[Images above] Credit: NIST
ENERGY
Hexagonal perovskite oxides: Electrolytes for next-generation protonic ceramic fuel cells
Tokyo Institute of Technology researchers identified hexagonal perovskite-related oxides as materials with exceptionally high proton conductivity and thermal stability. Their crystal structure and large number of oxygen vacancies enable full hydration and high proton diffusion, making these materials ideal as electrolytes for protonic ceramic fuel cells.
Hydrogen flight looks ready for take-off with new advances
New studies by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology show that almost all air travel within a 750-mile radius (1,200 km) could be made with hydrogen-powered aircraft by 2045, and with a novel heat exchanger currently in development, this range could be even further.
ENVIRONMENT
Capturing carbon with energy-efficient sodium carbonate−nanocarbon hybrid material
Chiba University researchers created a new hybrid material containing sodium carbonate and nanocarbon to capture carbon dioxide from industrial emissions. They found it demonstrates a high CO2 capture capacity that lasts for 10 regeneration cycles at a relatively low temperature of about 80°C.
New solutions to keep drinking water safe as pesticide use skyrockets worldwide
Water scientists from Australia and China found that by reducing powdered activated carbon particles from the existing commercial size of 38 μm to 6 μm, up to 75% less powder was needed to remove six common pesticides, achieving significant water treatment savings.
Study reveals worrying levels of fiberglass in oysters and mussels
Researchers from the Universities of Brighton and Portsmouth showed that glass-reinforced polymers, which are used extensively in boats, are breaking down and contaminating coastal waters. They detected the materials in the soft tissues of oysters and mussels collected near an active boatyard in Chichester Harbor, South England.
MANUFACTURING
Better mixing leads to faster reactions for important chemicals
Princeton University engineers mimicked turbulent mixing in porous environments by loading a liquid with springy polymers that stretch and recoil at microscopic scales. That spring action, tuned right, turns each pore into a mug-like volume where rapid mixing can occur. The new technique reportedly speeds reaction rates by as much as a factor of 10.
Mining rare earth metals from electronic waste
Researchers at ETH Zürich developed a simple method for efficiently separating and recovering the rare earth metal europium from complex mixtures, including other rare earth metals. Existing separation methods are based on hundreds of liquid–liquid extraction steps. Their method uses a simple inorganic reagent to significantly improve separation.
OTHER STORIES
Computer program ‘paints’ the structure of molecules in the style of Piet Mondrian
Trinity College Dublin researchers created a computer program that “paints” the structure of molecules in the style of famous Dutch artist Piet Mondrian. This approach to rendering the structure can help scientists rapidly assess and demonstrate molecular symmetry, allowing for deeper insights than would emerge from traditional representations.
Alfred University to host short course on machine vision
Alfred University’s Inamori School of Engineering will host a short course from Sept. 3–5, 2024, that will train students and faculty on the use of artificial intelligence technology to identify and assess damage to electrical power systems.