclic ballbot-type carbenes. This breakthrough enables self-assembly into ordered domains and cooperative behavior, holding promise for new applications in nanoelectronics and surface functionalization.
Scientists studied fluid dynamics to understand interfacial tension, a force affecting mixing of liquids. Their numerical simulation revealed a non-monotonic relationship between flow strength and hydrodynamic instability, overturning conventional wisdom.
Engineers have developed a new membrane that separates chemicals from wastewater, allowing for reuse and extraction of valuable by-products. The membrane's unique properties, inspired by mussels, can separate salts and other chemical components with unprecedented efficiency.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have developed a new type of nanoclay material that can be customized to perform specific tasks. This breakthrough could lead to advances in fields such as medical science, environmental science, and more.
Researchers at Rice University have created a new type of storage container that effectively prevents surface contamination for at least six weeks. The technology relies on an ultraclean wall with tiny bumps and divots, which attracts VOCs in air inside the containers.
Biofilm-forming bacteria adhere to hydrophobic and hydrophilic protein-adsorbing SAMs firmly, while weakly attaching to hydrophilic protein-resisting SAMs. This study could lead to development of bacteria-resistant surfaces and antibiofouling coatings.
Researchers engineered a lightweight material by fine-tuning interlayer interactions in 2D polymers, retaining desirable mechanical properties even as a multilayer stack. The material's strong interlayer interaction is attributed to hydrogen bonding among special functional groups.
Scientists developed an injectable biomaterial with improved adhesion, stretchability, and toughness, making it ideal for surgical wound sealing. The material showed superior adhesive strength, stability, and biocompatibility in physiological conditions.
The study simultaneously measures topography and ion concentration profiles of lithium ion batteries during charging and discharging, revealing correlations between structural and ion concentration changes. This enables the evaluation of battery performance and optimization of operating conditions.
A team of Japanese researchers has developed a novel approach to enhance the fast-charging ability of lithium-ion batteries using a binder material that promotes Li-ion intercalation of active material. This results in high conductivity, low impedance, and good stability, reducing the concentration polarization of Li+ ions.
Chemists from Rice University and the University of Texas at Austin found that increasing charge-acceptor molecules on semiconducting nanocrystals can lead to reduced electron transfer rates in hybrid materials. The study highlights the importance of considering ligand-ligand interactions when designing light-activated nanomaterials fo...
Scientists at Aston University are developing a new technology to provide surfaces with channels less than five nanometres in width, enabling increased capacity in data storage devices. The goal is to tackle the global shortage of digital data storage and reduce the need for costly construction of new mega data centres.
Researchers have discovered that nanodiamonds can emit solvated electrons in water when exposed to visible light, a crucial step towards using them as photocatalysts. This discovery could lead to the development of inexpensive and metal-free processes for converting CO2 into valuable hydrocarbons or converting N2 into ammonia.
Researchers at Okayama University found that an acidic adsorption layer in carbon nanotubes facilitates efficient adsorption of negatively charged nitrate anions, making the aqueous solution alkaline. This study provides a novel model for designing carbon nanotubes suitable for ion adsorption and purification.
Researchers at KAUST have developed ultrathin polymer-based ordered membranes that simultaneously exhibit high water flux and high salt rejection. The membranes display excellent performance in both forward and reverse osmosis configurations, surpassing those containing advanced materials like carbon nanotubes and graphene.
Scientists develop a colloidal synthesis method for alkaline earth chalcogenides, allowing control over nanocrystal size and surface chemistry. This enables the creation of more sustainable and environmentally friendly materials with potential applications in solar panels, LEDs, and bioimaging.
Researchers have demonstrated that hydrogen condenses on a surface at low temperatures, forming a super-dense monolayer with a volume of just 5 liters per kilogram H2. This breakthrough could enable more efficient cryogenic hydrogen storage systems for the coming hydrogen economy.
Researchers found that topography influences comet surface activity across hundreds of meters, with hotspots observed even on uniform surfaces. The study used Rosetta mission data to track changes in 16 topographic depressions on Comet 67P.
Huddersfield researchers are working on a new project to develop novel and sustainable molecular materials that harness light to drive useful chemical reactions. The project aims to address the limitation of using rare and expensive elements like ruthenium and iridium in current applications. By exploring the intrinsic properties of li...
Researchers from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics fabricate high-performance perovskite submodules with stability and outstanding photovoltaic performance. They achieve this using a surface redox engineering strategy, eliminating the local de-wetting problem and enhancing electronic properties.
Researchers develop technique to control pH at microsites, enabling high-throughput biomolecular synthesis and enzymatic DNA synthesis. This allows for increased experimental throughput and speeding up processes in DNA synthesis.
The Replica Exchange Grand Canonical (REGC) method describes how surfaces change in contact with reactive gas phases under different temperature and pressure conditions. The approach identifies 25 thermodynamically stable surface phases and predicts stability phase diagrams for real systems.
Scientists from the University of Tsukuba have experimentally measured hydrogenation of copper-adsorbed formate, a crucial step in converting carbon dioxide into methanol fuel. The study found that at temperatures above 200K, atomic hydrogen can catalyze the reaction, producing a product that decomposes back into gaseous formaldehyde.
