Researchers at Tohoku University's Advanced Institute for Materials Research developed distortion-resistant energy materials for lithium-ion batteries, improving efficacy and cost-effectiveness. The cathode design utilizes 'interfacial orbital engineering' to neutralize Jahn-Teller distortions, achieving near-perfect cycling stability.
Researchers at Yale and Missouri developed manganese-based catalysts that effectively convert carbon dioxide into formate, a potential key contributor of hydrogen for fuel cells. This breakthrough addresses the challenge of producing cost-efficient ways to produce and store hydrogen.
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 discovered that manganese is both an armor and a weakness for the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi. Exploiting this vulnerability could lead to new therapeutic strategies for treating the disease.
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.
A novel manganese(I) complex has been developed, combining a record-breaking excited-state lifetime with simple synthesis, offering a powerful and sustainable alternative to noble metal complexes. The complex exhibits strong absorption and overcomes the challenges of tedious synthesis and short lifetimes of excited states.
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.
Research suggests that higher levels of essential minerals such as copper, manganese, and vitamin B12 during pregnancy may reduce the risk of developing high blood pressure in middle age. The study analyzed data from over 500 women and found a significant association between these mineral levels and lower blood pressure risk.
Researchers at HZB and HU Berlin have discovered a high-spin manganese centre, crucial for molecular oxygen formation in natural photosynthesis. The discovery, made possible by BESSY II's unique experimental capabilities, sheds light on the complex process of photosynthesis.
Researchers at Tohoku University used MRI to directly observe metal-ion dissolution in lithium battery cathodes, detecting small amounts of manganese with high sensitivity. The technique identified an alternative electrolyte system that suppresses dissolution, promising improvements in battery performance.
Researchers found that biotin supplementation reverses neurotoxicity in human nerve cells, improving mitochondrial function and reducing cell loss. Biotin metabolism was identified as a modifier of manganese-induced neurodegeneration, offering potential therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease
Researchers will test the hypothesis that environmental manganese exposure is associated with the progression of Parkinson's symptoms and measure neuroinflammation in the brain using MRI scans. The study aims to inform environmental regulations for manganese worldwide and address an environmental justice concern.
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.
Researchers at the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have developed a new process for creating manganese-based cathodes that can store and deliver energy efficiently. This breakthrough could lead to more sustainable and cost-effective lithium-ion batteries.
Researchers at Tohoku University developed a novel approach to enhance the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction by introducing rare earth single atoms into manganese oxide. This leads to unprecedented improvements in OER performance, making it a suitable alternative to traditional catalysts like ruthenium dioxide.
Researchers have developed a lithium/manganese-based material that outperforms nickel-based layered materials in terms of energy density and fast-charging capabilities. The new material, nanostructured LiMnO2 with a monoclinic layered domain, boasts high-energy density of 820 Wh kg-1 and no reported voltage decay.
Researchers developed a new method to identify altermagnets using X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) and theoretically predicted its fingerprint. The approach was successfully applied to manganese telluride (α-MnTe), revealing the material's hidden fingerprint of altermagnetism, which could accelerate spintronics applications.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory identified 28 trace metals in secondhand and thirdhand tobacco smoke, including cadmium, arsenic, and chromium. The study found that the predicted indoor air concentration for these metals exceeded California's cancer risk guidelines, highlighting the need to understand their contrib...
Researchers at RIKEN have developed a new catalyst that reduces the amount of iridium required for hydrogen production, achieving 82% efficiency and sustaining production for over 4 months. The breakthrough could revolutionize ecologically friendly hydrogen production and pave the way for a carbon-neutral energy economy.
Research team finds evidence of habitable conditions on ancient Mars using ChemCam instrument on NASA's Curiosity rover, highlighting the presence of manganese-rich sandstones and a shoreline deposit. The discovery suggests larger processes occurred in the Martian atmosphere or surface water, pointing to the need for further study.
