Polymers News - SciTechDaily

Neutron Scattering: Unlocking the Secrets of Safer, More Powerful Lithium Batteries

Sumner Brown Gibbs, Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Sat, 04 May 2024 11:42:47 +0000

A new technique utilizing neutron scattering has revolutionized lithium battery design, promising safer and more efficient batteries. An international team of scientists found a way to improve battery design that could produce safer, more powerful lithium batteries. The team used quasi-elastic neutron scattering at Oak Ridge National Laboratory to set the first benchmark, one-nanosecond, or [...]

Scientists Catch Light-Driven Polymers in the Act

Osaka University — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 16:49:39 +0000

Expanding our scientific understanding often comes down to getting as close a look as possible at what is happening. Now researchers from Japan have observed the nanoscale behavior of azo-polymer films while triggering them with laser light. In a study recently published in Nano Letters the researchers from Osaka University used tip-scan high-speed atomic force [...]

Turning the Impossible Possible: Korean Scientists Have Created the Notorious Plumber’s Nightmare Structure

Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) — Tue, 27 Feb 2024 20:11:28 +0000

Plumber’s nightmare structure presents itself as an assemblage where all exits seem to converge inward—a plumber’s nightmare but an anticipated uniqueness for researchers, suggesting distinctive traits divergent from traditional materials. Nonetheless, this intricate configuration was deemed unattainable, bordering on the realm of the impossible. Recently, a research team at Pohang University of Science and Technology [...]

Engineered Bacteria Eat Waste Plastic and Make Spider Silk – “Nature’s Kevlar”

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:44:51 +0000

For the first time, researchers have used bacteria to “upcycle” waste polyethylene. Move over Spider-Man: Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have developed a strain of bacteria that can turn plastic waste into a biodegradable spider silk with multiple uses. Transforming Plastic Into Protein Their new study marks the first time scientists have used bacteria to [...]

For This Emergent Class of Materials, “Solutions Are the Problem”

Rice University — Thu, 18 Jan 2024 22:13:50 +0000

Researchers at Rice University create covalent organic framework films through vapor deposition. Materials scientists at Rice University have created an efficient, affordable, and scalable technique for producing covalent organic frameworks (COFs). These crystalline polymers are notable for their adjustable molecular structure, extensive surface area, and porosity, making them potentially valuable in areas like energy applications, [...]

Chemists Unveil the Hidden World of Polymer Building Blocks

Cornell University — Wed, 17 Jan 2024 07:16:35 +0000

Synthetic polymers, which are ubiquitous in modern life, include materials such as nylon and polyester fabrics, Teflon-coated cookware, and epoxy adhesives. On a molecular scale, these polymers consist of lengthy chains of monomers, the complexity of these chains enhancing the functionality of these diverse materials. In particular, copolymers, which consist of different types of monomers [...]

Bacteria-Killing Marvel: Scientists Develop Polymers That Defeat Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs

Shana K. Hutchins, Texas A&M University — Thu, 28 Dec 2023 04:13:30 +0000

Dr. Quentin Michaudel and his research team have created a new family of polymers capable of killing bacteria without inducing antibiotic resistance — a major step in the fight against superbugs like E. coli and MRSA. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a rapidly growing threat to public health. Each year, they account for more than 2.8 [...]

New Technique Allows Diapers To Be Recycled 200 Times Faster

Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) — Thu, 14 Dec 2023 17:14:16 +0000

Water and UV radiation effectively and swiftly break down the crosslinked polymers in diaper liners without the use of any chemicals. This process allows the recycled plastic molecules to be repurposed for diverse applications. Superabsorbent materials, like sodium polyacrylate, are key components in various hygiene and medical products, including diapers, bandages, and dressing materials. Typically, [...]

Unexpected Twist Discovered in Polymer-Based Semiconductors – “Goldilocks Effect”

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 08:51:23 +0000

A new study led by chemists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign brings fresh insight into the development of semiconductor materials that can do things their traditional silicon counterparts cannot – harness the power of chirality, a non-superimposable mirror image. Chirality in Nature Chirality is one of nature’s strategies used to build complexity into structures, [...]

Revolution in Nanotech: A Motor That’s 1/10,000th of a Millimeter

University of Bonn — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:44:23 +0000

This machine developed at the University of Bonn measures just one ten-thousandth of a millimeter. An international team of scientists headed by the University of Bonn has developed a novel type of nanomotor. It is driven by a clever mechanism and can perform pulsing movements. The researchers are now planning to fit it with a [...]

DNA Nano Engine: The Revolutionary Power Behind Tomorrow’s Nanomachines

Arizona State University — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 09:55:00 +0000

An international team of scientists has recently developed a novel type of nano engine made of DNA. It is driven by a clever mechanism and can perform pulsing movements. The researchers are now planning to fit it with a coupling and install it as a drive in complex nanomachines. Their results were published on October [...]

50-Year-Old Polymer Puzzle: Chemists Solve Long-Standing Science Mystery

University of Liverpool — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 17:19:45 +0000

The University of Liverpool’s Chemistry Department has pioneered a method to better understand polymer chain reactions in changing solvent flows, offering valuable insights for both science and industries like oil recovery and photovoltaics. New research by the University of Liverpool’s Chemistry Department represents an important breakthrough in the field of polymer science. In a paper [...]

