polymer

Revolutionary carbon fiber electrocatalysts pave the way for affordable green hydrogen production

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A groundbreaking technology has been developed to address the limitations of current catalyst electrodes, facilitating the large-scale production of green hydrogen at a relatively low cost. This significant advancement was published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. The innovative project was led by Professor Han Gi Chae from the Department of Materials Science … Read more

Innovative dual-mode films offer enhanced security against counterfeiting

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As concerns about data theft and counterfeiting grow, so does the need for sophisticated security technologies to verify the authenticity of important documents like currency and passports. Traditional methods, such as hologram seals, are continually challenged by evolving criminal techniques. In response, researchers are developing advanced solutions to stay ahead of these threats. A team … Read more

Enhancing electric vehicle battery performance with innovative polymers

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A recent breakthrough in chemistry has shown that maintaining distance can significantly improve the performance of batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). A research team has developed a polymeric protective film that ensures the safe operation of the anode in sulfide-based all-solid-state batteries. Their findings were published in the online edition of Advanced Functional Materials. The … Read more

Researchers develop eco-friendly high refractive index polymers for optoelectronic devices

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High refractive index polymers (HRIPs) are essential for manufacturing modern optoelectronic devices, including displays and light sensors. However, high-performance HRIPs are expensive and environmentally unfriendly. Recently, a research team from Waseda University developed a new family of HRIPs called poly(thiourea)s. Thanks to unique intermolecular interactions, these compounds can be easily processed into low-cost transparent HRIPs … Read more

Study solves lag mystery in organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs)

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Researchers who want to bridge the divide between biology and technology spend a lot of time thinking about translating between the two different “languages” of those realms. “Our digital technology operates through a series of electronic on-off switches that control the flow of current and voltage,” said Rajiv Giridharagopal, a research scientist at the University … Read more

Researchers develop high-purity gold recovery method from E-waste using functionalized textile adsorbent

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Korea relies on imports for most of its metal resources, and in recent years, due to resource depletion and rising raw material prices, ‘circular resources’ that recycle waste metal resources have emerged. In response, SK hynix has established a mid- to long-term plan to increase the percentage of copper, gold, etc. recovered and reused from … Read more

Researchers develop low-cost, sustainable electrochromic smart windows using amylose

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Smart windows are an exciting technology, capable of blocking out or letting in more light as needed, potentially reducing energy costs of large buildings by making them more efficient. This technology has already hit the market, but widespread adoption remains limited by cost and other factors. A study from researchers at The University of Texas … Read more

Researchers develop technology to remove nanoplastics from water

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Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a promising technology to remove harmful nanoplastics from contaminated water. This innovation boasts a remarkable 94% efficiency rate, offering a potential solution to the growing problem of plastic pollution in our environment. Plastic pollution is a global crisis with significant environmental and human health concerns. Microplastics, tiny … Read more

New technique revives decades-old cancer samples for immune response studies

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Scientists have developed an improved technique for reading the genetic material associated with the body’s immune response to cancer, making it possible to study tissue samples that have been stored in archives for decades. Using this technique, which is much more sensitive than commercial equivalents and less costly, researchers are able to analyze archival cancer … Read more

Reduced ribosome production linked to extended lifespan and improved cellular health

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Ribosomes, the “translation factories” of the cell, are cellular organelles that play a central role in protein synthesis, a vital process for all living organisms. These tiny structures themselves consist of ribonucleic acid (RNA) and proteins and are essential for the survival and normal functioning of the cell, as the proteins they produce are required … Read more

New technique enables mass production of polymer solid electrolytes

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A research team led by Professor Seok Ju Kang in the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST has unveiled a technique for mass-producing polymer solid electrolytes, crucial components in batteries. Their paper is published in the journal Energy Storage Materials. Departing from the traditional melt casting method, the team introduced a horizontal centrifugal … Read more

Study examines how takeoff strain affects drone battery performance

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Taking flight can be stressful—especially for a lithium-ion battery that powers a drone. Too much strain on these cells causes damage and shortens a device’s overall lifespan. Research in ACS Energy Letters shows the potential to improve batteries in aerial electric vehicles that take off and land vertically. The team developed a new electrolyte to … Read more

Researchers develop 3D printable material for communication devices

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In a first-of-its-kind development, UBC Okanagan researchers, in collaboration with Drexel University, have created a new compound that can be used to 3D print telecommunication antennas and other connectivity devices. These 3D printed products, created by combining a two-dimensional compound called MXenes with a polymer, can be used as an alternative for metallic counterparts and … Read more

Researchers unveil ‘missing piece’ of the genetic code

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Researchers at the University of Alberta have uncovered what they say has been the missing puzzle piece ever since the genetic code was first cracked. The code is the universal set of rules that allow living organisms to follow genetic instructions found in DNA and RNA to build proteins. In new research, published in BMC … Read more

NPL and SAIT use OrbiSIMS to identify degradation mechanisms in blue OLEDs

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Scientists at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) have collaborated with the Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) on a new study to better understand the degradation of blue organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The study has been published in Nature Communications. The degradation mechanisms—whether physical, chemical or something else—that cause blue OLEDs to fail are still … Read more

Addition-fragmentation-transfer chemistry offers new approach to sustainable plastic recycling

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One doesn’t need to be reminded that plastic production, and plastic pollution, have steadily increased over the years—the evidence is all around us. What if we were able to recycle plastic in a way that is truly sustainable? That very question is being raised by Reika Katsumata, assistant professor, and Ph.D. student Autumn Mineo of … Read more

Novel microfluidic approach enables 3D printing of porous materials with tunable structure

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Porous materials are essential for many chemical processes, such as light harvesting, adsorption, catalysis, energy transfer, and even new technologies for electronic materials. Therefore, many efforts have been made to control the porosity of different manufactured materials. To address this, researchers at the Institute of Physical Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences recently demonstrated … Read more

Biohybrid catalyst offers solution for mixed polystyrene recycling

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Polystyrene is a widespread plastic that is essentially not recyclable when mixed with other materials and is not biodegradable. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, a German research team has introduced a biohybrid catalyst that oxidizes polystyrene microparticles to facilitate their subsequent degradation. The catalyst consists of a specially constructed “anchor peptide” that adheres to polystyrene … Read more

New gene therapy technique uses bird retroelement for safe gene insertion

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The recent approval of a CRISPR-Cas9 therapy for sickle cell disease demonstrates that gene editing tools can do a superb job of knocking out genes to cure hereditary disease. But it’s still not possible to insert whole genes into the human genome to substitute for defective or deleterious genes. A new technique that employs a … Read more

Scientists develop instantaneous hydrogel bonding method

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Hydrogels have emerged as incredibly versatile biomaterials, revolutionizing various biomedical applications. These water-swollen molecular networks offer a unique opportunity to mimic the mechanical and chemical properties of diverse organs and tissues, facilitating seamless integration within the human body without causing harm, even to the most delicate anatomical structures. In clinical practice, hydrogels are already making … Read more