Researchers at RIKEN have improved the stability of a green hydrogen production process by using a custom-made catalyst, increasing its lifetime by almost 4,000 times. The breakthrough uses earth-abundant materials, making it more sustainable and potentially cost-effective for widespread industrial use.
Researchers at PNNL have developed a simple, water-based solution to separate and purify rare earth elements from e-waste. The new process uses the unique properties of metals to form solids at different rates, resulting in nearly pure minerals recovered in hours rather than days.
A study by Duke University researchers found that manganese stimulates decomposition of soil organic matter and releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.
The USTC team created a rechargeable, non-aqueous manganese metal battery with halogen-mediated electrolyte, achieving high Coulombic and Faraday efficiencies. The battery demonstrated stable cycling for over 700 hours and showed excellent multiplicity performance.
Researchers found associations between prenatal vitamin and metal exposures and epigenetic aging biomarkers in early life. A one standard deviation increase in essential metals was associated with lower Horvath EAA at birth, while arsenic was linked to greater EAA at birth and in childhood.
Scientists have created a new molecular system based on manganese that can oxidize various organic substrates and emit NIR-II light after excitation. The complex has two different photoactive states, one of which is extremely oxidizing and exists only briefly, while the other is moderately oxidizing and longer-lived.
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.
A new study found that prenatal and childhood exposure to manganese may be beneficial for verbal learning and memory in adolescence. Manganese levels were linked with fewer errors in adolescents, particularly males.
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.
A breakthrough in battery technology has been achieved by City University of Hong Kong, overcoming the persistent challenge of voltage decay in lithium-ion batteries. The new development stabilises a unique honeycomb-like structure within the cathode material, resulting in longer-lasting and more efficient batteries.
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 found that manganese concentrations in a Massachusetts community's drinking water often exceeded recommended guidelines, posing a risk to children and vulnerable communities. The study suggests the need for an enforceable primary drinking water standard for manganese to better protect public health.
A team of researchers has made a groundbreaking discovery about the magnetic interactions in TbMn6Sn6, a Kagome layered topological magnet. At intermediate temperatures, both uniaxial and isotropic terbium ions exist, with the population of spherical terbium increasing as temperature rises.
Researchers have visualized the crucial final step of oxygen formation in Photosystem II, a protein complex that powers photosynthesis. The study provides new insights into the interaction between the protein environment and the Mn/Ca cluster, shedding light on the mechanism behind water-splitting and oxygen production.
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.
A UC Riverside-led study finds nearly half of domestic well water users in the Central Valley live in disadvantaged communities with high manganese contamination rates. The highest concentrations are found in private, untreated well water systems, posing health risks to fetuses and children.
A new biosensor developed by Penn State researchers offers dynamic insights into manganese's role in biological systems, opening doors to new research applications. The sensor's capabilities may lead to breakthroughs in understanding photosynthesis, host-pathogen interactions, and neurobiology.
SourcePenn State·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 9, 2023
Chung-Ang University researchers develop a novel flexible supercapacitor platform with vertically integrated gold electrodes in a single sheet of paper. The design shows low electrical resistance, high foldability, and good mechanical strength, making it suitable for wearable devices.
Researchers studied lithospheric fluids billions of years ago to infer the presence of metals that could have supported life. Manganese was found to be a likely candidate, while copper was not detected in high concentrations. The study provides new insights into the origin of life and will inform future experiments.
Researchers at Heidelberg University developed tailor-made metal complexes with exceptional stability, suitable for use in medical imaging and potential applications in personalized precision medicine. The complexes exhibit improved MRI efficiency compared to existing substances.
Researchers at Washington University in St. Louis found that nanoplastics from polystyrene can produce reactive oxygen species when exposed to light, which can harm wildlife and the aquatic ecosystem. The study suggests that smaller particle sizes of nanoplastics may be more reactive and decompose faster under light.
Scientists at Washington University in St. Louis found that manganese oxides can be formed without atmospheric oxygen under Mars-like conditions. The study, published in Nature Geoscience, used kinetic modeling to show that halogens like chlorate and bromate can convert manganese into minerals thousands of times faster than by oxygen.
