Strained, Symmetric, and New

02-Oct-2019

Many natural compounds used in medicine have complex molecular architectures that are difficult to recreate in the lab. Help could come from a small hydrocarbon molecule, called tetravinylallene, which has been synthesized for the first time by Australian scientists. As detailed in the journal ...

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Determination of the crystal structure of a DNA-stabilized silver nanocluster

13-Sep-2019

Nanoclusters are little “heaps” of a few atoms that often have interesting optical properties and could become useful probes for imaging processes in areas such as biomedicine and diagnostics. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, researchers have introduced a nanocluster of 16 silver atoms ...

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Organic dye in zinc oxide interlayer stabilizes and boosts the performance of organic solar cells

20-Aug-2019

Organic solar cells are made of cheap and abundant materials, but their efficiency and stability still lag behind those of silicon-based solar cells. A Chinese-German team of scientists has found a way to enhance the electric conductivity of organic solar cells, which increases their ...

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A smart chemoenzymatic method detects and removes hazardous phenols

13-Aug-2019

Many industrial and agriculture processes use chemicals that can be harmful for workers and the ecosystems where they accumulate. Researchers from Thailand have now developed a bioinspired method to detect and detoxify these chemicals in only one step. As they report in the journal Angewandte ...

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Heterostructure crystals could light the way to optical circuits

09-Aug-2019

It may be possible to reach new levels of miniaturization, speed, and data processing with optical quantum computers, which use light to carry information. For this, we need materials that can absorb and transmit photons. In the journal Angewandte Chemie, Chinese scientists have introduced a new ...

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Chemotactic movement on the macroscale by a swarm of bacteria-mimicking nanoswimmers

07-Aug-2019

Bacteria can actively move towards a nutrient source—a phenomenon known as chemotaxis—and they can move collectively in a process known as swarming. Chinese scientists have redesigned collective chemotaxis by creating artificial model nanoswimmers from chemically and biochemically modified gold ...

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Power generator autonomously switches between two functional modes

15-May-2019

Underwater vehicles, diving robots, and detectors require their own energy supply to operate for long periods independent of ships. A new, inexpensive system for the direct electrochemical extraction of energy from seawater offers the advantage of also being able to handle short spikes in power ...

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Highly resorptive MOFs can be constructed by a foresighted combination of two different synthetic principles

02-May-2019

Gases and pollutants can be filtered from air and liquids by means of porous, crystalline materials, such as metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). To further partition these pores and enhance their sorption capacity, a team of scientists have developed a fast and versatile two-in-one synthetic ...

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Fluorescence probe shows the distribution of active lithium species on lithium metal anodes

29-Apr-2019

Batteries with metallic lithium anodes offer enhanced efficiency compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries because of their higher capacity. However, safety concerns and a short lifespan stand in the way. To better analyze the causes of malfunctions and premature failure of such batteries, ...

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Efficient cathode interlayers made of ionene polymers refined with pendant fullerenes

29-Mar-2019

Organic photovoltaics have achieved remarkably high efficiencies, but finding optimum combinations of materials for high-performance organic solar cells, which are also economically competitive, still presents a challenge. Researchers from the United States and China have now developed an ...

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