Articles tagged with Chemical Physics
A novel measurement cell enables in-situ/operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements under high pressures and temperatures, providing new insights into thermocatalytic processes such as the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The setup is suitable for investigating catalytic gas-solid reactions under realistic operating conditions.
A study by Universitat Rovira i Virgili analysed 29 substances in commercial products sold in Tarragona, finding that phthalates were the most prevalent contaminants, especially in hake dishes. The risk assessment concluded that levels detected do not pose a significant health risk.
Researchers at Texas A&M University develop a laser technique called TRIP to directly measure quantum forces shaping proteins, enabling accurate prediction of how pharmaceutical drugs interact with them. This breakthrough could lead to the design of medicines tailored to specific diseases, revolutionizing precision medicine.
Researchers have designed a clay material that can absorb and retain ethylene gas, slowing down the ripening process of fruits and vegetables. This innovation has the potential to reduce food waste and improve fruit flavor by allowing for later harvesting in the ripening process.
Scientists have successfully synthesized a new fullerene material that exhibits metallic behavior even under cryogenic temperatures. This discovery challenges conventional understanding of the Mott metal-insulator transition and has significant implications for future electronics and quantum technologies.
Researchers at TU Wien found that the sapphire surface is irregular and rough at the atomic scale, with tiny regions of ordered aluminum atoms being surrounded by inhomogeneous surfaces. This atomic-scale disorder dramatically affects the surface's chemical properties, contradicting previous theories.
Researchers found that mirror-image forms of chiral molecules behave differently due to asymmetric magnetic field strengths. This discovery supports a theory about how life began on Earth, proposing that magnetized surfaces played a key role in the emergence of biological molecules.
Researchers at Nagoya Institute of Technology have developed new guidelines for mixing dense suspensions, reducing impeller speed and energy requirements. The study's findings suggest that placing the impeller near the solid-liquid interface improves energy efficiency in baffled conditions.
Researchers at Kyoto University developed a porous polymer gel that selectively recognizes specific molecules through coordination chemistry, triggering visible color change and deformation. The gel's mechanical properties also strengthened upon recognition of guest molecules.
Researchers develop quantum algorithms to simulate polymer degradation caused by UV radiation, using industrially relevant aircraft coatings as an example. The goal is to optimize surface coatings for various industries, improving safety and reducing costs.
Three young scientists in Israel have been awarded the prestigious Blavatnik Awards for their innovative research in chemistry, cancer biology, and astrophysics. Sergey Semenov, Uri Ben-David, and Paz Beniamini will each receive US$100,000 to advance their projects on complex materials, cancer treatments, and extreme cosmic events.
The study reveals that the first four layers of water molecules possess a well-defined orientational structure with alternating molecular tilt and twist angles. This new understanding has important implications for processes at aqueous interfaces, including electrochemical devices such as batteries.
Researchers at TU Wien have demonstrated a remarkable mineralogical mechanism where certain minerals convert CO2 into solid carbonate quickly, mediated by water. This process enables rapid CO2 capture and storage in rocks, potentially solving the issue of atmospheric CO2 removal.
Researchers at DTU have developed a new magnetic material that features a stable internal magnetic structure and almost no external magnetic field, above room temperature. This could enable faster components and lower energy consumption in spintronics.
Researchers investigate Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 nanoparticles using operando TEM, revealing dynamic structural changes during methanol synthesis. A 'frustrated phase transition' is identified, where the catalyst constantly transforms between states, driving its high activity and stability.
A team of researchers from Pohang University of Science & Technology has identified the underlying cause of water's unique properties, solving a fundamental mystery in science. They have observed water's liquid-liquid critical point, which marks the transition from two distinct liquid states into a single supercritical liquid state.
Researchers created a new type of microporous aerogel that overcomes limitations of conventional materials, enabling flexible and highly processable shapes. The material's flexibility arises from reversible van der Waals interactions between metal–organic polyhedra molecules.
Scientists have developed a light-activated material that can convert carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, a key building block for fuels and chemicals, using sunlight and water. The material, which combines ideas from biology and materials science, produces CO extremely efficiently with no detectable by-products.
Researchers analyzed the teeth of four European straight-tusked elephants, discovering they migrated up to 300km before reaching their final habitat. The study suggests organized hunting and cooperation between Neanderthals and the elephants.
The Global Physics Summit will feature over 12,000 individual presentations on new research in astrophysics, particle physics, and quantum information science. Registered journalists and public information officers will receive daily emails with information during the meeting.
