Articles tagged with Crystal Structure
At Harvard University, scientists have developed a method to assemble intricate nanostructures into delicate flower-like structures. By manipulating chemical gradients, researchers can control the growth behavior of these crystals to create precisely tailored structures, mimicking nature's own self-assembly processes.
Scientists find that altering the structure and assembly of cellulose can make it more easily broken down, leading to more efficient biofuel production. By modifying the synthesis process, plants can produce cellulose with fewer structured bundles, reducing the need for time- and energy-intensive industrial processes.
Researchers from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and University of Wisconsin-Madison discover the crystalline secrets of vaterite with the help of a needlelike spicule from a sea squirt. They found that vaterite is composed of two different crystal structures coexisting within a pseudo-single crystal.
A research team developed a new protocol for X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis that doesn't require crystallisation of the target molecule. This method allows for the analysis of scarce marine natural products and characterises many compounds previously impossible to analyze crystallographically.
The study reveals the precise structure of the mosquito-transmitted chikungunya virus pathogen bound to antibodies, showing how infection is likely neutralized. Antibodies stabilize the viral surface, hindering fusion and blocking infection. The findings could lead to effective vaccines against the infection.
Organic semiconductor technology has the potential to create flexible devices like video screens that bend like paper. A $400,000 NSF CAREER Award will support research on the physical structure and electronic properties of single crystals.
Researchers explore the potential of quasicrystals in fundamental optics research, offering opportunities for building smaller optical circuits and creating more efficient devices. Quasicrystals' unique properties make them an attractive area of study for applications in biosensing, solar cells, and spectroscopy.
Researchers at Helmholtz Centre Berlin have developed a method for producing titanium dioxide nanoparticles at room temperature in a polymer network. The analysis showed that the nanoparticles are homogeneously distributed over the polymeric nanoreactors and have a crystalline structure, enabling their use as catalysts.
The researchers developed a new type of nanoscale structure that combines one-dimensional and two-dimensional structures, creating a material with large surface area and efficient charge transfer. This 3D structure holds promise for developing next-generation sensors, photodetectors, solar cells, and energy storage technologies.
Researchers detected water in lunar anorthosites, contradicting the popular moon-formation model that suggests the moon was formed from debris generated by a giant impact. The discovery indicates that the early moon was wet and that water may have played a key role in its development.
Researchers at Northwestern University have created a new set of building blocks for materials science using nanoparticles and DNA, enabling programmable control over material properties. The new approach allows for the creation of novel crystal structures with tailored physical properties.
University of Illinois researchers have devised a method to make ferroelectric thin films with twice the strain, resulting in improved performance. The films have a built-in electric field, called an intrinsic potential, which opens the door for new applications such as smaller, faster and longer lasting computer components.
A team of researchers has developed novel self-assembling materials, known as 'Soft Lego', which can form complex crystal structures with specific properties. These materials have potential applications in photonics and light guides, offering a new approach to the construction of materials at the macroscopic scale.
Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have created a new way to direct the assembly of liquid crystals, generating small features that spontaneously arrange in arrays based on much larger templates. By altering the geometry of molecules on a physical template, researchers can produce subtle changes in defect patterns.
Researchers used an X-ray free-electron laser to determine the structure of trypanosomal Cathepsin B, a promising target for treating sleeping sickness. The study provides detailed insight into how the naturally occurring native inhibitor binds, offering new ideas for designing targeted treatments.
Researchers from Aalto University have successfully combined virus particles, protein cages, and nanoparticles to create novel crystalline materials with tunable properties. These biohybrid superlattices exhibit enhanced optical, magnetic, electronic, and catalytic features.
A new code solves crystal structures automatically and sheds light on solids' fundamental properties. By integrating prediction and solution methods, Northwestern University researchers have developed a promising algorithm to understand the arrangement of atoms in solids.
Researchers exposed a possible Achilles' heel of the sleeping sickness parasite by solving its molecular structure with an X-ray laser. The discovery reveals a unique plug that can selectively block a vital enzyme, potentially killing the parasite without harming humans.
Researchers have found a family of molecules that can delay or halt the freezing process by interacting with crystal surfaces, potentially leading to new methods for improving food storage and industrial products. The study's findings may also provide insights into how nature's own anti-freeze molecules work.
Researchers at the University of Bristol and Heinrich-Heine-Universität in Düsseldorf have developed a new way of making glass by changing its structure. This method uses computer simulations to encourage atoms in a molten alloy to form polyhedra, leading to a solid with a disordered atomic arrangement - a characteristic of glass.
