Diffusion
Articles tagged with Diffusion
The hidden force of growth
“Perfectly symmetrical” 2D perovskites boost energy transport
Rice University scientists have created a new type of two-dimensional semiconductor that exhibits no distortions, allowing for efficient energy transfer. The material's performance is an order of magnitude better than previously reported perovskites, making it suitable for applications such as solar cells and tandem devices.
How molecules move in extreme water environments depends on their shape
Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to study how organic molecules move with supercritical water inside carbon nanotubes. Aromatic compounds significantly slowed down their own motion and surrounding water, while alkanes moved relatively freely. Temperature played a key role in overcoming transport limitations.
Atoms passing through walls: Quantum tunneling of hydrogen within palladium crystal
Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, have precisely detected quantum tunneling of hydrogen atoms in palladium metal. Hydrogen atoms can pass through energy barriers via quantum tunneling due to 'quantum' effects.
Boron isotopes reveal how nuclear waste glass slowly dissolves over time
Researchers used boron isotope fingerprinting to study how boron moves within dissolving glass. They found that diffusion through an altered surface layer becomes a key mechanism controlling the release of boron from glass over time.
Sticky business: A “stick–peel–reuse” adhesive based on lock-and-key chemistry
Scientists at The University of Osaka developed a polymeric adhesive that can be reused repeatedly by introducing reversible bonds into the interface. This technology could improve manufacturing yield, reduce costs and minimize waste.
Exploring a novel approach for improving generative AI models
Researchers at Institute of Science Tokyo developed a new framework for generative diffusion models by reinterpreting Schrödinger bridge models as variational autoencoders. This approach reduces computational costs and prevents overfitting, enabling more efficient generative AI models with broad applicability.
Self-propelled protein-based nanomotors for enhanced cancer therapy by inducing ferroptosis
Researchers developed self-propelled ferroptosis nanoinducers to enhance cancer therapy by inducing programmed cell death. The nanotherapeutics exhibited enhanced diffusion and deep tumor penetration while maintaining biocompatibility.
New model predicts how bacteria navigate obstacles to spread
A new model predicts how bacteria navigate obstacles to spread, informing strategies for curbing infections or designing better drug delivery. The model focuses on three surface states: uninterrupted movement, sliding along surfaces, and getting stuck in corners.
Synthetic breast ultrasound images: a study to overcome medical data sharing barriers
A new study has developed CoLDiT, a conditional latent diffusion model capable of generating high-resolution breast ultrasound images. The model achieved comparable performance to real images in BI-RADS classification and realism evaluation, while safeguarding patient privacy through nearest neighbor analysis.
Muscle oxygen-binding proteins circumvent anatomical limits to enhance oxygen diffusion in multicellular organisms
Researchers have identified muscle oxygen-binding proteins that enhance oxygen diffusion in multicellular organisms, circumventing anatomical limits. This breakthrough discovery has implications for improving fitness and function in yeast models of multicellularity.
Race and ethnicity and diffusion of telemedicine in Medicaid for schizophrenia care after onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
A cohort study of Medicaid beneficiaries with schizophrenia reveals rapid diffusion of telemedicine care following the COVID-19 pandemic. Within-agency racial and ethnic differences in telemental health care adoption were observed, underscoring the need for monitoring innovation diffusion across vulnerable populations.
TIFR Hyderabad researchers devise strategy to enhance control over separating chemical isomers
A team of researchers at TIFR Hyderabad has devised a strategy to enhance control over the separation of chemical isomers using a nanoporous metal-organic framework. This approach enables fine-tuning of molecular interactions and diffusion processes, allowing for more efficient and sustainable separation methods.
Expert consensus on technical specifications of in vitro skin penetration test of cosmetic product
A new consensus by Chinese experts establishes technical specifications for in vitro skin penetration tests of cosmetic products, aiming to improve safety and efficacy. The consensus aims to bridge the gap in testing standards for cosmetic ingredients.
MIT engineers make converting CO2 into useful products more practical
Researchers created a new electrode design that increases the efficiency of converting CO2 into ethylene, a valuable chemical product. The electrochemical system can now be scaled up for industrial applications without significant energy or cost losses.