Researchers have developed a new chemistry-based strategy to localize therapeutic drugs to tumors, reducing harm to healthy tissues. The 'lock-and-key' system uses biorthogonal supramolecular chemistry to release drugs in specific locations, offering a potential path to safer and more precise cancer treatment.
The American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit will feature over 10,000 individual presentations on new research in astrophysics and particle physics. Attendees can book discounted hotel rates near the Colorado Convention Center until February 12 to receive a discount.
The B-STING silica nanocomposite acts as a nanofactory of reactive oxygen species, activating itself in response to changes in the chemical environment. This material can be used to create biocidal coatings that are safe, durable, and resistant to dirt, with potential applications in medicine and other industries.
A team of researchers investigated electron-transfer-mediated decay (ETMD), a key process in radiation chemistry and biological damage. They found that atoms undergo pronounced roaming-like motion, reshaping molecular geometry and influencing decay timing.
The American Physical Society's Global Physics Summit will convene over 14,000 physicists worldwide for groundbreaking research presentations. The event will feature both in-person and online experiences, including scientific sessions, exhibits, and networking events.
Researchers at Fritz Haber Institute have made significant strides in understanding fuel-cell catalysts under industrially relevant conditions. They discovered that the rate-limiting steps and their degree of rate control change as a function of overpotential and pressure, challenging traditional views on multi-step reactions.
Researchers at RIKEN have developed a new plant-based plastic made from cellulose that rapidly degrades in natural environments, eliminating microplastic waste. The biodegradable plastic can be adjusted in strength and flexibility with added choline chloride, providing a practical solution to ocean pollution.
Researchers at Tohoku University have discovered a universal quantum rule governing electron-phonon coupling strength, which is linked to the fine-structure constant. The study reveals that this strength is quantized and universally applies to crystals, with implications for designing materials with tailored properties.
Scientists at TU Wien have created an alternative production method for Cu-64, a crucial copper isotope used in medicine. By harnessing recoil chemistry and utilizing a specially designed metal–organic complex, they can efficiently separate the desired isotope from ordinary copper.
Researchers from two Max Planck Institutes directly observe the strong reshaping of C60 molecules by laser fields using x-ray camera. At low intensities, the molecule expands before fragmentation sets in, while at high intensities, fast expansion and removal of outer valence electrons occur.
TUM researchers discovered that dendrite growth can occur inside polymer-based electrolytes, which are supposed to protect against short circuits. This finding challenges the assumption that dendrite growth occurs only at the interface between electrode and electrolyte.
A new study provides guidelines on creating photoreactive molecules sensitive to mechanical stimuli using flexible linkers. The findings may open possibilities for highly efficient energy conversion devices and advanced medical therapies.
Researchers have discovered a way to increase the energy state of iron in materials, enabling the creation of higher-voltage batteries. The breakthrough could also aid the development of superconductors and magnetism applications.
Researchers at TU Wien have developed a new computational method that accurately calculates van der Waals forces between large molecules, resolving decades-long discrepancies. The improved method corrects errors in existing approaches and enables reliable predictions for biological systems and renewable energy technologies.
A novel manganese(I) complex has been developed, combining a record-breaking excited-state lifetime with simple synthesis, offering a powerful and sustainable alternative to noble metal complexes. The complex exhibits strong absorption and overcomes the challenges of tedious synthesis and short lifetimes of excited states.
Researchers discovered a new 'In and Out' mechanism where CO₂ briefly dips into the topmost layer of water, reacts, and then reemerges. This challenges previous assumptions about where and how CO₂ can turn into carbonic acid, suggesting faster ocean acidification.
A team of scientists observed the earliest steps of ultrafast charge transfer in a complex dye molecule, with high-frequency vibrations playing a central role. The experiments showed that these vibrations initiate charge transport, while processes in the surrounding solvent begin only at a later stage.
A new project at FAU aims to advance water quality monitoring in Lake Okeechobee by understanding how common contaminants break down after being released into freshwater environments. The team will deploy passive sampling devices and use cutting-edge chemical analysis to predict which contaminants are forming dangerous byproducts.
Physicists from the IFJ PAN in Cracow have successfully produced homogeneous coatings of titanium oxide nanotubes on large metal surfaces, overcoming the obstacle of crystal grain boundaries. The method combines nanoparticle lithography and electrochemical anodization, enabling controlled material properties.
