CATALYSIS

Nov 20 2025SCIENCE

Shining a Light on New Chemistry: Rhodium's Red and Orange Breakthrough

Chemists have long relied on transition metals to speed up reactions. Now, they're using light to make these reactions even better. Most of the time, they use short-wavelength light like purple or blue. But there's a catch. Long-wavelength light, like red and orange, is gentler and can go deeper. Yet, it's rarely used in these reactions. Here's where things get inte...

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Nov 11 2025SCIENCE

Boosting Fuel Cells: A New Twist on Catalysts

Fuel cells are like the heart of clean energy. They convert hydrogen into electricity. But there's a catch. The process isn't as smooth as it could be. Especially in alkaline environments. The hydrogen oxidation reaction (HOR) is often slow and easily disrupted by carbon monoxide (CO). This is a big problem for anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs). Scientists...

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Oct 30 2025SCIENCE

A New Way to Build Molecules: The Palladium Trick

Scientists have found a clever way to create special molecules called organoselenium compounds. These molecules are useful in medicine, materials, and biochemistry. The problem is that making them often requires tough conditions and doesn't work with many types of molecules. So, finding a better way to build these molecules is important. A new method uses a metal ca...

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Oct 26 2025SCIENCE

How TMAO Helps a Key Medicine Work Better

Proteins are the tiny machines that keep our bodies running. But some of these machines, like the enzyme urate oxidase (UOX), can be a bit wobbly. They don't work well in water, especially when it's hot. This is a big problem because UOX is used to treat certain medical conditions. Scientists have found a helper for UOX. It's called trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). TM...

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Aug 25 2025SCIENCE

Light-Driven Copper: A New Way to Make Molecules

Scientists have found a clever way to make special molecules using light and copper. This method is unique because it can create these molecules in a specific shape, which is important for making medicines and other useful stuff. The process involves mixing simple ingredients to create a special copper catalyst. This catalyst is activated by light, which helps it to...

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Aug 06 2025SCIENCE

A New Way to Make Coumarins: A Chemistry Breakthrough

Scientists have found a clever way to make coumarins, a group of compounds found in plants. They used a special catalyst to mix acid chlorides and alkynes, which are types of molecules. This method is unique because it doesn't need any extra steps or special conditions. The catalyst, which is like a helper in this process, is made with a specific ligand called 3, 5-C...

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Jun 28 2025SCIENCE

How Sunlight Can Help Turn CO2 into Fuel

Scientists have discovered an exciting way to convert CO2 into methane more efficiently. The secret? Light. By shining light on a special mix of ruthenium and titanium dioxide, researchers found that the process speeds up. This isn't just any mix—it's particularly good at this task. The light, whether UV or visible, plays a crucial role in boosting the reaction. The...

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Jun 28 2025SCIENCE

Enzymes Get a Stability Boost with New COF Technique

Enzymes are like tiny workers in our body, speeding up chemical reactions. But they can get tired or damaged easily. Scientists found a way to protect them using something called covalent organic frameworks (COFs). Think of COFs as tiny, strong boxes that can hold enzymes safely inside. The team used a simple, one-step method in water to put enzymes inside these COF...

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Jun 27 2025SCIENCE

Boosting TiO2 Nanoparticles for a Cleaner Environment

TiO2 nanoparticles are like tiny superheroes in the world of environmental science. They help clean up pollutants, but they need a boost to work better under visible light. Scientists have found a way to make them more powerful by adding tiny amounts of aluminum and sulfur. When these elements are added, they change the structure of TiO2. Pure TiO2 is mostly in the ...

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Jun 21 2025SCIENCE

The Power of Light and Metal in Chemical Reactions

The world of chemistry is always looking for new ways to make reactions more efficient and sustainable. One exciting development is the use of iron and nickel together in a special setup. This combo works under unique conditions that involve light and electricity. The goal is to make certain types of chemical bonds easier to form. These bonds are crucial in many indu...

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