https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. The global demand for sustainable energy sources has intensified the search for environmentally friendly alternatives to fossil fuels. Biomass waste, a byproduct of various industrial processes, presents an untapped potential for the production of biofuels and bio-additives. However, the conversion of biomass into useful chemicals has been hindered by inefficiencies in existing catalytic processes. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-advancing-green-chemistry-tandem-catalyst.html Biochemistry Analytical Chemistry Thu, 26 Sep 2024 16:48:02 EDT news646588081 Catalysts play an important role in the manufacture of many products that we encounter in everyday life—for example in cars for exhaust gas purification or in the chemical industry in the production of fertilizers. Catalysts ensure that these reactions take place with low energy consumption and with as few side reactions as possible. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-molecules-sustainable-catalysts-chemists-succeed.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Thu, 26 Sep 2024 09:35:03 EDT news646562101 Achieving carbon neutrality requires the effective use of renewable biomass. In the production of biodiesel, for instance, glycerol is generated as a major byproduct. Researchers at Osaka Metropolitan University have developed a new catalyst that efficiently converts a derivative of glycerol into bio-based propylene, contributing to sustainable chemical production. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-catalyst-sustainable-propylene-production-biomass.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:20:28 EDT news646406422 The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is a vital yet challenging process in water splitting, requiring a four-electron transfer that often suffers from slow reaction kinetics. Noble metal-based oxides, such as RuO2 and IrO2, have been the go-to catalysts for this process, but their scarcity and high cost have motivated the search for alternative, non-precious metal catalysts. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-impact-bimetallic-synergies-mo-doping.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 23 Sep 2024 16:03:37 EDT news646326208 The ion's pathway is strongly influenced by a process that is ubiquitous across bio- and electrochemistry: ions need to reorganize their solvation shell before they can intercalate into battery cathodes, enter ion channels across biochemical membranes or adsorb and convert to chemicals, such as green hydrogen, on electrocatalyst surfaces. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ions-hiking-insights-solvation-kinetics.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Thu, 19 Sep 2024 13:12:03 EDT news645970321 Energy demands are at an all-time high, as is the need to be environmentally conscious. That's why chemical engineering professors Drs. Joseph Kwon and Mark Barteau have developed a strategy to predict the performance of new catalysts for greener ammonia production. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-greener-pastures-ammonia-production-sustainable.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Tue, 17 Sep 2024 14:31:04 EDT news645802261 A group of researchers has developed an electrocatalyst that promises to significantly enhance the efficiency and stability of oxygen evolution reactions (OER) in acidic environments. By incorporating a rare earth element, erbium (Er), into the commonly studied cobalt oxide (Co3O4) catalyst, the team has demonstrated a new, cost-effective solution that surpasses the performance of many precious metal-free catalysts, offering an alternative to more expensive noble metal-based options. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-erbium-doped-electrocatalyst-oxygen-evolution.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Fri, 13 Sep 2024 10:43:04 EDT news645442981 Taking inspiration from enzymes, chemists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign developed a catalyst to simplify the synthesis of ethers, key functional components of many drugs, foods, personal care items and other consumer goods. The catalyst puts the two chemical ingredients in just the right proximity and position to come together, bypassing the need for the steps and quantities required under standard synthesis protocols. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-enzyme-catalyst-chemicals-position-ethers.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:36:03 EDT news645377762 Glycerol is a key byproduct of biodiesel fabrication, and its production has increased proportionally with the growth of biodiesel production. Glycerol electrooxidation is considered as an innovative strategy due to its low theoretical potential and the elimination of the need for external toxic oxidative agents, pressurized oxygen, and high temperature. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-efficient-electro-oxidation-glycerol-formate.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:15:04 EDT news645376500 Some chemicals create environmental problems; others, fortunately, can help clean them up. Chemists from Yale University and their colleagues have developed an electrochemical catalyst and membrane that offers an efficient and sustainable way to treat water contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE), a common and persistent environmental pollutant. Their findings highlight the potential for advanced electrochemical treatments in environmental remediation and open the door for further innovations in the field. