Phys.org Chemistry

• Molecular engineering approach could boost hydrogen evolution reaction activity by up to 50 times in alkaline media

  Electrolyzers are devices that can split water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity and via a process known as electrolysis. In the future, these devices could help to produce hydrogen gas from water, which is valuable for a wide range of applications and could also be used to power fuel cells and decarbonize energy systems.

• Atomically dispersed barium hydride catalysts enable deuteration of nonactivated alkylarenes

  Alkali and alkaline earth metal hydrides hold great promise for hydrogen storage and hydrogen-involved chemical transformations due to the unique properties of hydridic hydrogen (H-). However, bulk hydrides often suffer from high lattice energy and limited exposure of active sites, hindering their catalytic performance.

• Simplifying solid biosample processing for field-ready diagnostics

  The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) has developed a compact, rapid pretreatment system capable of liquefying and homogenizing solid biological samples in under one minute.

• Discovery shows that even neutral molecules take sides when it comes to biochemistry

  A new study led by a pair of researchers at the University of Massachusetts Amherst turns long-held conventional wisdom about a certain type of polymer on its head, greatly expanding understanding of how some of biochemistry's fundamental forces work. The study, released recently in Nature Communications, opens the door for new biomedical research running the gamut from analyzing and identifying proteins and carbohydrates to drug delivery.

• Solid oxide electrolysis cell enables super-dry reforming of methane

  Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a widely studied method for converting carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into syngas. Traditionally, this reaction operates with a CO2/CH4 feed ratio of 1. However, future feedstocks—such as CO2-rich natural gas—are expected to contain much higher concentrations of CO2, requiring costly separation processes to achieve the desired CH4.

• Arsenic is everywhere—but new detection methods could help save lives

  Arsenic is a nasty poison that once reigned as the ultimate weapon of deception. In the 18th century, it was the poison of choice for those wanting to kill their enemies and spouses, favored for its undetectable nature and the way its symptoms mimicked common gastrointestinal issues like stomach pain, diarrhea and vomiting.

• Silver plating goes green: Phosphorus compounds replace toxic cyanide in new process

  A research team has developed the world's first eco-friendly silver (Ag) plating technology using a phosphorus (P) compound as a key plating component. This breakthrough technology enables silver plating without the use of highly toxic cyanide, by formulating an acidic plating solution based on phosphorus compounds that successfully produces uniform and stable silver thin films.

• Enhancing the sustainability of plastics using sulfur waste

  Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have found a way to make plastics more sustainable by utilizing sulfur waste from the petroleum refining process. They have developed a method that allows so-called dynamic sulfur bonds to be easily integrated into polyesters. Their findings have been published in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

• Data-driven algorithm yields three unique ZIFs with high selectivity for greenhouse gas separation

  A collaborative research effort between UNIST and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) has led to the successful synthesis of three novel porous materials by leveraging a data-driven structure prediction algorithm. These newly developed materials, modeled after zeolites, represent metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with exceptional selectivity in gas separation, particularly for carbon dioxide (CO₂).

• New mass-spectrometry technique boosts enzyme screening speed by up to 1,000 times

  Scientists have developed a new technique to screen engineered enzyme reactions, which could lead to faster and more efficient creation of medicines and sustainable chemicals.

• Compact catenane with tunable mechanical chirality created from achiral rings

  Catenanes are organic compounds with ring-like molecules that are mechanically interlocked. The mechanical locking system in such molecules is so robust that they can only be disentangled via covalent bond cleavage. A recent study has presented a new strategy for controlling the chirality—the property where a molecule has non-superimposable mirror images—of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs) like catenanes, without changing its overall shape via non-covalent means.

• Atmospheric reaction between Criegee intermediates and water found to be unexpectedly fast

  Criegee intermediates (CIs)—highly reactive species formed when ozone reacts with alkenes in the atmosphere—play a crucial role in generating hydroxyl radicals (the atmosphere's "cleansing agents") and aerosols that impact climate and air quality. The syn-CH3CHOO is particularly important among these intermediates, accounting for 25%–79% of all CIs depending on the season.

