Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Nanoscale material offers new way to control fire      (via sciencedaily.com) 

High-temperature flames are used to create a wide variety of materials -- but once you start a fire, it can be difficult to control how the flame interacts with the material you are trying to process. Researchers have now developed a technique that utilizes a molecule-thin protective layer to control how the flame's heat interacts with the material -- taming the fire and allowing users to finely tune the characteristics of the processed material.

Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Physics: Optics
Published

Chromium replaces rare and expensive noble metals      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Expensive noble metals often play a vital role in illuminating screens or converting solar energy into fuels. Now, chemists have succeeded in replacing these rare elements with a significantly cheaper metal. In terms of their properties, the new materials are very similar to those used in the past.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Computer Science: Quantum Computers Computer Science: Virtual Reality (VR) Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Arrays of quantum rods could enhance TVs or virtual reality devices      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Using scaffolds of folded DNA, engineers assembled arrays of quantum rods with desirable photonic properties that could enable them to be used as highly efficient micro-LEDs for televisions or virtual reality devices.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Physics: Optics
Published

Researchers 'film' novel catalyst at work      (via sciencedaily.com) 

A novel catalysis scheme enables chemical reactions that were previously virtually impossible. The method is also environmentally friendly and does not require rare and precious metals. The researchers recorded the exact course of the catalysis in a kind of high-speed film. They did this using special lasers that can make processes visible that last only fractions of a billionth of a second. The results allow them to further optimize the catalyst.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Earth and Climate Offbeat: Plants and Animals
Published

Tattoo technique transfers gold nanopatterns onto live cells      (via sciencedaily.com) 

For now, cyborgs exist only in fiction, but the concept is becoming more plausible as science progresses. And now, researchers are reporting that they have developed a proof-of-concept technique to 'tattoo' living cells and tissues with flexible arrays of gold nanodots and nanowires. With further refinement, this method could eventually be used to integrate smart devices with living tissue for biomedical applications, such as bionics and biosensing.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Physics: General Physics: Optics
Published

Making molecules dance to our tune reveals what drives their first movements      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Bringing ultrafast physics to structural biology has revealed the dance of molecular 'coherence' in unprecedented clarity.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry
Published

Materials research: biocatalytic foams of tremendous stability and activity      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Industrial biocatalysis with enzymes is deemed to be a 'game changer' in the development of a sustainable chemical industry. Enzymes can be used to synthesize an impressive range of complex molecules, including pharmaceutical substances, under environmentally compatible conditions. Researchers have now developed a new class of materials by producing enzyme foams of tremendous stability and activity.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Graphene
Published

Human scent receptors could help 'sniff out' nerve gases in new sensor      (via sciencedaily.com) 

By some estimates, the human nose can detect up to a trillion different smells with its hundreds of scent receptors. But even just catching a quick whiff of certain chemicals known as nerve agents can be lethal, even in tiny amounts. Researchers have now developed a sensitive and selective nerve gas sensor using these human scent receptors. It reliably detected a substitute for deadly sarin gas in simulated tests.

Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

AuNi alloy on Au electrodes for hydrogen evolution reaction: Towards a cleaner tomorrow      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Gold (Au)-based electrocatalysts used for hydrogen production via water electrolysis exhibit high chemical stability but low hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) activity. Alloying them with nickel (Ni) can improve their HER activity. A recent study investigated the HER activity and surface properties of AuNi alloy prepared on single crystal Au surfaces, revealing the atomic structural changes and surface sites responsible for enhanced HER activity of AuNi/Au catalyst during electrolysis.

Computer Science: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Computer Science: General Computer Science: Quantum Computers Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology Offbeat: Computers and Math Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Quantum material exhibits 'non-local' behavior that mimics brain function      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research shows that electrical stimuli passed between neighboring electrodes can also affect non-neighboring electrodes. Known as non-locality, this discovery is a crucial milestone toward creating brain-like computers with minimal energy requirements.

Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Single drop of ethanol to revolutionize nanosensor manufacture      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Engineers have developed a breakthrough technique to make the processing of nanosensors cheaper, greener and more effective by using a single drop of ethanol to replace heat processing of nanoparticle networks, allowing a wider range of materials to be used to make these sensors.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing
Published

Unleashing a new era of color tunable nano-devices -- smallest ever light source with switchable colors formed      (via sciencedaily.com) 

New research has achieved a significant breakthrough in color switching for nanocrystals, unlocking exciting possibilities for a simple, energy efficient display design and for tunable light sources needed in numerous technologies. The discovery also has potential applications in sensitive sensors for various substances, including biological and neuroscience uses, as well as advancements in quantum communication technologies. This nanomaterial breakthrough holds the promise of inspiring exciting innovations in the future.

Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: Quantum Computing
Published

Nanorings: New building blocks for chemistry      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Sandwich compounds are special chemical compounds used as basic building blocks in organometallic chemistry. So far, their structure has always been linear. Recently, researchers made stacked sandwich complexes form a nano-sized ring. Physical and other properties of these cyclocene structures will now be further investigated.

Energy: Batteries Energy: Technology Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Cracking in lithium-ion batteries speeds up electric vehicle charging      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Rather than being solely detrimental, cracks in the positive electrode of lithium-ion batteries reduce battery charge time, research shows. This runs counter to the view of many electric vehicle manufacturers, who try to minimize cracking because it decreases battery longevity.

Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Materials science: How molecular entanglements determine the structure of polymers      (via sciencedaily.com) 

The structure of semi-crystalline polymers largely depends on how strongly their molecular chains are entangled. Following numerous experiments, researchers developed a new model to predict the microscopic structure of the materials as well as their properties. Polymers are long-chain molecules. Semi-crystalline polymers are a mixture of solid and liquid elements. They are often used in plastics and packaging materials.

Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Towards silver cluster-assembled materials for environmental monitoring      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Silver cluster-assembled materials (SCAMs) are emerging light-emitting materials with molecular designability and unique properties. However, due to their dissimilar structural architecture in different solvents, their widespread application remains limited. Now, researchers have developed two new SCAMs that exhibit excellent fluorescence and high sensitivity to Fe3+ ions in aqueous solutions, indicating their potential for environmental monitoring and assessment.

Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

New technology promises rapid and reliable development of new diagnostic tests      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Researchers have developed a new approach for designing molecular ON-OFF switches based on proteins which can be used in a multitude of biotechnological, biomedical and bioengineering applications.

Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

A novel approach for balancing properties in composite materials      (via sciencedaily.com) 

Scientists are developing an approach to enhance multifunctionality and structural properties simultaneously by embedding patterned nanostructures in composite materials, which could result in more efficient energy systems enhancing everyday life.

Engineering: Nanotechnology
Published

Towards artificial photosynthesis with engineering of protein crystals in bacteria      (via sciencedaily.com) 

In-cell engineering can be a powerful tool for synthesizing functional protein crystals with promising catalytic properties. Using genetically modified bacteria as an environmentally friendly synthesis platform, the researchers produced hybrid solid catalysts for artificial photosynthesis. These catalysts exhibit high activity, stability, and durability, highlighting the potential of the proposed innovative approach.