A team of researchers from Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg has discovered a transport pathway for manganese in plants and the role that BICAT3 plays in this process. The protein is responsible for transporting manganese to where it needs to go in plant cells, leading to improved crop growth.
Researchers probed local structure and magnetic properties of a Mn-rich Cantor alloy using EXAFS and XMCD techniques. The results show complex magnetic ordering with coexistence of different phases, consistent with macroscopic behavior.
Researchers discovered a 'manganese-sensitive niche' in plant roots where calcium concentration oscillates in response to manganese deficiency. This process triggers the activation of two enzymes that stimulate manganese uptake and homeostasis.
Researchers at Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin for Materials and Energy are utilizing X-ray absorption spectroscopy to investigate oxygen evolution in electrocatalysis. This study aims to improve the efficiency of green hydrogen production by developing more stable and cost-effective catalysts.
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 have developed a reusable, low-cost Mn catalyst that facilitates the alkylation of ketones with alcohols via the 'borrowing hydrogen' method. The catalyst achieves high yields and can alkylate ketone-containing substrates without byproducts.
Researchers found that the Southern cattail plant can scavenge up to 34 times more manganese from contaminated soil than other plants. The study suggests its potential for sustainable rehabilitation of areas affected by iron mine tailings, demonstrating its high efficiency in phytoremediation.
Researchers found a 33% drop in total mercury concentrations in the Barents Sea during the polar night, attributed to a scavenging process involving manganese particles. This decrease in surface levels may lead to increased toxic mercury formation in sediments and potentially more methylmercury in Arctic food webs.
A team of scientists from the University of Illinois Chicago discovered that hydrogen ions, not zinc, cause damage to manganese dioxide in rechargeable aqueous zinc-manganese batteries. This finding challenges existing knowledge about the charging mechanism and opens up new strategies for improving battery sustainability.
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology developed a novel synthesis procedure to produce high-quality manganese oxide nanoparticles with large surface areas. The new approach enables the creation of ultra-small nanoparticles with excellent catalytic performance, outperforming previously reported methods.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a chemical process that can add two distinct functional groups to single alkenes, a breakthrough in drug design and materials science. The process uses manganese catalysts and photocalysts to enable radical ligand transfer, allowing for the creation of unique molecules.
Researchers at KAUST developed a new exhaust catalyst concept that can effectively remove NOx from vehicle emissions, resolving an ongoing debate over additive atoms in the catalyst mix. The team identified the ideal atomic recipe to catalytically remove NOx from diesel car tailpipes.
Scientists at Tohoku University have discovered a compound that can reversibly store and release large amounts of low-grade heat. The birnessite-type layered manganese dioxide with crystal water compound has shown better performance compared to other compounds for heat storage purposes.
Researchers found that T. domingensis absorbed more iron than H. tiliaceus, making it a promising phytoremediation technique for rehabilitating contaminated water and soil. The study's findings could help mitigate the environmental damage caused by the 2015 iron mine tailings dam disaster in Brazil.
A new study reveals that construction workers are at high risk of tracking multiple toxic metals into their homes, including arsenic, chromium, and lead. The study found a range of factors, such as lack of work lockers and poor hygiene practices, can impact metal concentrations in home dust.
A new method to produce hydrogen from water has been discovered, using cobalt and manganese as catalysts. This breakthrough could lead to a cleaner and more sustainable hydrogen economy, reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
A new meta-analysis of available literature on ALS disease has identified a group of seven environmental chemicals as correlates with increased risk of developing ALS. Exposure to these chemicals, including BMAA and heavy metals, may be contributing to the disease burden in certain regions.
Researchers at the University of British Columbia have developed a flexible and washable battery that can withstand repeated use and laundry cycles. The battery's construction creates an airtight seal and uses safer chemistry, making it suitable for wearable devices worn next to the skin.