CATALYSTS

Jun 04 2025SCIENCE

Supercharged Catalysts: The Future of Reaction Efficiency

Superwettability is a game-changer in the world of catalysts. It boosts how well catalysts work in reactions that involve multiple phases, like liquids and gases. This is because superwettability improves how reactants move around and how products leave the catalyst. The main goal of superwettability is to make reactions happen faster and more efficiently. It does t...

reading time about 2 minutes
May 28 2025SCIENCE

The Power of Copper and Magnesium in Hydrogen Fuel

In the world of sustainable energy, hydrogen is a big deal. It's clean, it's powerful, and it's everywhere. One way to get hydrogen is through a process called methanol steam reforming. It's like breaking down methanol to get hydrogen. This method is pretty cheap and efficient. However, making the right catalyst for this process can be tricky. Catalysts are like the ...

reading time about 1 minute
May 27 2025SCIENCE

Engineering Bacteria to Boost a Valuable Acid

5-Aminolevulinic acid, often shortened to 5-ALA, is a highly sought-after amino acid. It's valuable in many industries, but making it efficiently has been a challenge. Researchers have been working on using bacteria as tiny factories to produce 5-ALA. The trick is to find a quick way to check which bacteria are the best producers. One way to do this is by looking at...

reading time about 1 minute
May 17 2025SCIENCE

Boosting Carbon Dioxide Conversion with Tiny Catalysts

Carbon dioxide is a big problem for our planet. But what if we could turn it into something useful? That is where tiny catalysts come in. These are not your usual catalysts. They are made of a single atom of metal. This atom is held in place by a special ring of nitrogen atoms. This setup is like a tiny machine. It can help turn carbon dioxide into other chemi...

reading time about 2 minutes
May 07 2025SCIENCE

The Power of Tiny Changes in Water-Splitting Catalysts

The world of water electrolysis is always looking for better catalysts. These tiny helpers speed up the process of splitting water into oxygen and hydrogen. One such process is called the oxygen evolution reaction. It's a big deal in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis. This is where a new kind of catalyst comes in. It's made of ruthenium dioxide, but with a ...

reading time about 1 minute
May 03 2025ENVIRONMENT

New Light on Clean Water: Fighting PFAS with Sunlight

PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are a big problem. They stick around in the environment and can harm both nature and people. Think of PFOA and PFOS, two common types. They're tough to get rid of using old methods. These methods can be pricey, use lots of energy, and even create more waste. But there's hope. Scientists are looking into photocatalysis. Th...

reading time about 1 minute
May 01 2025SCIENCE

The Power of Blue Light in Chemical Reactions

The world of organic chemistry is buzzing with excitement over a new type of catalyst. This catalyst uses visible light to drive chemical reactions. Most of the focus has been on oxygen and nitrogen-based catalysts, like acridinium and pyrylium salts. However, sulfur-based catalysts have been largely overlooked until now. A new sulfur-containing catalyst has eme...

reading time less than a minute
Apr 19 2025SCIENCE

Zinc Networks: A Game-Changer for Plastic Recycling

Plastic recycling is a hot topic these days. One exciting development is the use of zinc-based networks to break down a common plastic called PET. These networks act like super-efficient catalysts, speeding up chemical reactions without getting used up themselves. They turn PET into something valuable: terephthalic acid. This process is a big deal because it helps r...

reading time about 1 minute
Apr 08 2025TECHNOLOGY

The Power of Mixed Metals in Water Splitting

The world of water splitting has seen a significant breakthrough with the development of a unique material. This material combines several metals and oxides to create a powerful catalyst. This catalyst can efficiently split water and even seawater into hydrogen and oxygen. The process is not only efficient but also durable, making it a strong contender for industrial...

reading time about 1 minute
Mar 12 2025SCIENCE

Boosting Energy Efficiency with Smart Carbon Tweaks

Scientists have been exploring ways to make energy conversion technologies more efficient and durable. One promising approach involves using carbon composites with added tin and titanium dioxide (TiO2) to support platinum (Pt) catalysts. These composites are like the superheroes of energy conversion, fighting against corrosion and keeping the platinum particles stabl...

reading time about 1 minute