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-catalyzing-environmental-cleanup-highly-molecular.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:43:03 EDT news645370981 One of the primary drivers of climate change, CO2 emissions, has reached over 35 million tons worldwide. With global annual temperatures still rising, reducing CO2 emissions has become a necessity. To turn this necessity into an opportunity, researchers have been working to find ways to capture the CO2, thereby reducing emissions and then converting that CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-strategies-carbon-based-catalysts-co8322.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Thu, 12 Sep 2024 14:41:03 EDT news645370861 The synthesis of molybdenum carbide catalysts typically requires high temperature, leading to inevitable passivation in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. Developing a new route to produce molybdenum carbide at low temperatures is challenging but essential to increase the density of surface active sites. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-reveal-situ-dynamic-carbonization-mo.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Thu, 12 Sep 2024 11:53:04 EDT news645360778 In a study published in Energy & Environmental Science, researchers from the Interface Science Department at the Fritz Haber Institute have introduced a novel method for converting the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2) into ethanol, a sustainable fuel. This significant advancement could pave the way for more environmentally friendly and economically viable alternatives to fossil fuels. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-discovery-unveils-path-ethanol-production.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Tue, 10 Sep 2024 15:14:03 EDT news645200042 The MXene class of materials has many talents. An international team led by HZB chemist Michelle Browne has now demonstrated that MXenes, properly functionalized, are excellent catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction in electrolytic water splitting. They are more stable and efficient than the best metal oxide catalysts currently available. The team is now extensively characterizing these MXene catalysts for water splitting at the Berlin X-ray source BESSY II and Soleil Synchrotron in France. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-green-hydrogen-mxenes-talent-catalyst.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:53:03 EDT news645112381 Hydrogen energy, with its green, low-carbon and high-calorific-value properties, is emerging as the new key to solving the energy crisis. Electrochemically, water splitting has garnered much attention as a promising hydrogen production technique. However, the slow kinetics of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) at the anode limits the overall energy conversion efficiency. Therefore, the development of efficient catalysts for the OER is critically needed. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-reveal-boost-mechanism-atom-catalyst.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 09 Sep 2024 14:37:03 EDT news645111422 Researchers from Kyushu University have revealed that a zeolite material called Na-ZSM-5 is effective in improving the chemical conversion of biomass into olefins—a precursor chemical that makes everything from plastics to pharmaceuticals—using microwaves. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-zeolite-catalyst-method-microwaves-cooking.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 09 Sep 2024 13:33:28 EDT news645107603 Two research teams have developed a novel theoretical model to describe the overall activity of multisite alloy catalysts. In their study published in Journal of the American Chemical Society, they propose a concept of equivalent site ratio and successfully quantified the contributions of various active sites in Pt-Ru disordered solid solution (DSS) alloys. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-theoretical-multisite-alloy-catalyst-quantifies.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 09 Sep 2024 11:08:02 EDT news645098881 Molybdenum (Mo) carbides, known for their unique electronic and structural properties, are considered promising alternatives to noble metal catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis. However, traditional methods for preparing Mo carbides suffer from complex processes, stringent synthesis conditions, challenging crystal regulation, and high energy consumption. Additionally, Mo carbides are susceptible to oxidation and deactivation, which poses a significant barrier to their widespread application. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-mo-carbide-catalysts-high-stability.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 09 Sep 2024 05:00:01 EDT news644850181 One of the most promising strategies being investigated to mitigate emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)—a byproduct of electricity and heat production, transportation, and other industries—is the process of electrochemical reduction. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-potential-route-super-efficient-carbon.