Chemistry

Every year, millions of windshields are replaced worldwide, leaving behind a significant amount of waste in the form of the polyvinyl butyral (PVB) interlayer, which keeps shattered glass together. Recycling this material is complex and costly, often resulting in low-quality materials unsuitable for reuse. The sheer volume of PVB waste is substantial — over 175…

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries, often seen as a promising alternative to lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology, could offer higher energy densities and lower costs while using Earth-abundant materials like sulfur. However, significant hurdles, including short cycle life, material instability, and safety concerns, limit their commercial adoption. Potential and challenges of Li-S batteries Li-S batteries differ from Li-ion batteries…

Some argue that carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) are critical tools for reducing global carbon emissions, though questions remain about their scalability, cost-effectiveness, and long-term impact. Safe and efficient supercritical or dense-phase carbon dioxide (CO₂) transportation is critical for successfully implementing CCUS projects. According to the U.S. Department of Energy website, “Carbon capture, utilization,…

According to a recent study by U.S. and Canadian scientists, the carbon in our bodies may have traveled far beyond our galaxy before becoming part of Earth. Published in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, the research confirms that carbon and other elements forged in stars do not remain stationary in space but circulate through a vast…

Recent scientific evidence has brought increasing attention to microplastics—plastic particles less than 5 millimeters in diameter—and their pervasive presence in our environment. While their ubiquity raises legitimate concerns, our 2024 analysis “Microplastics are bad—but ignoring science is worse” reveals that commonly cited statistics about human plastic consumption often lack rigorous scientific validation. Emerging research continues…

Batteries have recently come in various configurations: stretchable, as discussed in R&D World’s article “Stretchable batteries and body-conformable electronics poised to advance in 2025,” and batteries using alternative chemistries, including lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) and sodium-ion (SIBs), among others. One battery material that might not have been on your bingo card is fungi. Researchers at Empa have…

Scientists at the University of California, Irvine, have developed a method for tagging RNA with a bioluminescent molecule, which enables real-time tracking of RNA as it moves throughout the body. This research, published in Nature Communications, could provide new insights into cellular processes, viral propagation, and memory formation in the brain. RNA is critical in…

Flint, a deep-tech startup based in Singapore specializing in cellulose-based paper batteries, has raised $2 million in seed funding to accelerate the commercialization of its sustainable energy storage solutions. The funding round, led by a consortium of international angel investors and AI-driven venture capital firm Hatcher+, will support pilot production, intellectual property development, and expansion…

Researchers from Ames National Laboratory and Iowa State University, funded through ARPA-E’s CHADWICK program, are developing materials for the “first wall” in fusion reactors. This wall faces extreme temperatures, radiation, and magnetic environments and must efficiently transfer heat for electricity production. Two layers are required: a tungsten-based refractory material facing the plasma and a structural…

Researchers at Chungnam National University, Daejeon, South Korea, have developed a mechanochromic strain sensor that indicates mechanical stress through changing colors — without needing an external power source. The device, described in a study published on October 15, 2024, in the journal Chemical Engineering Journal, uses magnetic nanoparticles and elastic materials to detect stretching, bending,…

Over the past several decades, superconducting radiofrequency (SRF) particle accelerators have helped researchers probe the fundamental structure of matter. Now, scientists at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility are working to broaden their capabilities — and potentially reduce operating costs — by using niobium-tin coatings. Traditionally, SRF accelerators rely on cavities…

Lithium-ion battery packs experienced the most significant price drop in seven years. A promising new material could help batteries achieve over 20,000 charge and discharge cycles before reaching the 80% capacity threshold, maximizing their value. Two new battery technologies could replace lithium-ion, and the Biden administration significantly boosted battery production and charging infrastructure with a…

Argonne National Laboratory and Yale University researchers have used cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to obtain a high-resolution structural view of a photosystem I (PSI)-platinum nanoparticle biohybrid catalyst. This finding provides critical insights into the design of efficient systems for solar-driven hydrogen production. Background and context Photosystem I (PSI) is a protein complex integral to the photosynthetic…

Case Western Reserve University researchers have made significant progress in developing zinc-sulfur batteries, a potentially safer and more sustainable energy storage option than widely used lithium-ion batteries. Their findings, recently published in Angewandte Chemie, highlight key advancements that could enhance the commercial viability of zinc-based batteries. “This research marks a major step forward in developing…

Dr. Tim Kelly and his team at the University of Saskatchewan (USask) have made key discoveries about why solar cells made with lead halide perovskite degrade prematurely. These discoveries could advance the reliability of a new generation of solar cells. In experiments conducted at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) synchrotron, Kelly, a professor of chemistry…

Stretchable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are promising as power sources of stretchable and wearable electronic devices, such as electronic skin, soft robotics, and wearable mobile phones. Furthermore, giving stretchable LIBs self-healing properties can lengthen their lives and enhance their reliability. In a study published in the KeAi journal Supramolecular Materials, Chinese researchers presented a novel strategy for fabricating…

A new method for recycling black polystyrene plastics, such as coffee lids and food containers, could help divert these materials from landfills. The approach, reported in ACS Central Science, uses sunlight or white LED light to transform black and colored polystyrene waste into reusable chemical components. Black plastics are notoriously difficult to recycle due to…

Integrated energy company Idemitsu Kosan Co. (Idemitsu) has expanded its partnership with Enthought, a specialist in digital transformation for science-driven companies. This move supports Idemitsu’s ambition to scale the development and production of innovative battery materials. The expanded partnership will include new technical consulting and implementation services and continued participation in Enthought’s Materials Informatics (MI)…

In many respects, 2024 was a year of building upon the foundations laid by previous technological and scientific advances. While AI continued to evolve at a rapid clip, progress was in many ways more incremental than last year when GPT-4 redefined expectations for genAI. But AI continues to make definable improvements across a range of…

In recent years, the global demand for batteries has significantly increased. This demand is driven by incorporating energy storage in the power sector, expanding solar and wind power use, and rising interest in electric vehicles globally. Governmental investments and new regulations worldwide support this development and the rise of clean energy. The lithium-ion battery (LIB)…

Researchers in Japan have developed an inventive approach to address the challenge of implementing artificial intelligence (AI) on resource-constrained edge devices, paving the way for more sophisticated and efficient Internet of Things (IoT) systems. The team, led by Professor Takayuki Kawahara and Mr. Yuya Fujiwara from the Tokyo University of Science, focused on a type…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending October 25, 2024, closed at 3962.81 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was down -1.49% (or -60.14 basis points). Seven RDWI members gained value last week from 0.27% (Toyota) to 5.88% (General Motors). Eighteen RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.27%…

The R&D World Index (RDWI) for the week ending October 18, 2024, closed at 4.022.95 for the 25 companies in the RDWI. The Index was down -0.66% (or -26.77 basis points). Thirteen RDWI members gained value last week from 0.21% (Pfizer) to 4.63% (Cisco).  Twelve RDWI members lost value the previous week from -0.05% (Sanofi…

Every year, thousands of groundbreaking ideas emerge from research labs and universities, brimming with the potential to reshape industries. Yet, a significant number of these innovations never see the light of day. They fall into the abyss ominously termed the “Valley of Death,” which, as a paper in Science Direct puts it, “is an unfavorable…

A recent mini-review from Vapourtec showcases the vast potential of flow biocatalysis, emphasizing its role in enhancing sustainability, efficiency, and productivity in chemical synthesis. The review highlights several key publications demonstrating how flow biocatalysis is a cleaner, more cost-effective alternative to traditional organic chemistry, largely due to its use of enzymes as reagents. “The use…