Articles tagged with Atoms
A new class of magnetic superhalogens has been discovered, exhibiting unusual stability at a specific size and composition. These clusters can be used to create salts with magnetic and super-oxidizing properties not previously found.
Physicists at Ohio State University have developed a technique to tune the properties of key atoms in computer chips by rearranging tiny defects. This could lead to faster computing speeds and new computing paradigms based on quantum mechanics.
Researchers at the University of Manchester have created fluorographene, a one-molecule-thick material similar to Teflon with chemical inertness and thermal stability. The team hopes to use it in electronics, such as LED devices and ultra-thin tunnel barriers, while retaining mechanical strength.
Researchers have discovered a new chemical method that makes it easier to incorporate fluorine into organic molecules. This process can modulate the uptake of drugs and stabilize them against metabolism by the body, making them more effective. The team developed this method using a soluble palladium catalyst under mild conditions.
University of Delaware physicists have confirmed a new vibrational level for the beryllium dimer, a molecule previously thought to repel atoms. The research, led by Krzysztof Szalewicz and Konrad Patkowski, uses morphing techniques to reconcile experimental and theoretical models.
Researchers created the first atomic-scale maps of quantum dots, providing detailed information about their structure and chemical makeup. This breakthrough enables controlled fabrication and manipulation of quantum dots for various applications in computing, energy and technology.
Ethylene, a gas crucial for fruit ripening and industrial chemistry, can reversibly bind to tin atoms, according to a new UC Davis study. The discovery has implications for understanding catalytic processes, which are essential in both living cells and industrial settings.
Researchers find that nitrogen oxides combine with hydrochloric acid to create chlorine atoms, speeding up smog formation and contributing to corrosion indoors. This phenomenon should be added to atmospheric models to better predict air pollution levels.
Researchers analyze chlorotrinitromethane molecule to reveal extremely short carbon-clorine single bond of 1.69 Angstroms, breaking previous measurements. Theoretical calculations confirm electrostatic interactions between atoms contribute to this unusual bond length.
Chemists at the University of Illinois developed a molecular force probe to study the effects of stretching molecules, revealing counterintuitive results about chemical bond breaking rates. The technique allows researchers to explore the properties of transition states governing chemical transformations.
Ahmed Zewail is honored with the 2009 Othmer Gold Medal for his groundbreaking work in femtochemistry, enabling scientists to study reactions in real time. He is also a tireless advocate for science education, working globally to promote its value and accessibility.
A chemist at the University of Chicago has developed a new method to predict many-electron chemistry using only two electrons, allowing for faster and more accurate chemical reaction predictions. This breakthrough could lead to significant advances in fields such as atmospheric ozone depletion, greenhouse gas reduction, and drug design.
Researchers at Harvard University propose that quantum computers could simulate chemical reactions with improved accuracy, reducing computational resources required. This breakthrough has significant potential for applications in drug design, materials science, and other fields.
CU-Boulder researchers have developed a new method to observe electrons in action, using ultrafast lasers to chart chemical reactions and understand how atoms move and electrons rearrange. This breakthrough has significant implications for fields like catalysis and alternative energy.
Scientists at University of Michigan used computer simulations to understand how quasicrystals form intricate patterns without rearranging atoms. This breakthrough could lead to new materials with improved properties, such as resistance to wear and corrosion.
Researchers have successfully predicted the existence and stability of a boron buckyball (B80), a cage-shaped molecule with an additional atom in each hexagon. The B80 has been structurally similar to the original C60 fullerene, but it significantly increases stability.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool designed a unique crystal structure to capture atomic movement, which may impact future pharmaceutical designs. The study aims to improve chemical reaction control, enabling more environmentally friendly production methods.
University of Chicago chemist David Mazziotti has developed a new method for determining electron behavior in atoms and molecules, achieving accuracy rates of 95-100%. This breakthrough could have wide applications in various chemical phenomena, including fuel efficiency, ozone depletion, and medicine design.
Scientists at the University of Alberta developed a unique coating process to make the sharpest tip known, opening doors to new possibilities in electron microscopy and nanotechnology. The sharp tips can withstand extreme temperatures and enable finer resolution in electron microscopes.