• Nuclear chemistry research gets an efficiency boost with 'serial approach'

  Heavy actinides—elements at the bottom of the periodic table, after plutonium—are radioactive, rare and chemically complex, making them notoriously difficult to study. Most studies conducted on these elements have traditionally been done one-compound-at-a-time or extrapolated from less toxic and non-radioactive surrogates, like lanthanides, that are safer to work with. As such, relatively little is known about the chemical properties of heavy actinides.

• Scientists crack decades-old puzzle in carbon dioxide-to-fuel conversion

  New research has revealed the fundamental mechanisms that limit the performance of copper catalysts—critical components in artificial photosynthesis that transform carbon dioxide and water into valuable fuels and chemicals.

• Is there a best way to peel a boiled egg? A food scientist explains

  We've all been there—trying to peel a boiled egg, but mangling it beyond all recognition as the hard shell stubbornly sticks to the egg white. Worse, the egg ends up covered in chewy bits of adhesive membrane in the end.

• Zero-background fluorescence probe enables precise detection of hazardous hydrazine

  Hydrazine (N2H4) is a highly toxic organic amine that can spontaneously ignite or explode when exposed to strong oxidants, air, or high temperatures. It is classified as a Class B2 hazardous substance by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the World Health Organization, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which underscores the significant risks it poses, highlighting the need for effective detection methods.

• High-resolution 3D imaging reveals enzyme activity differences and drug effects in whole organs

  It is now possible to obtain three-dimensional, high-resolution images of enzyme activity in tissue samples or whole organs—thanks to probe molecules that anchor fluorescent dyes within tissue as they are activated by enzymes. The organ being mapped is made transparent by a clearing process.

• A simpler way to make microgels for programmable drug release

  A new straightforward way to make an injectable gel capable of releasing multiple drugs at specific speeds improves scalability and access to the technique, according to a University of Michigan study.

• New review urges rigorous testing for single-atom catalysts in industry

  Many modern industrial processes depend on complex chemistry. Take fertilizer production, for example: to make it, companies must first produce ammonia, a key ingredient.

• Scientists develop novel strategy to enhance water oxidation catalysis

  A research team has developed a highly stable and efficient water oxidation catalyst, marking a major advancement in the field of green hydrogen production via water splitting technology.

• Surface reconstruction strategy can enable affordable hydrogen fuel production

  The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is a remarkable process that can create clean hydrogen fuel—a potential part of a solution to our climate change crisis. The problem lies in scaling up this reaction from a lab experiment to large-scale commercial production, while keeping costs down.

• New study discovers unexpected role of 4f-orbital covalency in driving chemical reactivity

  The willingness of the 4f orbitals of lanthanide metals to participate in chemical reactions is as rare as their presence in Earth's crust. A recent study, however, witnessed the 4f orbital in a cerium-based compound actively participate in bond formation, triggering a unique chemical reaction.

• Chemical recycling turns used silicones into pure building blocks, promising infinite reuse

  A study conducted by CNRS researchers describes a new method of recycling silicone waste (caulk, sealants, gels, adhesives, cosmetics, etc.). It has the potential to significantly reduce the sector's environmental impacts.

• Researcher investigates hydrogel-infused additive manufacturing of ceramics

  Doctoral student Natalie Yaw came to Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) as a summer intern. But when her time at the Laboratory ended, her work did not. She took the lead to write a paper based on her findings, and the result was published in Inorganic Chemistry Frontiers.

• Researchers develop new design strategy for carbonized polymer dots to discriminate between TNT and TNP

  2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (TNP) are stable explosives that can accumulate and pollute ecosystems, impacting environmental and human health. Therefore, sensitive and rapid on-site detection of TNT and TNP is essential for safety compliance.