Articles tagged with Atomic Structure
Theoretical physicist Peter Feibelman found that water molecules dissociate near the surface, forming a 3-D ice cube instead of a puckered hexagon. This discovery explains why a flat water layer exists on metal surfaces, which has implications for micro- and nanotechnology.,
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have discovered that carbon nanotubes can store more energy than conventional graphite electrodes, potentially leading to longer-lasting batteries. The study found that carbon nanotubes can contain roughly twice the energy density of graphite.
Researchers have found that encapsulating molecules within carbon nanotubes can dramatically modify their electronic properties. This discovery could lead to the design of single-molecule-based devices and hybrid nanostructures with tailored electronic functions.
Researchers at Penn and Illinois have created nanoscale peapods that exhibit tunable electronic properties. By manipulating encapsulated molecules, they can engineer electron motion inside nanotubes in a predictable way.
Researchers found that tiny holes etched in silicon chips can move and align themselves with increased heat, leading to more energy-efficient configurations. This knowledge could help lead to smaller, more precise silicon chips for computers and other devices.
Sandia researchers successfully created the first controllable 2D nanopatterns, which can be used to fine-tune device characteristics of self-assembling nanostructures. The breakthrough provides insight into how nature creates ordered patterns and enables humans to replicate it for fabricating specialized materials.
A team of Virginia Tech chemists and colleagues have created a family of fullerene molecules that break the sacrosanct isolated-pentagon rule. The new structure has only 68 carbon atoms, which are stabilized by three metal atoms, allowing for a molecular cluster of four atoms to be encapsulated.
Researchers at Purdue University have devised a way to stabilize nanoparticles made of metal by wrapping them in a molecular coating. This process prevents the nanoparticles from fusing together and allows for easy manipulation, opening doors to new nano-structured materials.
Yale researchers determined the atomic structure of the ribosome's large subunit, revealing its RNA-based enzymatic component. This breakthrough has significant medical implications, as the ribosome is a major target for antibiotics, and could lead to new treatments for resistant bacterial diseases.
Researchers have found that electrons in quasicrystals travel in bands with distinct momentum and energy, correlated with the structure of the alloy. This discovery challenges theoretical expectations and opens new avenues for inquiry into the material's properties.
Scientists have identified a class of ceramic materials that may safely contain radioactive waste for long-term storage, featuring disordered atomic structures. The fluorite-type complex oxides show promise as radiation-proof materials, warranting further development for containing nuclear wastes.
Researchers at Max-Planck-Gesellschaft have solved the three-dimensional structure of fumarate reductase dimer using X-ray crystallography. The enzyme plays a crucial role in anaerobic bacterial metabolism, and its structure reveals an electron transfer pathway from haem groups to FAD and then to fumarate reduction site.
Researchers have determined the atomic structure of clathrin, a versatile molecule that self-assembles into a protective sphere to transport nutrients and hormones into cells. The molecule's unique structure allows for precise regulation of molecular entry, ensuring safe transit and controlled transport.
The discovery represents the first known structure of JNK3, a MAP Kinase family enzyme implicated in neurological diseases like epilepsy. Vertex's interdisciplinary approach may lead to new drugs against innovative targets, building on their track record of applying structural information to genomic discoveries.
Researchers have calculated that carbon-36 fullerenes may become superconducting at significantly higher temperatures than other carbon structures. The materials' unique bonding configurations and electron-phonon coupling mechanisms could enable superconductivity at temperatures up to three times higher than those of C-60.
The crystal structure of the thermosome, an archaeal chaperonin, has been determined, providing insights into its mode of action. The thermosome contains a built-in lid domain that substitutes for a cochaperonin, allowing it to drive protein folding cycles.
Researchers from Vertex Pharmaceuticals have solved the three-dimensional atomic structure of the hepatitis C virus NS3 helicase enzyme, an enzyme critical to viral replication. The achievement provides valuable insights into the mechanism of helicase enzymes and offers opportunities for accelerating antiviral drug development.
Researchers determined the structure of methyl-coenzyme M reductase, a key enzyme in methanogenesis that produces methane for cellular energy. The crystal structure has provided new insights into the enzymatic mechanism and will aid in characterizing other enzyme states.
Researchers have solved the structure of the active site of the enzyme responsible for producing nitric oxide, a crucial signaling molecule involved in various physiological processes. The discovery provides insight into how NO production is controlled and may lead to the development of new drugs to modulate its activity.
Researchers at Cornell University have developed the world's smallest silicon mechanical devices, measuring just a few nanometers in size. These devices can be used for various applications, including modulating light signals for fiber optic communications and measuring tiny forces.
Researchers have discovered that tiny clusters of eight water molecules naturally arrange themselves into small cubic structures, revealing unique properties of water. The study found that even in very small water clusters, water has the capacity to arrange its hydrogen bonds in several distinct orientations.
Engineer Max Lagally and colleagues create tiny pyramids assembled from several thousand germanium atoms, perfectly shaped and uniform across the surface. The pyramid crystals can hold a single charge and represent some of the smallest materials structures ever created.