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A missing link in haze formation

A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania has discovered a crucial link between alcohol molecules and haze formation. Alcohols like methanol reduce particle formation by consuming sulfur trioxide, converting it to more sticky compounds that promote growth.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 25, 2019

Study reveals breach of 'dancing' barrier governs crystal growth

Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have identified a general mechanism governing crystal growth that scientists can manipulate when developing new materials. The 'dancing' barrier surrounding crystal-forming molecules is shown to fluctuate under different conditions, allowing molecules to break free and form crystals.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 12, 2019

Scientists probe the limits of ice

Researchers found that the transition between ice and water breaks down at the nanoscale, with clusters oscillating between solid and liquid states. The study provides new insights into the conditions necessary for ice formation and has implications for understanding climate regulation and life viability.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateNov 4, 2019

How two water molecules dance together

A team of researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum and Emory University observed the movement between individual water molecules for the first time, revealing new insights into their interactions. The findings help to better understand the intermolecular energy landscape and the strange properties of water.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 13, 2019

New insights into the origin of life

Researchers have demonstrated that energetic interactions between hydrogen cyanide and water can form precursors to RNA and proteins. The study provides new potential pathways for the formation of life's building blocks, without requiring high-energy photons or metal catalysts.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Central Science·DateAug 7, 2019

Next step in producing magnetic organic molecules

A team of researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum has successfully created new organic molecules with magnetic properties, which retain stability up to -110 degrees Celsius. These compounds could be the key to developing lightweight, transparent, and flexible magnetic materials.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJul 30, 2019

New insights about carbon and ice could clarify inner workings of Earth, other planets

Researchers discovered that high pressure deep inside the young Earth may have driven vast stores of carbon into its core, while water ice undergoes complex crystalline metamorphosis under extreme conditions. The findings provide clues about how Earth-like planets are built and could be useful for studying worlds with icy surfaces.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 22, 2019

Researchers make organic solar cells immune to the ravages of water, air and light

Researchers at NYU Tandon School of Engineering have discovered a method to make organic solar panels more robust by removing electron-accepting molecules from the top surface. This technique enhances the durability of organic solar cells, allowing them to function under water without encapsulation and resist degradation from oxygen an...

SourceNYU Tandon School of Engineering·JournalACS Energy Letters·DateMay 2, 2019

Water that never freezes

Researchers at ETH Zurich have identified a novel way to prevent water from forming ice crystals by creating a new class of lipids that form a 'soft' biological matter. This material confines water in narrow channels, preventing it from freezing even at extreme sub-zero temperatures.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateApr 10, 2019

Ushering in ultrafast cluster electronics

Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a computational approach to predict the behavior of clusters of molecules, enabling faster electronic devices with on/off switching and reversible conductivity. This method could lead to the creation of cluster molecular electronics, a new field of science.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalScientific Reports·DateApr 3, 2019

At the limits of detectability

Researchers at TUM have developed a compact instrument to determine the spectral properties of individual molecules, capturing detailed information on molecule-environment interactions. This breakthrough aims to accelerate the identification of efficient molecules for future organic solar cells.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 7, 2019

How molecules teeter in a laser field

Researchers from MBI report on an experiment using attosecond transient absorption spectroscopy to study the interaction of molecules with a laser field. They found that infrared fields affect weak core-to-Rydberg transitions more strongly than core-to-valence transitions, and that Rydberg states dominate XUV absorption.

SourceForschungsverbund Berlin·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateJan 17, 2019

Molecular adlayer produced by dissolving water-insoluble nanographene in water

Researchers from Kumamoto University and Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a method to dissolve water-insoluble nanographene in water using molecular containers. The method successfully produced a highly ordered 2D molecular adlayer on a gold substrate, revealing its potential for next-generation functional nanomaterials.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateDec 5, 2018

How a crystal is solvated in water

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum used microscopic methods to observe the solvation process of a crystal in water. The team imaged individual molecules at extremely low temperatures, revealing the attachment of solvent molecules and the loss of molecular order.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 20, 2018

Catalyzing CO2

Researchers at Harvard University have developed a new system that captures CO2 from power plants and heavy industry, converting it into industrial fuels with high efficiency. The improved system uses renewable electricity to reduce carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, addressing the two main challenges of cost and scalability.

SourceHarvard University·JournalJoule·DateNov 8, 2018

Don't underestimate the force

A team of researchers at the University of Tokyo has identified the weak van der Waals forces holding together a tiny, self-assembling box. The box can bulge to accommodate large or long guest molecules and contract to eliminate extra space when hosting negatively charged guests.

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 31, 2018

Nanotubes change the shape of water

Rice University engineers discovered that weak van der Waals forces between nanotubes and water molecules can align into a square rod. The research provides valuable insight on ways to leverage atomic interactions for fabricating nanochannels and energy-storing nanocapacitors.

SourceRice University·JournalLangmuir·DateAug 24, 2018

The world's cleanest water droplet

Scientists at TU Wien and Cornell University develop a novel method to create ultra-pure ice and apply it to titanium dioxide surfaces, revealing that smallest impurities are surprisingly significant. The study finds that two organic acids, acetic acid and formic acid, are the main culprits behind surface contamination.

How ions gather water molecules around them

Researchers from Ruhr-Universität Bochum used terahertz spectroscopy to gain new insights into the hydration shell of charged particles. They found that hydration shells with a size between two and 21 water molecules were determined for more than 37 salts, depending on the ion's size and valency.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateAug 9, 2018

Water may be key to understanding sweetness

A study by Maria Antonietta Ricci and colleagues found that fructose forms the shortest and strongest hydrogen bonds with water, allowing it to bind more snugly with protein receptors. This interaction enables greater stimulation and perception of sweetness. Mannose, on the other hand, forms longer and weaker hydrogen bonds with water.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateJul 18, 2018

How antifreeze proteins stop ice cold

Researchers at the University of Utah and University of California, San Diego discovered how antifreeze proteins function, providing a direction for future research. The study found that AFPs prevent water from freezing by surrounding and binding to small ice crystals, preventing their spread.

Building bridges with water molecules

A team at TU Wien has uncovered the mystery behind water molecule structures on iron oxide surfaces, revealing complex bridge-like structures that play a significant role in chemical reactions. These findings have wide-ranging implications for processes such as corrosion and catalyst function, and pave the way for further research into...

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 28, 2018

Water can be very dead, electrically speaking

A recent study published in Science reveals that atomically thin layers of water near solid surfaces exhibit no electric response, with a thickness of less than one nanometer. This finding has significant implications for understanding the role of water in biological molecules, proteins, and technological processes.

SourceUniversity of Manchester·JournalScience·DateJun 21, 2018