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Hybrid nanostructures hold hydrogen well

Rice University scientists have discovered a new material that can store large amounts of hydrogen efficiently, making it suitable for next-generation green cars. The pillared boron nitride and graphene hybrid outperforms other materials in terms of surface area and recyclable properties.

SourceRice University·JournalLangmuir·DateOct 24, 2016

Research reveals mechanism for direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide

Scientists at the University of Illinois have discovered a new mechanism for directly synthesizing hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen gases using palladium cluster catalysts. This breakthrough provides insight into the formation of H2O2, which can be used as an environmentally benign alternative to chlorine.

SourceUniversity of Illinois Grainger College of Engineering·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 20, 2016

Surface physics: How water learns to dance

Water molecules on the surface of perovskites exhibit unusual behavior, where they split into two parts but continue to interact through weak hydrogen bonds. This interaction causes the OH group to circle the hydrogen atom like a dancer spinning on a pole, a phenomenon predicted by theory and confirmed through experiments.

SourceVienna University of Technology·JournalNature Materials·DateDec 21, 2015

Cooperative catalysts offer unique route to alkenes

Researchers at Princeton University have developed a novel two-component catalyst system that performs the dehydrogenation reaction at room temperature. This method produces hydrogen gas and an alkene molecule without requiring high temperatures or precious metals, opening up new possibilities for chemical transformations.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Communications·DateDec 11, 2015

Hydrogen sulfide loses its electrical resistance under high pressure at minus 70° Celsius

Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Chemistry and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz set a new record for superconductivity by observing conventional superconductivity in hydrogen sulfide at -70 degrees Celsius under high pressure. The discovery highlights a potential way to transport current at room temperature with no loss.

Tunneling out of the surface

A research team has discovered a new chemical reaction pathway on titanium dioxide that allows hydrogen atoms to tunnel away from the surface. This breakthrough could lead to efficient hydrogen storage technology, addressing the challenge of storing and transporting hydrogen for renewable energy applications.

SourceTohoku University·JournalACS Nano·DateJul 9, 2015

The taming of the shrew

Researchers from University of Cologne measured vibrational transitions in CH5+ ions with high accuracy, revealing the molecule's structure. The findings confirm a simple model of five hydrogen nuclei moving freely around the carbon nucleus.

SourceUniversity of Cologne·JournalScience·DateMar 19, 2015

Bond and bond alike

Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have made a groundbreaking discovery by bonding positively charged phosphorus atoms with positively charged hydrogen ones. This finding may revolutionize our understanding of how biologically important molecules like DNA and proteins form properly.

SourceUniversity of Copenhagen - Faculty of Science·JournalThe Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters·DateMar 13, 2015

Extremely high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging

The researchers have developed a novel measurement technique for MRI signals using a diamond sensor chip, detecting the signal from a single hydrogen atom and achieving an accuracy of better than one angstrom. This breakthrough brings them closer to imaging at the level of single molecules, with potential applications in structural bio...

SourceETH Zurich·JournalScience·DateOct 21, 2014

Smallest possible diamonds form ultra-thin nanothreads

Researchers at Penn State University have discovered a method to produce ultra-thin diamond nanothreads with exceptional strength and stiffness. The discovery is based on compressing benzene molecules under high pressure, allowing them to form a strong tetrahedral core linked by hydrogen atoms.

SourcePenn State·JournalNature Materials·DateSep 21, 2014

Researchers part water

Researchers have developed a method to isolate and separate para and ortho water molecules, which differ in their nuclear spin states. This breakthrough could provide new insights into various phenomena, including the study of interstellar ice and protein structures.

SourceDeutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateSep 8, 2014

International science team solve biological mystery

An international team of researchers has solved a long-standing debate over the molecular structure of a vital biological chemical, identifying that the ferryl heme in Compound I is not protonated. However, one amino acid side chain is found to be doubly protonated, raising new questions about oxygen activation mechanisms.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalScience·DateJul 10, 2014

Penn researchers: Consider the 'anticrystal'

Researchers at Penn University have proposed a new concept called the anticrystal, which is a theoretical solid with complete disorder. The study suggests that understanding the mechanical properties of materials can be improved by starting with the framework of the anticrystal and adding order.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalNature Physics·DateJul 7, 2014

With 'ribbons' of graphene, width matters

A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has developed a method to produce graphene ribbons with widths as low as three nanometers, transforming them into semiconductors with tunable electrical properties. This breakthrough could lead to the creation of nano-devices and atomic-scale components made from graphene.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin - Milwaukee·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 3, 2014

Blowing in the (stellar) wind

Scientists identified the mix of elements thrown off by the star before its explosion, which helped paint a picture of how heavy elements in the universe are formed. The findings revealed a nitrogen-rich wind similar to those of Wolf-Rayet stars, providing a window into the workings of the cosmos.

Chemists challenge conventional understanding of how photocatalysis works

A team of chemists at UC Riverside proposes a new model explaining the promoting effect in photocatalysis, suggesting that excited electrons promote hydrogen reduction on the semiconductor surface rather than transferring to metals. This radical approach could lead to the development of more economical and efficient photocatalysts.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 19, 2014

Halving hydrogen

Researchers have successfully captured a view of a molecular catalyst that converts hydrogen into electricity, confirming previous hypotheses and providing insight into its structure. The study's findings offer potential improvements to hydrogen-powered fuel cells, which could be more expensive but also carbon-neutral.

SourceDOE/Pacific Northwest National Laboratory·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·DateApr 23, 2014

Probing hydrogen catalyst assembly

The study demonstrates how cyanide and carbon monoxide are safely bound to an iron atom to construct an enzyme that can generate hydrogen gas. This discovery sheds light on the unusual chemistry involved in binding small molecules to metal atoms, a crucial step towards producing hydrogen using abundant metals.

Clever chemistry improves a new class of antibiotics

Researchers have developed a new class of antibiotics called acyldepsipeptides (ADEPs) that kill bacteria in a unique way by altering protein degradation pathways. By modifying the ADEP molecule's structure to make it more rigid, they increased its potency up to 1,200 times that of the naturally occurring molecule.

SourceBrown University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·DateJan 17, 2014

VCU physicists discover theoretical possibility of large, hollow magnetic cage molecules

VCU physicists have discovered the theoretical possibility of creating large, hollow magnetic cage molecules that could be used for targeted non-invasive drug delivery. The molecules, which are larger than the original Buckminster fullerene, carry giant magnetic moments and could serve as effective vehicles for delivering drugs to tumors.

SourceVirginia Commonwealth University·JournalThe Journal of Chemical Physics·DateJul 31, 2013