Shattering Conventional Wisdom – Surprising Discovery Could Transform the Future of Electrochemical Devices

University of Cambridge — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 20:34:04 +0000

Researchers from the University of Cambridge have unveiled a surprising discovery that holds the potential to reshape the landscape of electrochemical devices. This new insight opens the door for the creation of cutting-edge materials and paves the way for enhancements in sectors like energy storage, neuromorphic computing, and bioelectronics. Electrochemical devices rely on the movement [...]

New Polymer Breakthrough Could Revolutionize Recycling

University of Florida — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 20:11:50 +0000

A team of researchers led by Brent Sumerlin, the George B. Butler Professor in the University of Florida Department of Chemistry, has made a breakthrough that could revolutionize plastic recycling. Their innovative approach to working with polymers has led them to develop a new method for recycling that promises to lower the energy requirement without [...]

Chemists Develop Sustainable Method To Remove “Forever Chemicals” From Water

Saarland University — Tue, 08 Aug 2023 19:46:37 +0000

PFAS are incredibly versatile chemicals. These fluorine-rich organic compounds are what make raindrops effortlessly glide off our outdoor jackets. They serve as the non-stick layer on food packaging paper and are crucial components in fire-extinguisher foams and the safety equipment used by firefighters. Since their introduction in the 1940s, the range and scope of products [...]

Artificial Muscles Flex for the First Time: Ferroelectric Polymer Innovation in Robotics

Penn State University — Sat, 08 Jul 2023 13:38:28 +0000

A new ferroelectric polymer that efficiently converts electrical energy into mechanical strain has been developed by Penn State researchers. This material, showing potential for use in medical devices and robotics, overcomes traditional piezoelectric limitations. Researchers improved performance by creating a polymer nanocomposite, significantly reducing the necessary driving field strength, expanding potential applications. A new type [...]

New Study Overturns Established Understanding of Associative Polymers

University of Virginia School of Engineering and Applied Science — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 09:49:19 +0000

A research team led by the University of Virginia has conducted a study on associative polymers, a type of material with unique self-healing and properties, which appears to challenge a long-held understanding of how the materials function at the molecular level. The study was led by Liheng Cai, an assistant professor of materials science and [...]

Counterintuitive Surprise! Weaker Bonds Can Make Polymers 10x Stronger

Anne Trafton, Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 01:34:28 +0000

By adding weak linkers to a polymer network, chemists dramatically enhanced the material’s resistance to tearing. A team of chemists from MIT and Duke University has discovered a counterintuitive way to make polymers stronger: introduce a few weaker bonds into the material. Working with a type of polymer known as polyacrylate elastomers, the researchers found [...]

Hijacking Cellular Factories: Retooling the Ribosomal Translation Machine to Biosynthesize Molecules

University of California - Berkeley — Thu, 15 Jun 2023 17:17:55 +0000

New research shows progress on playbook for programming ribosome to make diverse polymers. Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, part of the National Science Foundation Center for Genetically Encoded Materials (C-GEM), are altering ribosomes in cells to produce novel and more complex polymers. By introducing new building blocks for these polymers, they aim to [...]

Thought To Be Safe: Replacement PFAS Used in Food Packaging Are Actually Hazardous

Green Science Policy Institute — Sun, 16 Apr 2023 03:24:54 +0000

A study recently published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters suggests that the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) once considered safe for use in food packaging break down into toxic PFAS that can seep into our food and environment. In light of the dangers posed by smaller PFAS molecules like PFOA and PFOS in food-contact [...]

Flex Your Artificial Muscles: The New Low-Voltage Breakthrough

American Chemical Society — Wed, 12 Apr 2023 12:00:08 +0000

Scientists have created thin, elastic bottlebrush polymer films that can function as artificial muscles at significantly lower voltages than currently available materials, potentially enabling their use in safer medical devices and artificial organs. Whether wriggling your toes or lifting groceries, muscles in your body smoothly expand and contract. Some polymers can do the same thing [...]

10x EV Range Boost With Revolutionary Lithium-Ion Battery Technology

Pohang University of Science & Technology (POSTECH) — Wed, 05 Apr 2023 16:44:51 +0000

POSTECH-Sogang University joint research team develops layering-charged, polymer-based stable high-capacity anode material. The electric vehicle market has been experiencing explosive growth, with global sales surpassing $1 trillion (approximately 1,283 trillion Korean Won/KRW) in 2022 and domestic sales exceeding 108,000 units. Inevitably, demand is growing for high-capacity batteries that can extend EV driving range. Recently, a [...]

Revolutionizing Recycling: Transforming Industrial Waste Into Eco-Friendly Plastic Through Artificial Photosynthesis

Osaka Metropolitan University — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 06:06:41 +0000

Low concentration CO2 can be reused in biodegradable plastic precursor using artificial photosynthesis. A research team led by Professor Yutaka Amao from Osaka Metropolitan University has successfully demonstrated the synthesis of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate, a biodegradable plastic, from waste acetone and low concentrations of CO2 using artificial photosynthesis. The study aimed to repurpose waste acetone from permanent [...]

“Fooling” Biology: Can Synthetic Polymers Replace the Body’s Natural Proteins?

University of California - Berkeley — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 10:10:08 +0000

Artificial intelligence has been utilized to synthesize random heteropolymers that imitate proteins found in blood serum and the cytosol of cells. The majority of life on Earth relies on polymers made up of 20 different amino acids, which have evolved into hundreds of thousands of specialized proteins. These proteins perform various functions such as catalyzing [...]