Researchers have created wood sponges that selectively absorb oil from water, then can be squeezed out and used again. The sponges absorbed 16-41 times their own weight in oil, comparable to or better than other reported absorbents.
Chinese researchers developed interfacially polymerized porous polymer particles for efficient separation of low-abundance glycopeptides. The particles use hydrophilic-hydrophobic heterostructured nanopores to separate biomolecules, overcoming existing challenges in homogeneous porous materials.
Researchers at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University create three-dimensional porous material made of collagen and chitosan to restore bone tissue after trauma or illness. The material stimulates natural tissue growth, eliminating the need for lifelong medication.
A team at the University of Washington has developed a sustainable method to remove color from dyes in water using a sponge-like material created from wood pulp and palladium. This process can alter the dye structure and change its color to clear, allowing plants to grow normally again.
Researchers develop a multidimensional model to study tree sap transport, capturing radial variations and geometry effects. The model validates findings via numerical method, providing new insights into flow regimes and their dependence on physical parameters.
Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a new approach to create soft, porous materials with controlled porosity. By controlling the self-assembly of molecules, they were able to form an ultralight aerogel with permanent porosity, opening up potential applications in building insulation, energy storage and aerospace technologies.
Scientists have created a new type of carbon that stores more lithium ions and charges faster than current industry standard graphite. The new material, OSPC-1, has improved safety features, including not forming dendrites that can cause batteries to explode.
Researchers develop MOF, a hybrid material with porosity, enabling control over metallic nanostructures and their applications in catalysis and battery stabilization. The innovative methodology allows for precise control of material design, paving the way for diverse uses of these materials.
Researchers created 3D hierarchically organised carbon structures using a supermolecular sponge and salt, enabling rapid charging and high capacities in Lithium-ion batteries. These nano-diatoms could also be used as electrocatalysts for hydrogen production.
Scientists at KAUST have created a 3D porous material with repeating patterns of interconnected pores using a simple method. The film, made from polystyrene-b-poly(tertbutyl acrylate), shows promise for applications such as virus filtration and biological scaffolds.
A team of scientists at KAUST created a porous material with tailor-made pockets to sense noxious gases, offering a promising step toward real-world devices that can monitor air quality. The MOF-based sensor can detect sulfur dioxide at concentrations as low as parts per billion in lab tests.
A team of international scientists has created a new form of highly-efficient, low-cost insulation based on the wings of a dragonfly. The material is ultralight and porous, with a piece weighing less than a kilogram, and can be replicated at an affordable cost.
A UC3M study identifies inertia effects as key mechanisms controlling dynamic fragmentation in ductile metallic materials. This knowledge can improve manufacturing processes, reduce costs, and enhance the quality of protective structures used in industries such as nuclear power plants and aerospace sector.
Researchers create a new 'green' material made from solid wastes and natural polymers to adsorb pollutants in wastewater and air. The hybrid material outperforms activated carbon with 94% efficiency and lower embodied energy.
Researchers have created a novel non-invasive method to quantify untapped natural gas reservoirs by analyzing the compositional distribution on porous surfaces inside shale rocks. This method provides both average and deviation values of material properties, aiding decision-making in the industry.
A Brazilian startup has developed a porous silica magnetic microparticle that can selectively adsorb different molecules, allowing for efficient purification of substances in various industries. This technology reduces production costs by skipping filtration or centrifugation stages, resulting in lower costs and shorter production times.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a method to manufacture porous silicon carbide structures with controlled porosity, opening up new possibilities for sensor technology, optical components, and biological applications. The technique allows for the creation of micro- and nanostructures with unique properties.
Scientists have developed a novel porous material with controlled porosity, which can store and separate molecules. This breakthrough material has the potential to improve catalysis, gas adsorption, and electronic conductivity, marking a significant turning point in various scientific fields.
The High-Performance Distributed Systems Lab at Kazan Federal University is developing mathematical models to unite various processes in oil reservoirs. These models aim to reduce costs and improve the efficiency of steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) processes.
Scientists at Sun Yat-Sen University present advances in controlling the flexibility of MOFs for improved performance. They summarize strategies for designing/synthesizing flexible MOFs with specified structural response and dynamic behavior towards external stimuli.
