Articles tagged with Cobalt
A new framework, 'just-shoring,' aims to shift focus from competition and security to the rights and interests of local communities whose lands are most at risk. The approach prioritizes accountability and transparency, giving communities a legal right to co-govern throughout the mineral lifecycle.
The study reveals how shocks in one country or production stage can cascade across borders and life-cycle stages, triggering widespread failures throughout the global cobalt supply chain network. Systemic risks concentrate upstream but accumulate most severely at refining and manufacturing bottlenecks.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute present efficient and low-CO2 process to extract copper, nickel, and cobalt from deep-sea ore nodules. The method generates significantly less waste and deforestation compared to traditional land-based mining.
Researchers have developed a novel strategy for efficient CO₂ conversion, achieving a mass activity 3.77 times higher than pristine CoPc. The new catalyst, pyridinic-N incorporated phthalocyanine (CoTAP), demonstrates superior performance with less catalyst.
Researchers discovered a cobalt-catalyzed anti-Markovnikov hydrosilylation reaction of terminal alkynes with tertiary silanes using a dinuclear cobalt carbonyl complex coordinated by the bidentate phosphine ligand Xantphos. The catalyst achieves excellent β/α selectivity and exhibits good compatibility with functional groups.
The MiningImpact project is investigating the environmental impacts of deep-sea mining on ocean ecosystems. Scientists are studying biodiversity, genetic connectivity, and ecosystem health to develop indicators and threshold values for harm.
Researchers from UK and Canada will study ways to reduce mining's environmental footprint and enhance efficiency across critical mineral value chains. The project aims to develop new geological models and exploration tools for rare earth element deposits, aiming to diversify the supply chain and ensure high environmental standards.
Researchers developed a streamlined process for converting CO₂ into carbon monoxide with record-breaking efficiency, cutting down processing time from 24 hours to 15 minutes. The new method uses low-cost pigment-based catalysts and offers a promising pathway for carbon neutral energy production.
A recent study identified a quasi-conversion reaction on the cathode surface during discharging, leading to accelerated battery degradation. High nickel content exacerbates this effect.
Researchers have developed cost-effective and efficient water-splitting catalysts using cobalt and tungsten, which surprisingly increase in performance over time. The unique self-optimization process involves changes in the chemical nature of the catalyzing oxide, leading to improved activity and reduced overpotentials.
Researchers developed a conjugated phthalocyanine framework with enhanced electron-withdrawal properties and flexibility, leading to improved capacities, rate capabilities, and cyclic stability in high-voltage lithium metal batteries. The framework also showed longer operating life and higher capacity retention.
A POSTECH research team developed a groundbreaking strategy to enhance LLO material durability, extending battery lifespan by up to 84.3% after 700 cycles. The breakthrough addresses capacity fading and voltage decay issues.
A new method developed by Penn researchers uses a chemical-separation technique to extract cobalt from 'junk' materials, increasing the capacity for purified cobalt production with minimal environmental harm. The process avoids harsh chemicals and generates lower costs than traditional methods.
A new study from Tulane University analyzed 260 honey samples from 48 states for toxic metals, finding regional differences in contamination levels. The highest arsenic and cobalt levels were found in Pacific Northwest and Southeastern honeys, respectively, while lead was detected in Carolinas honeys.
A $50 million consortium, led by Virginia Tech, aims to develop high-energy, long-lasting sodium-ion batteries using abundant and inexpensive materials. The initiative seeks to reduce US dependence on critical elements in lithium-ion batteries, paving the way for a more sustainable future in electric-vehicle technology.
Researchers developed a novel catalyst with integrated magnetic field, achieving 90% H2O2 production efficiency and significantly enhancing the reaction's performance. The new approach requires minimal amounts of magnetic materials, making it safer and more practical for large-scale applications.
A team of scientists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has developed an electrocatalytic conversion technique that converts carbon dioxide into ethanol. The cobalt-copper tandem system achieves selective conversion with an 80% yield, opening up a sustainable method for chemical applications and food conservation.
Researchers create magnetically switchable materials by introducing chiral hydrogen bonds, allowing precise control over electron transfer. The study highlights the importance of molecular chirality in material performance.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have discovered a new method to create high-performance alkaline batteries using iron and silicate. The process suppresses hydrogen gas generation, improving the energy efficiency of battery systems.
Researchers deciphered the role of manganese in cobalt-manganese catalysts, which have a high activity and stability over time. The catalysts' surface transforms during the reaction, with manganese dissolving and redepositing, leading to improved performance.