Chemists have synthesized a new species of iron, designated as iron VI, which has two valence electrons and is highly reactive. This discovery adds to our understanding of fundamental iron chemistry and its catalytic properties, potentially leading to novel compounds for industry and biomedicine.
Researchers have created iridium and platinum nitrides, which exhibit strong bonds that contribute to hardness and durability. These compounds may be used in durable coatings, substrates, conductors, and optoelectronic devices.
A team of researchers at Duke University has developed a computer-assisted method to find novel and superior materials by simulating and lab synthesizing vast universes of possible molecules. The technique, called LCAP, uses a universal property applicable to all molecules to identify optimal candidates for various applications.
Researchers at UC Davis have successfully synthesized a chromium-based compound with a five-fold bond, a feat previously thought impossible. This breakthrough challenges the current understanding of metal chemistry and opens up new avenues for research in carbon chemistry.
The new Local-Electrode Atom-Probe (LEAP) tomograph allows researchers to study the nanostructure and chemical composition of materials at an unprecedented level. By analyzing the structure and chemical identity of steel, scientists can design stronger materials with improved properties.
Researchers have discovered that the loss of sulphur atoms from hydroprocessing catalysts is a key cause of their deactivation. This process can lead to a decrease in the catalyst's ability to convert sulphur compounds into clean fuels.
Physicists at NIST have proven the existence of atomic chain 'anchors' with lower energy levels than inner atoms. This discovery may help scientists design one-dimensional nanostructures, such as electrical wires, with tailored electrical properties.
A research team has discovered clusters of aluminum atoms that exhibit chemical properties similar to single atoms of metallic and nonmetallic elements when reacting with iodine. The discovery enables the creation of unique compounds with distinct properties.
New electron microscopes will allow scientists to determine the chemical identity of individual atoms in crystalline materials, leading to insights into material properties and potential advances in technology. The instruments will also aid in understanding phenomena such as brittle fracture of steels and chemistry of catalytic nanopar...
Experts K. Eric Drexler and Richard E. Smalley disagree on the possibility of molecular assemblers, devices that can precisely manipulate atoms and molecules. Drexler proposes guiding chemical synthesis with reactive molecules, while Smalley questions the feasibility of such devices.
The U of T team has developed a technique to capture the atomic-level melting process of aluminum, revealing the solid's arrangement as it changes into a liquid. The researchers observed the transformation in real-time using laser and electron pulse technology, shedding light on the fundamental processes governing chemistry and biology.
Brookhart's research team has made new polymers by constructing metal catalysts that insert monomers in the middle of chains, resulting in branched polypropylene with improved properties. His work expands the range of available polymers, with several licensed for commercialization.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research successfully observed the formation and dynamics of coordination compounds on a copper surface. They directly imaged single molecules and monitored their movements, revealing how rotating molecules act as dynamic atom traps for individual Cu atoms.
Researchers have successfully attached a water-soluble group to an 80-atom fullerene, creating a buckeyball with biological functionality. The aim is to get these molecules into the bloodstream for potential drug delivery. This innovation marks a first step in developing drugs and expands MRI reagents and nanotube applications.
Paul McEuen's research group has developed a method to count individual electrons in carbon nanotubes using an atomic force microscope. This breakthrough enables scientists to study the basic physics of electron behavior and advance the field of nanoelectronics.
Researchers have developed a new method to engineer glass that can withstand stress without catastrophic failure, reducing the variability in strength. This new approach creates internal compressed layers that stop crack propagation, making the glass more consistent and reliable.
A team of researchers is working on creating silicon surfaces that are essentially totally flat, which could improve the performance of transistors in the semiconductor industry. The technique uses a basic hydrofluoric acid solution to etch away surface atoms one by one, producing small areas with perfect flatness.
Researchers at Fritz Haber Institute use scanning tunneling microscope to investigate CO oxidation reaction, revealing surface oxygen atoms and molecules form islands that separate into reactive species. The study determines reaction rates with island separation accounted for, consistent with previously measured values.
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.