Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Coating plastics by porous nanofilm

Researchers from Tohoku University developed a new method for creating MOF thin films with designable pores, opening up its use for humidity sensing, gas sensing and resistive switching devices. The 'layer-by-layer' method involves sequential immersing of substrates into ingredient solutions.

SourceTohoku University·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateNov 9, 2020

Trapping of acetylene

Researchers developed a Ni-MOF that can capture acetylene with extraordinary efficiency and selectively from ethylene streams. The material has a synergistic combination of tailor-made pore sizes and chemical docking sites, making it especially efficient.

SourceWiley·DateAug 27, 2020

Battling harmful algae blooms

A team of scientists, including Kathryn Coyne from the University of Delaware, have developed protocols for studying the genetic underpinnings of marine algae. By analyzing the genetics of a specific species of algae that produces harmful blooms, they were able to create genetically modified strains and identify genes involved in toxin...

SourceUniversity of Delaware·JournalNature Methods·DateJul 23, 2020

Two-dimensional carbon networks

Researchers have developed a simple bottom-up synthesis method for graphdiyne, a two-dimensional carbon network with adjustable electronic properties. The material demonstrates excellent lithium-storage capacity and stability, making it suitable for electrochemical applications.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJun 18, 2020

Flow-through electrodes make hydrogen 50 times faster

Researchers at Duke University have developed flow-through electrodes that can store hydrogen more efficiently than conventional electrolyzers. The new design increases the surface area of the electrode to allow for faster and more productive water electrolysis, with potential implications for affordable renewable energy storage.

SourceDuke University·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·DateMay 26, 2020

New material developed could help clean energy revolution

Researchers at Aalto University developed a new graphene-carbon nanotube catalyst to improve the efficiency of hydrogen fuel cells and water electrolyzers. The catalyst's electrocatalytic activity can be altered depending on the material it is deposited on, offering a promising strategy for producing green technology.

SourceAalto University·JournalACS Catalysis·DateMar 23, 2020

New state-of-the-MOF materials

Researchers at Kyoto University have successfully converted crystalline MOFs into glassy or liquid states, demonstrating porosity, ion conductivity, and optical properties. The new materials show promise for heat storage, gas permeation, and catalytic reactions.

SourceKyoto University·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateFeb 28, 2020

Miniature double glazing

Researchers create a novel material with different thermal conduction properties depending on direction, combining the benefits of insulation and heat dissipation. The material's unique structure allows for efficient transfer of heat within layers while blocking it perpendicular to the layers.

SourceUniversität Bayreuth·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateJan 17, 2020

Electric cloth

Chinese scientists developed a new material that enables the creation of flexible, wearable supercapacitors with high energy density. The electrodes are made from a hybrid material synthesized from two carbon nanomaterials and a metal-organic framework, which provides a balance of porosity, conductivity, and electrochemical activity.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateOct 18, 2019

Porcupinefish inspires sturdy superhydrophobic material

Scientists have created a durable and flexible super-water-repelling material by drawing inspiration from the spiky yet flexible skin of the porcupinefish. The material retains its water repellency after being repeatedly bent or twisted, making it suitable for applications such as self-cleaning, anti-icing, and corrosion prevention.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalACS Applied Materials & Interfaces·DateSep 18, 2019

SUTD researchers developed a unique method of fabricating 3D porous structures

Researchers from SUTD's Soft Fluidics Lab developed a new 3D printing method, immersion precipitation 3D printing (ip3DP), which allows for the fabrication of 3D porous models in one step. The porosity of the printed objects can be easily controlled by adjusting polymer concentrations and solvent types. This novel approach enables the ...

SourceSingapore University of Technology and Design·JournalMaterials Horizons·DateJul 31, 2019

Solar evaporator offers a fresh route to fresh water

Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a self-cleaning solar evaporator made of wood that can efficiently produce clean drinking water from salty water. The device uses interfacial evaporation technology and minimizes maintenance needs, making it suitable for off-grid water generation in low-income countries.

SourceUniversity of Maryland·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateApr 16, 2019

Turning a porous material's color on and off with acid

Researchers at Hokkaido University developed a porous material that turns yellow to reddish-brown when exposed to acid vapor, returning to its original color upon removal. The material's stability is remarkable, maintaining its structure at high temperatures and resisting common organic solvents.

SourceHokkaido University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateFeb 8, 2019

Penn engineer's 'metallic wood' has the strength of titanium and the density of water

Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new material called metallic wood that has the strength of titanium but is four to five times lighter. The material's porous structure can be infused with other materials, making it suitable for applications such as plane wings or prosthetic legs that also serve as batteries.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 28, 2019

The stiffest porous lightweight materials ever

Researchers at ETH Zurich have developed porous lightweight materials that approach theoretical maximum stiffness, outperforming traditional truss-based structures. These novel plate-lattice materials are stiffer, stronger, and more efficient than their counterparts, opening up new possibilities for various applications.

SourceETH Zurich·JournalAdvanced Materials·DateDec 12, 2018