A Spanish-German team has shown that the ferromagnetic element cobalt significantly enhances spin textures in graphene-iridium hybrids. The samples were grown on insulating substrates, which is a necessary prerequisite for multifunctional spintronic devices exploiting these effects.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a new electrocatalyst by doping cobalt oxide with erbium, achieving high oxygen evolution performance and stability in acidic conditions. The Er-doped Co3O4 catalyst surpassed the performance of many precious metal-free catalysts.
Researchers discovered Co3O4 as the most effective cobalt oxide electrocatalyst for quinoline hydrogenation, achieving high conversion rates under ambient conditions. This study advances understanding of catalytic mechanisms in the process, which has significant implications for pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries.
A new method in liquid-phase synthesis could reshape the scalable production of single-walled carbon nanotubes, enhancing industrial feasibility and reducing costs. The Co catalyst substantially improves both the yield and structural integrity of SWCNTs during the process, leading to more consistent results.
Researchers have developed catalysts that achieve high ammonia Faradaic efficiency and yield rate, transforming nitrate into valuable ammonia. The study's findings provide insights into structural changes on spinel cobalt oxides, enabling more efficient and sustainable industrial processes.
Researchers developed a method to produce cobalt nanoparticles with controlled crystal phase, leading to higher selectivity and efficiency in hydrogenation reactions. The study showcases the potential of abundant cobalt as an alternative to noble metal catalysts.
Researchers found raw material demand for electric vehicles will nearly double by 2050 if current trends continue. Implementing circular economy strategies such as ride-sharing, recycling, and solid-state batteries can halve resource demand or maintain it at 2015 levels.
A team of international researchers, led by TU Delft, found that introducing chemical short-range disorder into layered oxide materials used as cathode materials can significantly improve the stability and performance of lithium-ion batteries. This improvement results in a longer cycle life and shorter charging times for well-establish...
Scientists have created a vibrant blue pottery pigment using less cobalt, which retains high temperature stability and chemical resistance. The new pigment, derived from barium aluminosilicate, substantially reduces the need for cobalt ions, making it a more affordable and accessible option.
Scientists at Yokohama National University have created a new type of lithium-ion battery using nickel ions, which can be used in electric vehicles without the need for cobalt. The material overcomes key stability issues by suppressing nickel-ion migration and achieving consistent reversibility.
Researchers at the University of São Paulo found evidence of a tropical island with rich mineral deposits, including cobalt and nickel, in the South Atlantic Ocean. The team's analysis of seafloor sediment samples suggests the area was once home to vegetation and had volcanic activity between 30-40 million years ago.
A new study at BESSY II has provided deeper insights into the ordering processes and diffusion phenomena in High-Entropy Alloys. The team analysed samples of a Cantor alloy, revealing local atomic structures using element-specific EXAFS and Reverse Monte Carlo analysis.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute have developed a material to selectively oxidize urea in water, producing hydrogen gas. The material, made of nickel and cobalt atoms with tailored electronic structures, enables the efficient conversion of urea into hydrogen through an electrochemical reaction.
MIT researchers have developed a cobalt-free battery material that offers improved sustainability and comparable performance to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The new organic material can conduct electricity at similar rates, store capacity, and be charged faster than cobalt-containing batteries.
A team at UNC-Chapel Hill has developed a new process for synthesizing amides with 100% atom efficiency, employing environmentally friendly cobalt. This approach offers an attractive alternative to traditional methods, which often generate waste and poor atom economy.
Researchers have developed a novel method to produce a selective anticancer precursor substance. The synthesis involves the reaction of metal-active oxygen species with nitrile, utilizing cost-effective metals at lower temperatures. This breakthrough opens up new possibilities in developing innovative drugs against cancer.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology found that sodium-ion batteries have an equivalent climate impact as lithium-ion batteries without the risk of raw material depletion. They identified potential measures to further reduce climate impact, such as developing environmentally better electrolytes.
A study by researchers from the University of Münster found that China will be able to meet its demand for primary lithium for electric vehicles through recycling as early as 2059, while Europe and the US will not achieve this until after 2070. Recycling is also expected to ensure China's need for cobalt by 2045 and nickel by 2046.
Researchers at São Paulo State University developed a novel biomaterial that speeds up osteoblast differentiation, mimicking a low-oxygen environment. The cobalt-doped calcium phosphate material has the potential to be used in future bone regeneration procedures, reducing surgery risks and hospital stays.
Researchers at Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University have developed a sensitive and robust pH sensor that can detect pH variation in just a few microliters of samples. The new sensor uses novel materials and methods to overcome the current method's limitations, which are not sensitive enough or fragile for commercial-scale use.
