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Self-folding origami honeycombs pave the way to sustainable protective packaging

Researchers from Shibaura Institute of Technology created a novel method to produce self-folding origami honeycomb structures using paper sheets, which can provide excellent protection against shocks and compression. The developed technique has potential applications in packaging, agriculture, and other fields.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalMaterials & Design·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 1, 2022

Newly developed air filter showcases excellent performance and endurance in harsh environments

A newly developed composite sponge-based air filter has demonstrated strong potential for applications in automobiles and industry, with high efficiency in removing particulate matter under harsh conditions. The filter's unique design and materials ensure good structural stability and adaptability to various environments.

SourceParticuology·JournalParticuology·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 3, 2022

Chung-Ang University researchers use biomolecule-loaded metal-organic frameworks nanopatterns to aid artificial stem cell differentiation

A new platform mimics live cellular environment to guide stem cell differentiation outside the body. Researchers from Chung-Ang University developed a novel platform based on metal-organic frameworks, which offers advantages over conventional methods for in vitro stem cell differentiation.

SourceChung Ang University·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 9, 2022

Step toward a circular economy?

Researchers have discovered a zirconium-based metal–organic framework material that catalyzes the degradation of PET into its monomers. This process can be reused to make high-value PET products, enabling the development of a circular economy. The catalyst breaks down PET waste at 260°C with yields up to 98%

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 9, 2022

Safely storing dangerous gasses in pores

Scientists developed a new porous coordination polymer that can store and release acetylene, a highly flammable industrial gas, without using solvents. The material allows for the storage of large quantities of acetylene at pressures below 2 bar.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateApr 21, 2022

Treated plastic waste good at grabbing carbon dioxide

Researchers at Rice University have developed a method to turn treated plastic waste into an effective carbon dioxide sorbent, capable of removing CO2 from flue gas streams. The process involves heating plastic waste in the presence of potassium acetate, producing particles with nanometer-scale pores that trap CO2 molecules.

SourceRice University·JournalACS Nano·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 5, 2022

Optimizing the Mitigation of Heavy Metal Pollution in Biochar-treated Soils with Machine Learning

Researchers used machine learning to predict the most important factors underlying heavy metal pollution remediation in biochar-treated soils. Biochar nitrogen content and application rate were found to be the most crucial features in determining HM immobilization, with soil properties also playing a significant role.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalEnvironmental Science & Technology·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMar 29, 2022

A sieve for molecules

Researchers from Ruhr-University Bochum, Yale, and Bielefeld have successfully produced a layer of two-dimensional silicon dioxide with natural pores. This material can be used as a fine-mesh sieve for molecules and ions, offering potential applications in desalination, fuel cells, and sustainable energy solutions.

Growing the perfect diamond: Simulations reveal interesting geometric patterns

Scientists have simulated the growth of ultra-thin polycrystalline diamond films with promising results. The two-dimensional simulations revealed interesting geometric structures and shed light on how to create robust materials. The research has implications for biomedical science, quantum devices, and other applications.

SourceOkinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) Graduate University·JournalActa Materialia·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 14, 2022

Pusan National University scientists enhance durability of lithium-sulfur batteries with dyes

Researchers developed a novel coating material based on methylene blue dye to mitigate the polysulfide shuttling effect in lithium-sulfur batteries, improving their durability and electrochemical performance. This breakthrough could lead to the widespread adoption of sustainable energy storage systems.

SourcePusan National University·JournalChemical Engineering Journal·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2022

2D material in three dimensions

Scientists at Vienna University of Technology have successfully integrated large surface areas of graphene into limited volumes by producing it on complex branched nanostructures. This breakthrough enables increased storage capacity for hydrogen and higher sensitivity in chemical sensors.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalCarbon·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 31, 2022

Scientists use sintered porous media to build compact, efficient heat exchangers

Researchers from The University of Electro-Communications and Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology found that sintering porous media inside heat transfer tubes increases the area available for heat exchange, reducing thermal resistance and enhancing heat transfer performance. Heat transfer in these tubes is five times greater...

SourceThe University of Electro-Communications·JournalApplied Thermal Engineering·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 20, 2021

Crafting a “sponge” for adsorbing and desorbing gas molecules

A team of scientists has created a novel material composed of catenane molecules, which can adsorb and desorb gas molecules like carbon dioxide. The soft crystal exhibits unique properties, including porosity and deformability, making it suitable for applications such as capturing CO2 molecules.

SourceRIKEN·JournalNature·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 13, 2021

Fabricating MgB2 superconductors using spark plasma sintering and pulse magnetization

New research from Shibaura Institute of Technology reveals that spark plasma sintering produces highly dense MgB2 bulks with improved mechanical and superconducting properties. The resulting samples exhibit superior strengths and high trapped field performance, making them suitable for space applications and electric machines.

SourceShibaura Institute of Technology·JournalMaterials Science and Engineering B·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 23, 2021

Cheaper hydrogen production

Researchers have developed a novel electrode material based on cobalt and nickel that can efficiently produce hydrogen through water and urea electrolysis. The phosphorus-doped cobalt-nickel-sulfide nanoparticles demonstrate high activity and stability, reducing the overall voltage of the electrolysis cell.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 10, 2021

Dragged along by micro-swimmers

Researchers have developed a new model for micro-swimmer-based transport, which shows that a swarm of micro-swimmers can transport particles more efficiently than traditional methods. The study's findings suggest that this phenomenon could be useful in biological applications, such as delivering drugs to specific locations in the body.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 30, 2021

Crystals made to fit

Researchers have developed a novel type of soft hybrid ultramicroporous material that can change its pores to allow acetylene molecules to fit in perfectly. The material binds acetylene with unusual strength and allows for highly selective separation from other gases.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 12, 2021

Alginic acid improves artificial bones, study shows

A study published in the Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine found that alginic acid improves artificial bones by increasing porosity, compressive strength, and setting time. The addition of alginic acid to calcium phosphate cement enhances its mechanical properties, allowing for more effective bone replacement.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalJournal of Materials Science Materials in Medicine·TypeNews article·DateAug 11, 2021

Growing 'metallic wood' to new heights

Researchers solve a major problem in manufacturing metallic wood, eliminating inverted cracks that plagued similar materials for decades. The new material allows strips of metallic wood to be assembled in areas 20,000 times greater than before, enabling the creation of stronger, more consistent devices.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Materials·DateJun 29, 2021

Sensor and detoxifier in one

A team of Chinese researchers developed a material that can both quickly detect and efficiently remove ozone. The porous material, called an imine COF, works reliably at high humidity and over a wide temperature range.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 5, 2021

Metal-organic frameworks become flexible

Researchers from TUM and RUB have developed flexible MOFs by adding carbon arms to the organic connecting pieces, allowing them to maintain their shape under pressure. The material's behavior is driven by configurational entropy, which enables it to transform between open-pored and closed-pore structures.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateNov 17, 2020

New phase of modeling the viscous coupling effects of multiphase fluid flow

Researchers led by Kyushu University have developed a new method to explore key phenomena associated with multiphase fluid flow in porous materials, overcoming the limitation of viscous coupling effects. The new approach combines pore network modeling and lattice Boltzmann simulations, allowing for accurate capture of viscous coupling ...

SourceKyushu University, I2CNER·JournalAdvances in Water Resources·DateNov 16, 2020