Japanese researchers developed a novel phase-field model to study phase separation in binary mixtures within porous materials. The model revealed a clear relationship between demixing and wetness, influenced by the topology of the pore structure.
Hybrid mixed matrix membranes show resilience to industrial gas impurities, allowing effective CO2 capture. This finding is crucial for natural gas sweetening and post-combustion carbon capture applications.
TU Graz is awarding €2 million to the 'Mechanics, Modeling and Simulation of Aortic Dissection' project and €1.5 million to the 'Porous Materials @ Work' project to advance research in biomechanics and materials sciences. The funding will support the development of simulation models and algorithms to diagnose and treat aortic dissections.
Scientists at NIST have developed a new way to test high-performance fibers used in body armor, revealing critical damage mechanisms that lead to degradation. The technique uses positron beam analysis to characterize fiber structure, enabling the creation of more comfortable and effective vests.
Researchers prepared porous MoS2 with high specific surface area using APTES-modified SiO2 hard template and different sulfur sources. The resulting materials exhibited good performance in hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of bio-oil, a promising route for upgrading this liquid fuel.
Researchers have created a new material that can absorb carbon monoxide more effectively than other materials, with potential applications in syngas production and reactions where CO is an unwanted contaminant. The material uses less energy to capture and reuse CO compared to existing technologies.
A new method converts tree leaves into porous carbon materials for use in high-tech electronics. The resulting supercapacitors exhibit remarkable electrical properties and potential applications in computer technology and hybrid vehicles.
Researchers developed a light-responsive crystalline material that overcomes previous challenges in creating 'photoresponsive' materials. The material changes its porous nature when exposed to light, allowing for repeatable and reversible changes.
Researchers developed a facile synthetic route to fabricate N/S co-doped carbon microspheres, achieving high capacitance and capacitance retention. The optimized material shows promising performance for practical applications of supercapacitors.
Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a new technique for 3D printing using a paste of silicone particles in water. The method uses capillary attraction to link together tiny beads, creating porous and flexible structures.
Researchers have developed a new cathode material that uses porous Ti4O7 nanoparticles to confine polysulfides, resulting in high specific capacity and stable performance. This material has the potential to replace expensive and toxic heavy-metal compounds used in traditional lithium-sulphur batteries.
Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology create a method to erase the ink used for 3D printing, allowing for the creation of structures that can be modified repeatedly. The technology has numerous applications in biology and materials sciences.
Three TU Dresden scientists, Prof. Stephan Grill, Frank Buchholz, and Stefan Kaskel, receive significant ERC Advanced Grants to advance research in embryo development, efficient genetic surgery, and pressure amplifying materials with potential applications in energy and environmental technologies
Researchers have developed a seaweed-derived material to improve the performance of superconductors, lithium-ion batteries and fuel cells. The material has shown high capacitance as a superconductor material and can be used in zinc-air batteries and supercapacitors.
Pitt's John Keith, Giannis Mpourmpakis and Christopher Wilmer received $500K each for projects on CO2 conversion, nanoparticle growth and new 'pseudomaterials'. The grants will support student education and community outreach initiatives.
Researchers created a new membrane that improves the cycle life of lithium-sulfur batteries by reducing the shuttling of dissolved polysulfides. The MCM layer preserves energy density without losing capacity over time, leading to 100% capacity retention and up to four times longer life compared to batteries without it.
The study investigates the effects of surface area, total pore volume, and pore size distribution on Li-S battery performances. A porous carbon material with a high micropore volume ratio presents improved electrochemical performances, including high initial discharge capacity and cycle stability.
A KAUST research team created integrated microsupercapacitors with three-dimensional porous electrodes, achieving high energy density of 200 microwatt-hours per square centimeter. The devices outperform state-of-the-art microsupercapacitors and thin film batteries, offering promising applications for self-powered sensors and IoT systems.
Researchers develop fluorine-containing MOF for selective carbon dioxide capture, suitable for air and industrial applications. The material's unique geometry allows for efficient trapping of CO2 even at very low concentrations.