A team of researchers at Hokkaido University has developed a new method to synthesize layered lithium cobalt oxide (LiCoO2) at low temperatures, reducing synthesis time from hours to minutes. The hydroflux process produces crystalline LiCoO2 with properties only marginally inferior to commercially available materials.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo have developed a cobalt-free battery alternative that outperforms state-of-the-art battery chemistry. The new lithium-ion batteries boast a 60% higher energy density and can withstand over 1,000 recharge cycles, reducing environmental concerns.
Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology have developed a new method for recycling metals from spent electric car batteries using oxalic acid. The method allows for the recovery of 100% of aluminum and 98% of lithium, minimizing waste and utilizing an environmentally friendly ingredient.
Scientists have found evidence of past oxygen loss in the world's oceans during glacial periods, indicating that current climate change may not be permanent. The discovery was made by analyzing seafloor sediments from the past 145,000 years, which showed a build-up of cobalt during the last ice age.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a high-yield, low-cost method for reclaiming metals directly from mixed battery waste. The new process uses the 'flash' technique to separate critical metals, reducing energy and acid consumption by up to 100-fold and lowering carbon dioxide emissions.
A new study at BESSY II analyzed the formation of skyrmions in ferrimagnetic thin films of dysprosium and cobalt. The researchers directly observed Néel-type skyrmions using scanning transmission X-ray microscopy, revealing their domain wall type for the first time.
Researchers found a 43% drop in fish and shrimp density around the mining zone and a 56% decrease in surrounding areas. The study suggests that sediment plumes from deep-sea mining can contaminate food sources for ocean animals.
Researchers have identified and fabricated a new electrocatalyst using theoretical predictions, significantly improving the oxygen evolution reaction. The discovery uses cerium-doped cobalt oxide to achieve an overpotential of only 261 mV at 10 mA cm−2, outperforming individual cobalt oxide.
Researchers have developed a novel method for recycling valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries using spinning reactors. This technology simplifies the extraction-stripping process, allowing for rapid separation of metals in minutes with low concentrations of extractants.
Researchers have developed a novel support material called BaAl2O4-xHy that enhances the catalytic activity of cobalt nanoparticles, allowing for record-breaking ammonia production at low temperatures. The catalyst demonstrates improved activation energy and high reusability.
The increasing adoption of electric vehicles will significantly raise the global demand for battery-grade critical metals, leading to supply chain disruptions. By mid-century, the need for lithium could more than double, while nickel demand is expected to eclipse other critical metals.
Texas A&M researchers have found a significant increase in energy storage capacity of water-based battery electrodes, paving the way for safer and more stable batteries. The discovery could provide an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which are facing material shortages and price increases.
A research team at Hokkaido University has created a stable and effective solid-state electrochemical thermal transistor that can control heat flow with electrical signals. The device outperforms current liquid-state thermal transistors in terms of stability and efficiency.
Scientists at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin examined the chemistry of Cobalt-Iron Oxyhydroxides using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. They discovered that iron is present in higher oxidation states than previously thought, which could lead to improved electrocatalysts for water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction.
Researchers have developed a nano-scale platinum-cobalt alloy to reduce the need for rare and expensive platinum in hydrogen fuel cells, enhancing performance and stability. The new alloy achieves superior results at lower costs, paving the way for wider adoption of fuel-cell technology.
Researchers at City University of Hong Kong found that tailoring cobalt concentration in high entropy alloys prevents nanoparticles from coarsening at high temperatures. This strategy opens a pathway for designing novel thermally stable chemically complex alloys for various engineering fields.
Researchers at University of Toronto Engineering use supercritical carbon dioxide to recover lithium, cobalt, nickel and manganese from end-of-life lithium-ion batteries. The process matches conventional extraction efficiency while using fewer chemicals and generating less secondary waste.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin used Auger photo-electron coincidence spectroscopy to study the occupation of outer d-orbital shells in copper, nickel, and cobalt. The results confirm known findings for copper and nickel, but reveal highly delocalized d electrons in cobalt.
Researchers at Hokkaido University have developed a new catalyst that uses carbon dioxide to produce propylene more efficiently than existing methods. The catalyst also captures and converts carbon dioxide into useful resources. This breakthrough contributes to the carbon neutralization of the petrochemical industry.
A new field study reveals a previously unobserved fluid dynamic process that affects the ocean's deep-sea mining operations. Researchers equipped a pre-prototype collector vehicle with instruments to monitor its sediment plume disturbances, finding that the plumes remained relatively low and spread under their own weight.