Hemispherical array of ultrasound transducers lifts objects off reflective surfaces

27-Jul-2021

Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have developed a new technology which allows non-contact manipulation of small objects using sound waves. They used a hemispherical array of ultrasound transducers to generate a 3D acoustic fields which stably trapped and lifted a small polystyrene ...

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Scientists combine two promising photocatalysts to obtain higher solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency and durability in a water splitting cell

14-Jul-2021

Turning away from fossil fuels is necessary if we are to avert an environmental crisis due to global warming. Both industry and academia have been focusing heavily on hydrogen as a feasible clean alternative. Hydrogen is practically inexhaustible and when used to generate energy, only produces ...

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There's a phase transition for that

05-Jul-2021

Believe it or not, steel has something in common with bacterial appendages: they can both undergo a special type of physical transformation that remains puzzling. Now, researchers from Japan and China have used direct microscopic observations to provide more clarity to how this transformation ...

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Curious Interlocked Molecules Show Dual Response

30-Jun-2021

Scientists at Tokyo Institute of Technology design polymers infused with a stress-sensitive molecular unit that respond to external forces by switching on their fluorescence. The researchers demonstrate the fluorescence to be dependent on the magnitude of force and show that it is possible to ...

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New Synthetic Method for Making Amphiphilic Molecules without Additives

29-Jun-2021

Amphiphilic molecules, which aggregate and encapsulate molecules in water, find use in several fields of chemistry. The simple, additive-free connection of hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules would be an efficient method for amphiphilic molecule synthesis. However, such connections, or bonds, ...

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A new catalyst allows wood to replace petroleum in hydrocarbon synthesis

26-Apr-2021

Researchers used platinum and aluminum compounds to create a catalyst which enables certain chemical reactions to occur more efficiently than ever before. The catalyst could significantly reduce energy usage in various industrial and pharmaceutical processes. It also allows for a wider range of ...

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New investment to advance and accelerate innovations in the electronic materials space

16-Apr-2021

Merck announced an investment of EUR 20 million to expand research and development and manufacturing capabilities at its site in Shizuoka, Japan. As part of this plan, new infrastructure will be built to advance and accelerate innovations in the electronic materials space. The investment is ...

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Simple chemistry will enhance the sustainability of concrete production

16-Apr-2021

Researchers at the Institute of Industrial Science, a part of The University of Tokyo, have developed a new method of producing concrete without cement. They have directly bonded sand particles via a simple reaction in alcohol with a catalyst. This may help both to slash carbon emissions and to ...

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A design concept changes how materials separate gaseous mixtures

22-Mar-2021

A more energy-efficient method improves how an industrial gas is purified by reversing the traditional process. The concept was developed and successfully tested by scientists at Kyoto University's Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) in Japan and colleagues.Acetylene is a gas ...

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Iron-based bimetallic electrocatalysts may be key for hydrogen synthesis

16-Mar-2021

Today, we can say without a shadow of doubt that an alternative to fossil fuels is needed. Fossil fuels are not only non-renewable sources of energy but also among the leading causes of global warming and air pollution. Thus, many scientists worldwide have their hopes placed on what they regard ...

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