Researchers have developed a porous amorphous silicon modification that compensates for the disadvantages of crystalline silicon in lithium ion batteries. The resulting material exhibits excellent electrochemical characteristics with a capacity three times better than graphite and much longer cycling stability.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new class of materials for supercapacitors that can produce more power than existing carbon-based versions. The material, called Ni3(hexaiminotriphenylene)2, is highly porous and conducts ions well, making it suitable for use in energy storage devices.
Scientists have created a potential nerve agent antidote that can be taken before an attack, offering hope for soldiers and others exposed to these molecular weapons. The enzyme-based antidote was encapsulated in a porous metal-organic framework, enhancing its staying power and effectiveness.
The University of Pittsburgh chemical engineer is studying the self-assembly of materials into complex structures at sizes much larger than the nanoscale. The research aims to advance the fundamental understanding of large-scale self-assembly and test applications in biological sensors, computer chips, and photonic devices.
Researchers visualized fluid-fluid displacement in porous media, revealing optimal wettability conditions for efficient displacement. The findings could improve carbon sequestration, oil recovery, and fuel cell performance.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a recipe to make carbon capture materials the best they can be. Experiments showed that once a sorbent material achieved a surface area of 2,800 square meters per gram, neither more surface area nor larger pores made it more efficient at capturing carbon dioxide.
Researchers at MIT have designed a new bioinspired framework to improve concrete's strength and durability. By studying natural materials such as bones and shells, they have developed guidelines for engineers to design cement with precise control over its internal structure and properties.
Researchers have discovered Negative Gas Adsorption (NGA), a counterintuitive phenomenon where materials release gas under pressure increase. This breakthrough has potential applications in rescue systems and separation applications.
Cornell University engineers have developed a hybrid material combining stiff metal and soft rubber foam for dynamic shape changes, self-healing and improved load-bearing capabilities. The material features a unique ability to melt and reform, mimicking the flexibility of an octopus.
Researchers found that subtle changes in the air-water interface shape near the surface of capillaries significantly impact drying rates. By controlling microstructure, drying time can be improved. The study's findings could lead to more efficient porous materials for various industries.
Researchers at TUM developed a new method to produce extremely thin and robust, yet highly porous semiconductor layers using nanostructured germanium. These layers can be custom tailored with organic polymers to create hybrid materials suitable for small solar cells or batteries.
Researchers at Hiroshima University have developed a new ultra-thin layered membrane that separates salt from seawater to produce fresh water through reverse osmosis. The membrane is heat-resistant and resistant to chlorine, making it suitable for desalination plants.
Scientists at ETH Zurich have produced a new kind of foam out of gold, making it the lightest gold nugget ever created. The aerogel has a metallic shine and is soft and malleable to the touch.
Researchers at San Diego State University have discovered a new phenomenon in materials science using puffed rice cereal. They found that highly porous, brittle materials can deform differently depending on compaction velocity, with three distinct deformation patterns emerging at low, medium, and high velocities.
A new approach to desalination, called shock electrodialysis, uses an electrically driven shockwave to separate salty and fresh water streams, allowing easy separation without filters or boiling. This method can be scaled up for large-scale seawater desalination and may also sterilize contaminated water.
Scientists at Queen's University Belfast have created a porous liquid with unusual gas-dissolving properties, paving the way for more efficient and greener chemical processes. The breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize carbon capture technologies.
Researchers found that impacts on Ceres tend to retain large proportions of material, suggesting a homogeneous surface composed of meteoritic material collected over billions of years. This could have implications for asteroid sample return missions and require careful landing site selection.
Chemists at LMU München have created a new class of porous organic materials that can be used as molecularly tunable photocatalysts for light-driven hydrogen gas production. These materials exhibit features facilitating photocatalytic processes and offer a combination of practicality and efficiency.
Rice University researchers have developed a new technique to characterize the space within porous materials, allowing them to measure dimensions and dynamics at the nanoscale. This breakthrough could improve protein separation processes for the pharmaceutical industry.
Research teams have developed new materials to improve water splitting and oxygen reduction reactions, crucial steps in hydrogen fuel cells. These advancements could lead to more efficient and cost-effective production of hydrogen-powered cars.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University developed two novel methods to characterize 3-dimensional macroporous hydrogels, a promising material for creating responsive catalysts and tissue engineering scaffolds. The team successfully visualized the reversible porous structure within these materials using noninvasive X-ray microscopy.