The latest news stories on chemistry, biochemistry, polymers, materials science from Phys.org
Researchers create reliable prediction method for oxygen reduction catalysts
Tohoku University researchers have created a reliable means of predicting the performance of a new and promising type of catalyst. Their breakthrough will speed up the development of efficient catalysts for both alkaline and acidic environments, thereby saving time and effort in future endeavors to create better fuel cells.
Storing electrons from hydrogen for clean chemical reactions
Researchers from Kyushu University have developed a hydrogen energy carrier to address some of the biggest hurdles in the path toward a sustainable hydrogen economy. As explained in a paper published in JACS Au, this novel compound can efficiently "store electrons" from hydrogen in a solid state to use in chemical reactions later.
New method provides automated calculation of surface properties in crystals
Computer-based methods are becoming an increasingly powerful tool in the search for new materials for key technologies such as photovoltaics, batteries, and data transmission. Prof. Dr. Caterina Cocchi and Holger-Dietrich Sassnick from the University of Oldenburg in Germany have now developed a high-throughput automatized method to calculate the surface properties of crystalline materials starting directly at the level of established laws of physics (first principles).
Bifunctional catalyst enables high-performance batteries for sustainable energy storage
Zinc-nitrate batteries are a primary non-rechargeable energy storage system that utilizes the redox potential difference between zinc and nitrate ions to store and release electrical energy. A research team co-led by chemists from City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have developed a high-performance rechargeable zinc-nitrate/ethanol battery by introducing an innovative catalyst.
Team discovers fundamentally new way to detect radiation involving cheap ceramics
The radiation detectors used today for applications like inspecting cargo ships for smuggled nuclear materials are expensive and cannot operate in harsh environments, among other disadvantages. Now, MIT engineers have demonstrated a fundamentally new way to detect radiation that could allow much cheaper detectors and a plethora of new applications.
Study unlocks the power of visible light for sustainable chemistry
A breakthrough in sustainable molecular transformations has been achieved by researchers at the University of Helsinki. Led by Professor Pedro Camargo, the team has developed an important way to harness the power of visible light to drive chemical processes with greater efficiencies, offering a greener alternative to traditional methods.
Blood, sweat, and water: New paper analytical devices easily track health and environment
When you need to measure white blood cell counts, it usually involves trips to clinics and expensive equipment for analysis. Likewise, checking water quality for contaminants can be a lengthy process.