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Fri, 06 Sep 2024 10:50:05 EDT news644838602 The quest for efficient and durable oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalysts is pivotal for the advancement of proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) technology. Despite their widespread use, the high cost and limited availability of Pt have driven the scientific community to explore strategies to improve the catalytic efficiency and durability of Pt-based materials. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-strain-pt-based-electrocatalysts-oxygen.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 04 Sep 2024 13:01:23 EDT news644673681 Ammonia plays a critical role in food production and industrial development, with a global market size of approximately 175 million metric tons and a market value of $67 billion. Likewise, it is a high-energy-density carrier, making it a key player in the emerging hydrogen economy. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-copper-based-catalyst-paves-sustainable.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 02 Sep 2024 11:29:03 EDT news644495341 A new chemical process can essentially vaporize plastics that dominate the waste stream today and turn them into hydrocarbon building blocks for new plastics. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-catalytic-vaporizes-plastic-bags-bottles.html Polymers Materials Science Thu, 29 Aug 2024 14:00:01 EDT news644147401 Chemical engineers at the University of British Columbia have developed a new treatment that traps and treats PFAS substances—widely known as "forever chemicals"—in a single, integrated system. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-solution-destroy-chemicals.html Materials Science Wed, 28 Aug 2024 15:38:03 EDT news644078281 An international group of researchers has developed a novel approach that enhances the efficiency of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), a key process in renewable energy technologies. By introducing rare earth single atoms into manganese oxide (MnO2), the group successfully modulated oxygen electronic states, leading to unprecedented improvements in OER performance. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-rare-earth-atoms-manganese-oxide.html Nanomaterials Wed, 28 Aug 2024 09:47:03 EDT news644057221 Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are known for their remarkable properties, which make them essential in many advanced technologies. Yet, creating these nanotubes efficiently and on a large scale has been a persistent challenge. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-nanotubes-boost-liquid-phase-synthesis.html Nanomaterials Tue, 27 Aug 2024 14:10:06 EDT news643986601 Researchers have made a discovery in the field of water pollution control. They have developed a new technique using single-atom catalysts (SACs) within a Fenton-like catalytic system that significantly improves the efficiency of breaking down pollutants in water. Their findings have been published in the journal Nature Communications. The researchers are from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Suzhou Institute for Advanced Study. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-reveals-catalytic-pathway-efficient-pollution.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 27 Aug 2024 11:28:03 EDT news643976881 Researchers have made a significant breakthrough in the development of catalysts for the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3RR) to ammonia, a process that has broad implications for sustainable energy, agriculture, and industrial applications. The study is published in the journal ACS Nano. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-insights-spinel-cobalt-oxides-efficient.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Tue, 27 Aug 2024 09:09:23 EDT news643968559 The principle of preventing the deterioration and oxidation of ionomers in hydrogen production through anion-exchange membrane water electrolyzers (AEMWEs) has been discovered for the first time. This breakthrough is expected to enhance both the performance and durability of hydrogen production devices. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-method-paves-effective-high-efficiency.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Tue, 13 Aug 2024 10:50:03 EDT news642765001 Bisphenols are widely used as the main raw material for plastics such as receipts, water bottles, water containers, and vinyl due to their heat-resistant and mechanochemical properties. Among bisphenols, bisphenol A (BPA), which we often refer to as an "endocrine-disrupting chemical," has been linked to adverse effects on reproduction, development, intelligence, and various metabolic diseases. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-rapid-emerging-endocrine-disruptors-wastewater.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Tue, 13 Aug 2024 09:51:03 EDT news642761461 A recent study in Nature Communications by researchers from the Interface Science Department at the Fritz Haber Institute introduces a new advancement in the fight against climate change. Their study, "Reversible metal cluster formation on Nitrogen-doped carbon controlling electrocatalyst particle size with subnanometer accuracy," showcases a novel method for understanding the mechanisms of carbon dioxide (CO2) re-utilization leading to fuels and chemicals. This work paves the road for the further optimization of this catalytic process driven by renewable electricity. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-reveals-method-reduction-catalysts.html Analytical Chemistry Materials Science Mon, 12 Aug 2024 14:19:27 EDT news642691162