Researchers from KIT, Louvain, and Berlin develop a rapid and cheap method to produce 3D photonic crystals in silicon. The SPRIE method uses established technologies and innovative self-organization techniques.
Researchers created a defect in the structure of a single-layer crystal by inserting an extra particle, then observed as the crystal 'healed' itself. The discovery has important implications for improving conductivity in electronics and other materials science applications.
Scientists have proposed an experimental design for building a space-time crystal, a four-dimensional crystal that can study complex physical properties and behaviors. The device would be used to study phenomena like entanglement, where particles are connected even at vast distances.
Researchers at ORNL have discovered a strain relaxation phenomenon in cobaltites that can lead to defect-free thin films. This breakthrough could enable the creation of advanced materials for fuel cells, magnetic sensors, and other energy-related applications.
Scientists at Carnegie Institution have observed a new form of very hard carbon clusters that are unusual in their mix of crystalline and disordered structure. These clusters can indent diamond, indicating they are superhard, and their unique structure has potential applications for various uses.
University of Warwick scientists have discovered a way to replace up to 50% of chocolate's fat content with fruit juice without compromising its texture or taste. The new method, known as Pickering emulsion, uses tiny droplets of juice measuring under 30 microns in diameter to create a lower-fat chocolate product.
Computer simulations show that entropy can nudge particles into forming organized structures, with nearly 70% of tested shapes producing crystal-like structures. The researchers used 145 different shapes and analyzed how each behaved under different levels of crowding to predict which types of crystals would form.
Recent studies have made significant progress in understanding GPCRs, shedding light on their structure and function. The high-resolution structures of several GPCR receptors, including the A2A adenosine receptor, have been determined, providing valuable insights into how these proteins interact with ligands.
Researchers at Leiden University have crystallized the adenosine A2A receptor to a record-breaking high resolution, allowing for detailed study of its structure and function. This breakthrough provides new insights into the mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease and the effects of caffeine.
Researchers have developed a new technique to control the crystalline structure of titanium dioxide at room temperature, enabling precise control over its properties. This allows for the creation of materials with optimal structures for specific applications, such as photovoltaic cells and hydrogen production.
Researchers have defined and analyzed the crystal structure of a yeast Argonaute protein bound to RNA, shedding light on the RNA interference pathway that silences gene expression. The study reveals a four-component active site, resolving a longstanding mystery in the field.
Scientists used a novel X-ray technique to analyze the structure of hen egg white lysozyme at a high resolution of 0.19 nanometres, demonstrating the potential of free-electron lasers in structural biology. The technique, which uses ultrashort X-ray pulses, enables the study of previously intractable molecular structures.
Scientists have successfully imaged biomolecules at individual atom level using X-ray lasers, enabling new avenues for biological research. The technique, known as serial femtosecond crystallography, has been used to study a small protein called lysozyme and holds promise for understanding complex biological systems.
Researchers develop a more accurate method for predicting interaction energy of large molecules, such as biomolecules used to develop new drugs. The 'dispersionless density functional plus dispersion method' (dlDF+D) generates more accurate predictions than existing approaches.
Scientists discovered that liquid crystals can spontaneously create nanoscale morphologies, leading to new classes of materials with unique properties. This breakthrough could lead to advancements in fields such as biosecurity, healthcare, and biology research.
Researchers at Duke University have developed a new technique to assemble crystalline structures using varying concentrations of microscopic particles and magnetic fields. They demonstrated the creation of over 20 programmed structures, paving the way for advanced optics, data storage, and bioengineering applications.
Researchers at UCLA have developed a new method for directly measuring the atomic structure of nanomaterials, enabling 3D imaging of individual atoms. The technique, known as electron tomography, allows scientists to visualize the interior structure of nanoparticles in unprecedented detail.
Researchers at Brown University created a triple-headed metallic nanoparticle that generates higher current per unit of mass than any other nanoparticle catalyst tested, with good durability as well as good activity. The FePtAu nanoparticle removes carbon monoxide from the reaction, improving performance and stability.
Researchers have discovered a way for soil bacteria to convert an epoxide into a six-membered cyclic ether, a common structural feature in hundreds of drug molecules. This breakthrough has implications for the development of new polyether drugs and potential biosynthesis strategies.