Research reveals unseen factors behind lithium-ion battery degradation
An international team of scientists identified a surprising factor accelerating lithium-ion battery degradation, leading to reduced charge and potential failure in critical situations. Strategies to reduce self-discharge may include electrolyte additives and cathode coatings to improve battery lifespan.
Investigating performance limitations in cost-effective materials for perovskite solar cells
A new hole-transport material facilitates charge transfer and demonstrates high charge mobility in perovskite solar cells. However, the devices show reduced current due to an energetic barrier at the perovskite/HND-2NOMe interface, hindering performance.
Photonic computing harnesses electromagnetic waves
Researchers at Newcastle University developed a novel approach using electromagnetic waves to solve partial differential equations, specifically the Helmholtz wave equation. The innovative structure, known as a metatronic network, effectively behaves like a grid of T-circuits and allows for control over PDE parameters.
The expansion of turbid drops in water
A team of researchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz has developed a new method to study the interior of crystalline drops using monochromatic illumination. This approach exploits the color-dependent scattering of light and reveals the density profile of the drop, including initial rapid expansion due to particle repulsion befo...
Enhanced ion diffusion kinetics achieved through interpenetrated structures in electrochemical energy storage devices
Researchers developed interpenetrated electrode structures to enhance ion diffusion kinetics in electrochemical energy storage devices. The design reduced ion concentration gradients and increased surface area, leading to improved performance at low temperatures.
Rice research could make weird AI images a thing of the past
Rice University researchers developed ElasticDiffusion, a method that separates local and global signals to create non-square aspect ratio images without visual imperfections. The new approach can improve consistency and realism in AI-generated images, but still requires significant computational power.
Think fast — or not: FSU research describes mathematics behind decision making
A mathematical model shows that quicker decisions are influenced by initial bias, while slower decisions are less biased. The model predicts that with more information, decision makers are more likely to behave rationally.
Unlocking the secrets of supercritical fluids
A team of international researchers has measured the molecular diffusion coefficient of a supercritical fluid, revealing a gradual transition from gas-like to liquid-like behavior across the Widom line. This study contributes to our understanding of supercritical fluid dynamics and holds implications for planetary science.
How AI helps programming a quantum computer
Researchers at the University of Innsbruck developed a novel method using diffusion models to generate quantum circuits. The model can produce accurate and flexible circuits, including those tailored to specific quantum hardware connections.
Artificial intelligence boosts super-resolution microscopy
Researchers have developed a new open-source algorithm called Conditional Variational Diffusion Model (CVDM) that improves the quality of images by reconstructing them from randomness. The CVDM is computationally less expensive than established diffusion models and can be easily adapted for various applications.
Rice research unveils key dynamics of 2D nanomaterials with view to larger-scale production
Researchers at Rice University have mapped the diffusion of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride in an aqueous solution, a crucial step towards larger-scale production of these 2D materials. The study found that the size of the material affects its movement speed, with hexagonal boron nitride moving faster than graphene.
Breakthrough research enhances stability and efficiency of perovskite solar cells
Researchers developed a chemically protective cathode interlayer using amine-functionalized perylene diimide, which stabilizes perovskite solar cells. The novel solution-processed PDINN cathode interlayer achieved impressive performance with over 81% retention and record-high bias-free solar hydrogen production rate.
Novel measurement technique for fluid mixing phenomena using selective color imaging method
Scientists from the University of Tsukuba have created a novel measurement technique to study fluid mixing phenomena, leveraging a selective color imaging method. The technique utilizes ultrasonic waves to levitate and mix small droplets, allowing researchers to capture their mixing state in detail.
A new method allows quantifying the spatial intermittency of ocean currents
A new methodology developed by the ICM-CSIC team accurately estimates horizontal diffusion of water masses in different ocean regions. The study uses over 600 drifting buoys to quantify horizontal diffusive processes, revealing maximum diffusion near the surface and minimum values at depths of 1400-2000 m.
Geisel study offers new insights into how Medicare fraud has spread across U.S. regions in recent years
A study by Dartmouth's Geisel School of Medicine found that Medicare fraud in home healthcare billing spread rapidly across U.S. regions between 2002 and 2009, driven by characteristics such as shared patients, high expenditures, and rapid growth in the number of home health agencies. The researchers developed a novel network analysis ...