Researchers developed nanosized, porous oxyhalide photocatalysts that achieve record performance in producing hydrogen from water and converting carbon dioxide to formic acid using sunlight. The breakthrough offers a scalable, eco-friendly approach to solar fuel production by carefully controlling particle size and structure.
Researchers at National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology developed a technique to decompose polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) into gaseous products using electron beam irradiation. This process reduces energy required by 50% compared to traditional methods, making large-scale recycling of fluoropolymers more viable.
A 2.35-billion-year-old meteorite offers fresh insights into the Moon's volcanic history and suggests ongoing internal heat generation processes. The rock's distinct composition provides new constraints on when and how volcanic activity occurred on the Moon.
A research team at IOCB Prague has discovered a previously unknown phenomenon where a liquid transitions between metallic and nonmetallic states without settling in either. The study proposes a new hypothesis: ultrafast switching between the two phases on a timescale of tens of femtoseconds.
Researchers at the University of Vienna have made graphene drastically more stretchable by rippling it like an accordion. This discovery reveals a new property of graphene and paves the way for applications requiring certain stretchability.
A Kobe University study finds that carbon-containing meteorites appear less shocked because gases produced during impacts are ejected into space, revealing a new understanding of shock metamorphism. The team's guidelines for future missions also predict the accumulation of highly-shocked material on dwarf planet Ceres.
A new method for DNA detection uses heterogeneous probe particles and laser light to accelerate genetic analysis. This PCR-free technique offers greater sensitivity and speed than traditional methods, making it more accessible for medical, environmental, and personal health applications.
Ryan Amberger, a Ph.D. candidate in physics at Texas A&M University, has been selected for a 2025 Los Alamos-Texas A&M Fellowship to conduct dissertation research on nuclear astrophysics. He aims to improve understanding of the s-process by studying neutron cross sections.
Scientists used radiation-induced reactions to convert corrosive Cr³⁺ to less-corrosive Cr²⁺, potentially mitigating metal alloy corrosion in molten salt nuclear reactors. The findings could improve the long-term reliability of these new reactors.
A new study by researchers at the Institute of Science Tokyo hints that calcium ions played a crucial role in shaping life's earliest molecular structures. The team discovered that calcium dramatically alters how tartaric acid molecules link together, favoring homochiral polymers and potentially influencing the emergence of life.
Researchers create WaaFs with high thermal stability and reversible assembly, opening avenues for gas storage, separation, and catalysis. The frameworks utilize van der Waals interactions to form robust structures, making them suitable for industrial applications.
The UTA-UT Austin team will use AI, quantum simulations, and experimental techniques to develop magnets that eliminate rare-earth elements. The researchers aim to enhance U.S. energy security and accelerate sustainable energy solutions with comparable magnetic properties.
A new photocatalytic chemical mechanical polishing (PCMP) slurry has been developed for Single Crystal Diamond (SCD) polishing, resulting in exceptionally smooth surfaces with minimal damage. The Material Removal Rate (MRR) peaks at 1168 nm·h−1, emphasizing the efficiency and effectiveness of this advanced polishing technique.
Researchers from Ateneo de Manila University develop 'droplet-scale anodization' technique to transform aluminum into glass-like TAlOx with minimal electricity and chemical waste. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more accessible transparent coatings for various applications.
Discounted hotel rates available at select hotels near the Anaheim Convention Center. The Global Physics Summit will feature nearly 14,000 individual presentations on new research in various fields.
Researchers developed AshPhos, a ligand that facilitates the formation of carbon-nitrogen bonds using inexpensive materials. The tool has potential applications in pharmaceuticals, nanomaterials, and degrading PFAS pollutants.
The American Physical Society's joint March Meeting and April Meeting will convene more than 14,000 physicists from around the world to present new research in various fields. The conference will be held in person in Anaheim, California and online everywhere March 16-21.
In a Weizmann Institute experiment, groups of ants demonstrated superior problem-solving skills compared to human groups and individuals. Humans struggled to improve performance when working together, relying on individual calculation rather than collective strategy.
A team of scientists has developed a method to insert a filiform molecule into the cavity of a ring-shaped molecule using light-induced reactions and self-assembly processes. This creates a molecular fit that is not possible at thermodynamic equilibrium, enabling the creation of new substances with unique properties.
The 26th Nagoya Medal of Organic Chemistry will be held on January 24th, 2025, with gold medalist Professor Alois Fürstner presenting lectures on catalysis and metal-carbene chemistry. Silver medalist Professor Masayuki Inoue will discuss total synthesis of highly oxygenated natural products.