Scientists have discovered a way to reduce cellulose crystallinity, a key stumbling block in biofuels development. The study found that certain mutations in genes encode cellulose synthase proteins can produce cellulose with lower crystallinity, making it easier to digest.
Sandia's decontamination foam is now used to clean up illegal methamphetamine labs, leaving chemicals harmless and surfaces safe for reuse. The foam contains mild, non-toxic chemicals that break down agent molecules into nontoxic pieces.
Researchers have found a new type of defect in quasicrystals that extends beyond the surface and into the bulk. This discovery sheds light on the relationship between surface and bulk defects in materials, which is crucial for understanding the strength and properties of nanostructures.
Biochemists at TUM have determined the first crystal structure of an immunoproteasome, a specialized protein complex involved in immune defense. The study reveals atomic differences between immunoproteasomes and constitutive proteasomes, enabling the development of new drugs that selectively target the immunoproteasome.
Researchers at EMBL Hamburg used advanced techniques to study myomesin's three-dimensional structure and its role in maintaining muscle fibers. The discovery sheds light on the protein's function in living organisms, particularly in animal models.
Researchers identified the 32-atom 'baby crystal' through computer simulations and experimentally confirmed its structure using scanning tunneling microscope images. The discovery provides insight into how small crystals form larger units.
Researchers identified a three-dimensional crystal structure of the Abies grandis α-bisabolene synthase, an enzyme that produces bisabolene, a precursor to bisabolane. This breakthrough could lead to improved catalytic efficiency and stability, enabling microbes to produce bisabolene faster.
Researchers at Stanford have developed a new technique to pack molecules closer together in organic semiconductors, more than doubling the speed of electrical charge movement. This breakthrough enables faster electronics for foldable devices and solar-powered energy harvesting.
Researchers found that water changes its molecular structure to form 'intermediate ice' at -55 F, allowing it to remain liquid below the traditional freezing point. The discovery sheds light on atmospheric scientists' need to predict global climate patterns and how much solar radiation is absorbed by atmospheric water and ice.
The study reveals that certain copper crystal structures promote better graphene growth due to their atomic shape and arrangement. This finding could lead to more cost-effective and high-quality graphene production for consumer electronics applications.
Researchers at Northwestern University have developed a method to build crystalline materials from nanoparticles and DNA, allowing for the creation of new materials with predictable physical properties. The design rules enable controlled crystallization, resulting in a variety of structures with unique properties.
Researchers have established a dynamic Jahn-Teller effect in defective diamonds, a finding that will aid the development of diamond-based quantum computers. The study's results show how the lattice distorts to stabilize and achieve lower energy states.
Scientists have discovered a new form of carbon capable of withstanding extreme pressure stresses, surpassing that of diamond. The amorphous material was created by compressing glassy carbon to above 400,000 times normal atmospheric pressure.
Researchers have created a new technique that accurately maps the surface composition of tiny Janus nanoparticles, allowing for better evaluation of their effectiveness in various applications. The breakthrough enables production of cleanly segregated particles, which are potentially more valuable than chemically uniform ones.
A new electron microscopy method resolves the structure of tiny crystals, opening up a door to nanostructures. The method is faster and more accurate than conventional methods, allowing for detailed analysis of materials like zeolites and minerals.
Researchers solved the 40-year mystery of how desaturase enzymes insert double bonds in plant fatty acids. They discovered that a single amino acid, far from the enzyme's active site, can exert 'remote control' over double bond placement by binding to a carrier protein.
The study reveals exactly how dynamin proteins form large assemblies that pinch off bubbles from cell membranes, allowing cells to 'eat' and compartmentalize external items. Understanding these miniature motors may enable the engineering of cells with new functions.
Tiny particles in liquids form cluster crystals that exhibit regular structures and flow like strings under mechanical strain, altering viscosity. The behavior is the same for all types of cluster crystals, with critical strains predicted using a simple theoretical model.
A new imaging tool has been developed to help understand and predict the structure of nanometer-sized pieces in living cells and devices. The technique, called phase-modulation 2D fluorescence spectroscopy, allows researchers to study complex molecular structures at the nanoscale.
Dental enamel's unique structure is formed through a complex biomineralization process. The Pitt team identified the role of amelogenin in self-assembling into higher-order structures that guide mineral particles into parallel arrays, leading to highly mineralized enamel.
Researchers have discovered a range of new colors by tweaking the chemical structure of the existing blue pigment, which could lead to safer and more durable pigments. The new orange pigment is already being explored for commercial use.