Calculation shows why heavy quarks get caught up in the flow
Researchers have calculated the heavy quark diffusion coefficient, which describes how quickly quarks and gluons transfer their momentum to heavier quarks. The calculation reveals that heavy quarks are strongly interacting with the surrounding plasma, making it difficult for them to change direction.
Room-temperature, solid-state synthesis of high-quality Cs3Cu2I5 thin films
Researchers at Tokyo Institute of Technology have successfully synthesized high-quality Cs3Cu2I5 thin films using a novel solid-state synthesis method. The team discovered that depositing CuI and CsI layers in specific ratios results in distinct local structures containing point defects, leading to highly efficient emissions.
TIFR Hyderabad study provides crucial insights on designing efficient nano-filters
Researchers from TIFR Hyderabad create molecular strainers that can filter particles as small as hydrogen molecules, offering a new basis for designing more efficient filtration processes. The study's findings provide insights into the movement of molecules through sieves and open up avenues for further exploration in industries.
University of Toronto researchers use generative AI to design novel proteins
Researchers have developed a system that uses generative diffusion to create new proteins, advancing the field of generative biology. The system, called ProteinSGM, learns from image representations to generate fully new proteins, which are biophysically real and functional.
Novel oxychloride shows high stability and oxide-ion conduction through interstitial oxygen site
A new Bi-containing compound, LaBi1.9Te0.1O4.05Cl, exhibits high chemical and electrical stability and a high oxide-ion conductivity superior to other materials at low temperatures. The unique mechanism underlying the high conductivity is explained by an interstitialcy migration of oxide ions through the lattice and interstitial sites.
Solar cells charging forward
Researchers at Kyoto University have successfully created silicon-based photovoltaics at room temperature using a hybrid PEDOT:PSS/silicon heterojunction. This breakthrough technology offers improved production speed and cost, with power generation efficiency above 10%. The new process has the potential to facilitate large-scale diffus...
Speeding up extreme fast charging capability in lithium-ion batteries
A team of Japanese researchers has developed a novel approach to enhance the fast-charging ability of lithium-ion batteries using a binder material that promotes Li-ion intercalation of active material. This results in high conductivity, low impedance, and good stability, reducing the concentration polarization of Li+ ions.
Biologists, chemical engineers collaborate to reveal complex cellular process inside petunias
A team of Purdue University scientists has identified a protein that plays a key role in helping petunias emit volatiles, challenging the idea that simple diffusion is responsible. The study focuses on how volatiles cross the cell wall, a barrier that separates the cellular interior from the plant's outermost protective layer.
Percent insular ribbon infarction for growth rate prediction, outcomes in large-vessel occlusive stroke
Research found PIRI to be an independent predictor of infarct growth rate and 90-day outcomes in large-vessel occlusive stroke. The study suggests PIRI may help identify patients who could benefit from late-window endovascular thrombectomy.
New study opens the door to ultrafast 2D devices that use nonequilibrium exciton superdiffusion
Scientists have directly observed ultrafast motion of nonequilibrium excitons in monolayers WSe2, MoWSe2, and MoSe2, traveling at least 200 nm within 1 ps. This 'superdiffusion' process could break the traditional limitation of photovoltaic efficiency and be used for ultrafast electronic devices.
Simple means to a clear view
Researchers developed a novel, calibration-free, and reconstruction-free imaging technique that directly obtains a clear image from a single shot of speckle images. The method uses real-time video imaging to build a three-dimensional image, taking slices through the speckles.
Better hydrogen transfer brings better hydrogen evolution reaction performance
A new superaerophilic/superaerophobic cooperative Pt electrode promotes efficient mass transfer of hydrogen, reducing oversaturated dissolved hydrogen and improving HER efficiency. The design achieves significant overpotential reductions compared to traditional flat electrodes.
A closer look at the dynamics of the p-Laplacian Allen–Cahn equation
A team of researchers from Korea investigated the dynamics of the p-Laplacian AC equation, finding that solutions maintain three criteria: phase separation, boundedness, and energy decay properties. They also identified an advantage of p-AC equation over classical Laplacian in adjusting interface sharpness.
