Chemistry News, Research Breakthroughs & Discoveries - SciTechDaily

Can PrISMa Save Our Planet? Inside the New Carbon Capture Phenomenon

Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne — Thu, 15 Aug 2024 00:24:39 +0000

PrISMa revolutionizes the field of carbon capture by combining insights from materials science, engineering, and economic analysis to predict the effectiveness of new technologies. This innovative platform not only enhances the development of carbon capture solutions but also ensures their sustainability and economic viability, effectively closing the gap between laboratory research and practical implementation. Mitigating [...]

DNA Doppelgängers: Scientists Develop Artificial Molecules With Life-Like Properties

Tokyo University of Science — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 22:48:36 +0000

Scientists have created artificial double-helical complexes with properties that allow for controllable chirality switching. DNA, or deoxyribonucleic acid, is the molecular system responsible for carrying genetic information in living organisms, utilizing its two helical strands to transcribe and amplify this information. Scientists are highly interested in developing artificial molecular systems that can match or even [...]

This Platform Could Change Carbon Capture Forever: PrISMa Overcomes the “Valley of Death”

Heriot-Watt University — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 12:27:28 +0000

Scientists have introduced PrISMa, a groundbreaking platform integrating advanced simulations and machine learning to accelerate the discovery and implementation of carbon capture materials. This platform evaluates potential materials through a comprehensive process involving quantum chemistry and life-cycle assessment, proving effective in global case studies and cutting costs significantly in industries like cement manufacturing. A major [...]

Breaking Boundaries: Enhancing Catalysis With Co-Cu Alloy Nanoparticles

Science China Press — Fri, 09 Aug 2024 21:21:10 +0000

Scientists have developed Co-Cu alloy nanoparticles that efficiently activated chemical reactions for pollutant degradation, outperforming traditional methods and providing insights into atomic-level interactions in catalysts. Recent research has focused on the combined effects of atomic clusters (ACs) or nanoparticles (NPs) and single atoms. However, prior studies have typically concentrated on basic interactions between pure NPs [...]

New Insights Into the Origins of Life: How the First Molecules Survived Earth’s Primordial Conditions

Technical University of Munich (TUM) — Thu, 08 Aug 2024 12:46:59 +0000

A new study provides insights into the origins of life The origins of life continue to be a profound mystery. How did complex molecules form and remain stable over long periods without breaking down? A team at ORIGINS, a Munich-based Cluster of Excellence, has uncovered a mechanism that might have allowed the first RNA molecules [...]

Superheated Flow Chemistry: A Leap Forward in Organic Synthesis

University of Liège — Tue, 06 Aug 2024 20:10:33 +0000

Researchers from the University of Liège have released a guide to help better understand and utilize the new reaction space associated with superheated conditions. Micro/mesofluidic technologies from the University of Liège are transforming chemical synthesis by enabling faster and more efficient reactions. Despite challenges with longer reaction times, innovations like superheated flow technology offer solutions [...]

Decoding Earth’s Ancient Atmosphere: Life’s Role in Shaping Our World

Syracuse University — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 23:41:38 +0000

A recent scientific study traces the co-evolution of Earth’s atmosphere, oceans, and life over 500 million years, revealing how organisms like algae have modified and adapted to changing environmental conditions, ultimately enhancing Earth’s habitability. Over the past 500 million years, interactions between the atmosphere, the ocean, and life on Earth have created conditions that allowed [...]

Speeding Up RNA Chip Synthesis With Revolutionary Technology

University of Vienna — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 18:00:34 +0000

Scientists achieve breakthrough: chemical synthesis of high-density RNA microarrays now faster and more efficient. A research team from the University of Vienna has developed advanced RNA building blocks, doubling the synthesis speed and improving efficiency sevenfold. This innovation addresses challenges in RNA microarray production and enhances applications in biotechnology and medical diagnostics, including the identification [...]

New Study Unfolds the Electric Mystery of Peptides

Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 10:05:35 +0000

Researchers validated their findings, which were published in PNAS, using a combination of single-molecule experiments, molecular dynamics simulations, and quantum mechanics. A new study reveals that peptides with a folded structure conduct electricity better than their unfolded counterparts. Researchers at the Beckman Institute used experiments and simulations to demonstrate how these structures influence electron transport, [...]

125 Years After Its Discovery, Actinium’s Chemistry Still Baffles Scientists

Lauren Biron, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 18:31:01 +0000

A study at Berkeley Lab has revealed new insights into actinium, an element critical for emerging cancer treatments. By examining its crystal structure, researchers have noted unique properties that could enhance targeted alpha therapy, a promising method in cancer treatment. Although the element actinium was first discovered at the turn of the 20th century, researchers [...]

Microscopic Building Blocks: New Dual-Functional Supramolecular Structures Unveiled

Yokohama National University — Tue, 30 Jul 2024 06:31:37 +0000

A recent study by Yokohama National University has introduced a groundbreaking methodology in materials science, achieving the self-assembly of dual-pore molecular crystals using advanced sorting techniques. This innovation paves the way for the development of multifunctional materials with diverse applications. Versatile molecular frameworks known as discrete supramolecular structures function as customizable microscopic building blocks for [...]

Scientists Develop Extraordinary Material That Can Transform Sunlight and Water Into Clean Energy

Oregon State University — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 21:41:34 +0000

Oregon State University researchers have developed a new photocatalyst that efficiently produces hydrogen from sunlight and water, offering a sustainable and potentially cost-effective alternative to traditional fossil fuel-based hydrogen production methods. Researchers at Oregon State University have created a material with the extraordinary ability to transform sunlight and water into clean energy. A collaboration led [...]