Scientists at Chung-Ang University have pioneered a novel method for controlling microdroplet motion on solid surfaces using near-infrared light. This approach allows for more precise control than traditional thermal techniques and opens up new possibilities for applications in microfluidics, drug delivery, and self-cleaning surfaces.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have invented a material that uses electrical signals to separate biomolecules, paving the way for efficient production of biomedicines. The material's ability to function in biological fluids with buffering capacity enables remote-controlled drug release and reduces energy consumption.
A cross-disciplinary team at the University of Illinois used automated synthesis to discover a new mechanism for high conductance in organic electronics applications. The technology rapidly scanned through a library of molecules and uncovered unexpectedly high conductance, dependent on concentration and surface adsorption.
Researchers at Swansea University developed a new method to stop molecular rotation using ultra-low energy, which governs surface chemistry processes. They achieved this by manipulating the quantum state of a molecule just before collision with a surface.
Researchers have developed a novel method called 'dative epitaxy' for growing thin layers of crystals made from different materials on top of each other. This technique allows for the formation of special chemical bonds to fix crystal orientation, overcoming limitations of conventional and van der Waals epitaxial techniques.
Researchers at Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology have discovered a new chemical synthesis method that forms stable benzene rings on a gold surface. This method, called the 'dry' method, avoids toxic byproducts and allows for the observation of molecular reactions in real-time.
A team of researchers has developed a tunable graphene-based platform to study exceptional points, which exhibit unique properties when light and matter interact. The breakthrough could lead to advancements in optoelectronic technologies and potentially contribute to the development of 'beyond-5G' wireless technology.
Scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago have created a new family of environmentally safe, frost-resistant coatings that can delay the formation of frost for extended hours. These coatings can be applied to various surfaces without preconditioning or expensive surface treatments, reducing pollution and ice-related problems.
Researchers at Flinders University have developed a sustainable way to remove mercury from water using a smart coating made from low-cost chemicals. The coating can also prevent metal corrosion, solvent damage, and acid and water damage of concrete surfaces.
Researchers visualize ethylene polymerization on ordered iron carbide surface using in situ technology, revealing molecular insertion mechanism and chain initiation process. The study clarifies the scientific debate regarding chain initiation over Phillips catalysts and provides a method for controlling product chain length distribution.
The researchers discovered two modes of transport that influence whether and how proteins attach themselves to a surface. The team found that rougher surfaces promote longer flights, while less hydrophobic surfaces facilitate quicker localized adsorption/desorption.
Researchers at KAUST investigated the formation of hydrogen peroxide in micrometre-sized water droplets and found that ambient ozone is a key player. They used an ultrasensitive fluorescence-based assay to detect H2O2 with improved sensitivity, revealing up to one micromolar levels in microdroplets from commercial ultrasonic humidifiers.
Janus particles, with two distinct physical chemical properties, exhibit unique behavior in simulations. Their shape significantly influences their orientation at interfaces and mobility, impacting rheology and processing schemes.
A new method of molecular-level control, called induced activation, doubles the efficiency of widely used industrial catalysts. This approach manipulates the catalyst surface by controlling reducing agents at the catalyst activation stage.
Researchers have created a new, simpler way to fabricate SERS nanostructures with superior stability and performance at low cost. By using a heat-resistant polymer called polyimide (PI), they can produce nanosurfaces with nanopillars that enhance signal intensity for efficient chemical detection. The new fabrication method has the pote...
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science developed a high-quality crystalline interface using quasi-homo-epitaxial growth, which eliminated mobility issues and enabled spontaneous electron transfer. This breakthrough could lead to highly efficient flexible solar cells and wearable electronic devices.
A new device has been developed that converts sunlight into two promising sources of renewable fuels – ethylene and hydrogen. The researchers found that by optimizing the working conditions for cuprous oxide, a promising artificial photosynthesis material, they can create a more stable system.
Researchers in Japan have designed the first de novo-designed peptides that can form artificial nanopores to identify and enable single molecule-sorting of genetic material in a lipid membrane. The peptides can detect specific molecules, including DNA, and have the potential to mimic natural proteins' ability to detect specific proteins.
Researchers at Durham University have developed a sugar-containing polymer coating that can repair damaged artificial joint implants by mimicking the way cartilage works to lubricate human joints. The coating uses water to create a slippery surface, protecting the surfaces from wear and tear.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new approach to modify the surface of copper catalysts, improving the conversion of carbon dioxide into useful fuels. The technique involves coating the copper with thin films of ionomers, which steer the reaction towards generating carbon-rich products.
A team of Chinese researchers has developed an electrocatalyst that efficiently converts CO2 into liquid fuels with multiple carbon atoms. The primary products are ethanol, acetone, and n-butanol, which have high energy density and are safe to store and transport.
Rice University researchers have developed a method to control the growth of tetrahedron-shaped nanoparticles, which can be used as building blocks for unique metamaterials. The team discovered that balancing thermodynamic and kinetic forces during crystallization allows for symmetry breaking, forming pyramid-shaped nanocrystals.
A new model by a SwRI-led team applies geologic evidence to understand how oxygen levels in the Earth's atmosphere evolved. The results indicate that large impacts may have contributed to the scarcity of oxygen, delaying its oxidation.