Divide and conquer
Researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences developed a novel time-resolved NMR method to study complex chemical processes. The method combines time-resolved diffusion NMR and time-resolved nonuniform sampling, allowing for detailed studies with high resolution and real-time monitoring.
New laser-based instrument designed to boost hydrogen research
Researchers developed a new analytical instrument using an ultrafast laser to measure hydrogen concentration and temperature, advancing greener hydrogen-based fuel studies. The instrument's capabilities will help develop more environmentally friendly propulsion engines.
Pioneering mathematical formula paves way for exciting advances in health, energy, and food industry
The new equation developed by University of Bristol scientists can be used to model accurately particle motion through porous materials like biological tissues, polymers, rocks, and sponges. This could lead to exciting advances in medical procedures, natural gas extraction, and plastic packaging production.
Researchers uncover life’s power generators in the Earth’s oldest groundwaters
A team of researchers has discovered 1.2-billion-year-old groundwater containing radiogenic helium, neon, and xenon, which could sustain subsurface microbial communities. The study reveals how energy stored in the Earth's subsurface can be released and distributed through its crust.
Advances in lithium niobate photonics
Lithium niobate photonics has developed rapidly, enabling compact devices with high performance. Thin film lithium niobate (TFLN) structures have shown significant improvements in refractive index contrast, paving the way for more integrated photonic devices.
Designing the perfect membrane for clean separation
Researchers at KAUST have developed a new class of oriented mixed-matrix metal-organic framework (MMMOF) membrane that selectively removes detrimental gases like H2S and CO2 from natural gas. The membrane demonstrates far better separation efficiency compared to conventional methods.
Graphene crystals grow better under copper cover
Researchers successfully grow high-quality single-crystal graphene sheets on insulating supports using a copper-catalyzed decomposition method. The resulting graphene exhibits excellent electronic performance due to its high crystallinity and minimal surface folds.
How cells control their borders
A team of biochemists at the University of Groningen discovered that membrane thickness, lipid phase, and sterol type are key factors in determining permeability. This knowledge can help companies optimize microbial production and improve drug design.
Getting warmer: Improving heat flux modeling
Scientists at Osaka University developed a new numerical technique to visualize heat flux at the atomic scale for the first time. The team found that sub-atomic stresses in solid and liquid structures determine the direction of heat flux, enabling more efficient nanoscale manufacturing.
Using marinated eggs to demonstrate diffusion
The study used marinated eggs to demonstrate how diffusion works in a simple visual manner. The results showed that higher temperatures accelerated the diffusion process, with deeper penetration into the egg white over time. This experiment can be easily replicated at home or in a classroom setting.
Simulations shed significant light on janus particles
Janus particles, with two distinct physical chemical properties, exhibit unique behavior in simulations. Their shape significantly influences their orientation at interfaces and mobility, impacting rheology and processing schemes.
Advanced analysis of Apollo sample illuminates Moon’s evolution
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals chemical heterogeneities in Apollo 17 sample troctolite 76535, indicating an early rapid cooling of the Moon. This finding challenges previous estimates of a 100-million-year cooling duration and supports initial rapid cooling of magmas within the lunar crust.
Harnessing hot helium ash to drive rotation in fusion reactors
Researchers have discovered a way to harness hot helium ash to drive rotation in fusion reactors, reducing instabilities and turbulence. By capturing the energy of hot fusion ash via alpha channeling, plasma rotation can be stabilized, leading to improved performance and reduced operating costs.
How to catch a perfect wave: Scientists take a closer look inside the perfect fluid
Researchers have discovered a new technique to locate the diffusion wake's signal in the quark-gluon plasma, a subatomic soup that flowed like a friction-free fluid after the Big Bang. This breakthrough may help scientists understand how matter emerged from this perfect fluid.
Dragged along by micro-swimmers
Researchers have developed a new model for micro-swimmer-based transport, which shows that a swarm of micro-swimmers can transport particles more efficiently than traditional methods. The study's findings suggest that this phenomenon could be useful in biological applications, such as delivering drugs to specific locations in the body.
Fire record shows cultural diffusion took off 400,000 years ago
Researchers propose widespread cultural diffusion of fire use and stone tool technology occurred around 400,000 years ago. This finding suggests that hominin populations were exchanging genes and engaging in cultural interactions, contradicting independent invention theories.