Leveraging “Atomic Intelligence” – Researchers Propose Innovative New Method To Drastically Reduce Industrial Emissions

University of Sydney — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 11:22:07 +0000

Researchers suggest methods to reduce increasing industrial emissions, enhancing the sustainability of everyday product manufacturing. Researchers at the University of Sydney have proposed a novel method to reduce industrial emissions. Their approach leverages the “atomic intelligence” of liquid metals to facilitate greener and more sustainable chemical reactions. Despite global efforts towards renewable energy and electrification, [...]

Revolutionizing THC Testing: Detecting Cannabis With Just a Few Drops of Saliva

University of Córdoba — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 00:13:23 +0000

European universities have developed a new method for quickly and accurately detecting THC in small saliva samples. This technique simplifies traditional processes into two main steps and utilizes mass spectrometry for rapid analysis. It represents a significant advancement in drug testing technology. Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in Europe. It is estimated [...]

100% Breakdown: Revolutionary New Method Uses Light To Clean Up Forever Chemicals

Ritsumeikan University — Sat, 27 Jul 2024 18:51:17 +0000

The room-temperature defluorination technique presents a promising approach for handling perfluoroalkyl substances. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), commonly known as ‘forever chemicals,’ represent an increasing risk to both the environment and public health. Developed initially for Teflon in 1938, PFASs and related perfluorinated polymers (PFs) have found widespread use due to their remarkable stability and resistance to [...]

Unique Pigments Discovered: Chemists Unveil New Secrets of Rembrandt’s Famous Painting “The Night Watch”

University of Amsterdam — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 11:12:25 +0000

Researchers have discovered that Rembrandt used special arsenic sulfide pigments to create a ‘golden’ paint in “The Night Watch.” Chemists at the Rijksmuseum and the University of Amsterdam (UvA) have, for the first time, determined how Rembrandt used special arsenic sulfide pigments to create a ‘golden’ paint effect. Utilizing advanced spectroscopic techniques, they mapped the [...]

DOE Researchers Discover New Cheaper, and More Efficient Way To Produce Important Chemical

Argonne National Laboratory — Thu, 25 Jul 2024 10:06:48 +0000

Combining zirconium with silicon nitride improves the transformation of propane, a component of natural gas, into polypropylene, a highly sought-after plastic. Polypropylene is a widely used plastic found in numerous everyday items, including food containers and medical devices. Due to its popularity, there is an increasing demand for propylene, a chemical essential for its production. [...]

Magnetic Butterfly: Scientists Unveil Groundbreaking Design Concept for Next-Generation Quantum Materials

National University of Singapore — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 23:11:09 +0000

NUS researchers have created a new butterfly-shaped magnetic nanographene that could improve quantum computing by enabling better control of electron spins and extending the coherence times of quantum bits. Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have unveiled a groundbreaking design concept for next-generation carbon-based quantum materials. They created a tiny, butterfly-shaped magnetic nanographene [...]

Chemists Use Electricity To Turn Waste Molecules Into Valuable Liquid Fuel

Ohio State University — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 14:07:48 +0000

A study has revealed a more efficient method for creating methanol. For years, chemists have been striving to synthesize valuable materials from waste molecules. Now, an international team of scientists is investigating how electricity can simplify this process. In their study, recently published in Nature Catalysis, researchers demonstrated that carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, can [...]

Electroadhesion: The Magic of Making Materials Stick Without Glue [Video]

American Chemical Society — Sun, 21 Jul 2024 12:32:30 +0000

A novel electroadhesion process allows for the easy and reversible attachment of hydrogels to metals using electricity, effective on a variety of materials from food to metals. How would you stick a slice of banana to a sheet of copper? Until a few months ago, you couldn’t. But a new discovery called “hard-soft electroadhesion” enables [...]

“This Had Never Been Done Before” – New Dual-Use Catalyst Overcomes the Thermodynamic Canyon

Ruhr-University Bochum — Sat, 20 Jul 2024 08:23:19 +0000

German researchers have created a catalyst that converts ammonia into hydrogen and nitrite, potentially combining hydrogen production and fertilizer creation in one process. A research team from the University Alliance Ruhr in Germany has discovered a catalyst capable of converting ammonia into both hydrogen, an energy carrier, and nitrite, a precursor for fertilizer. Traditionally, the [...]

Scientists Transform Molecules Into Mondrian Masterpieces

Trinity College Dublin — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 16:04:06 +0000

Trinity College researchers developed a computer program that visualizes molecular structures in Piet Mondrian’s artistic style, enhancing understanding of molecular symmetry and offering a novel educational tool that merges art and science. The famous Dutch artist Piet Mondrian is widely regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. His artistic style, characterized [...]

Breaking the Efficiency Bottleneck: The Power of Doping in Photocatalytic Water Splitting

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 18:52:00 +0000

Photocatalytic water splitting, employing strategies like doping and defect control, has seen efficiency improvements, notably through recent advancements in doping methods that optimize energy conversion under visible light. In photocatalytic water splitting, a photocatalyst, usually a semiconductor, absorbs light energy to drive the water splitting reaction. Upon absorbing light, the photocatalyst generates electron-hole pairs. The [...]

Revolutionizing H2O2 Production: Ultrathin Nanosheets Show Immense Promise

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 23:42:19 +0000

Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of ultrathin Bi4O5Br2 nanosheets with controlled oxygen vacancies in enhancing the piezocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), presenting a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) serves as a crucial chemical raw material with extensive applications in numerous industrial and everyday contexts. However, the industrial anthraquinone [...]