https://phys.org/chemistry-news/materials-science/ en-us The latest news on chemistry and materials science The University of Wyoming's Lauren Kim has solved a persistent problem in the cutting-edge field of high-entropy alloys, a class of materials with great potential in modern engineering, electronics and energy applications—such as jet engines, nuclear reactors, chemical processing systems, batteries and supercapacitors—along with cryogenics systems. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-phd-student-persistent-problem-high.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 14 Apr 2026 17:30:01 EDT news695403421 Hydrogen peroxide, a versatile chemical used in a wide range of applications—from medical disinfectants to semiconductor manufacturing and water treatment—is an essential substance with global annual production exceeding tens of millions of tons. However, its production still relies on large-scale, energy-intensive facilities, and its transportation and storage involve high costs and significant safety management challenges. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-discarded-wood-hydrogen-peroxide.html Biochemistry Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:40:07 EDT news695390342 Pollution released from our textiles is smaller and more irregular in shape than previously thought, according to new research led by The University of Manchester. In a study published in Scientific Reports, Manchester researchers—in collaboration with researchers from the University of East Anglia and Manchester Metropolitan University—have developed a new fluorescence-based method that dramatically improves the detection of microfibers released from textiles during washing and wear. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-fluorescent-technique-reveals-hidden-scale.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:20:06 EDT news695386861 Many bioactive molecules used in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics contain enantiomers, which are structural isomers that exist as nonsuperimposable mirror images in right- and left-handed forms. Therefore, in asymmetric synthesis, controlling the formation of the desired enantiomer with high precision is essential. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-limonene-enables-highly-efficient-asymmetric.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:20:01 EDT news695389921 In a new study published in Nature Communications, a team of chemists has unveiled a radically simple way to attach a highly sought-after "molecular handle," known as the dichloromethyl group, onto complex compounds. Instead of relying on the aggressive, heavy-metal or radiation-heavy techniques of the past, the team used a common, naturally occurring amino acid called proline to gently choreograph the assembly. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-molecular-common-amino-acid-complex.html Biochemistry Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:50:01 EDT news695319182 In a paper just out in Nature Synthesis, researchers led by Prof. Timothy Noël of the University of Amsterdam's Van 't Hoff Institute for Molecular Sciences presented a breakthrough in autonomous laboratory systems for synthesis optimization. With an estimated cost of a mere $5,000, a versatile, modular design and the option for "human in the loop" analytics, RoboChem Flex caters to all synthesis laboratories, large or small. The paper provides all the information to build their own system. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-robotic-chemistry-built-deployed-lab.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 13 Apr 2026 19:40:02 EDT news695313269 Researchers from National Taiwan University and Chulalongkorn University developed a copper-based catalyst system that improves low-temperature methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide hydrogenation by balancing two key steps in the reaction. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-catalyst-functions-temperature-methanol-synthesis.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:40:06 EDT news695309762 Materials that emit and manipulate light are at the heart of technologies ranging from solar energy to advanced imaging systems. But even in well-studied materials, some fundamental behaviors remain unexplained. Researchers at Rice University have now solved a long-standing mystery in a widely used organic semiconductor, revealing how tiny structural imperfections can actually improve how these materials work. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-tiny-crystal-defects-decades-mystery.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:30:04 EDT news695320082 Researchers have developed a method to extract bio-oil from the surface fiber waste of date palm trees, an abundant, low-cost, and sustainable biomass resource generated by an estimated 150 million date palm trees worldwide. The findings are presented in an article published in the journal ACS Omega. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-date-palm-yields-bio-oil.html Biochemistry Mon, 13 Apr 2026 17:00:03 EDT news695309941 Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidizing agent with a variety of applications in both industrial and household settings. Researchers are working on developing better and better ways to produce H2O2, such as photocatalytic H2O2 evolution techniques, which are more sustainable and environmentally friendly. The reaction simply uses energy from the sun, water, and oxygen to make H2O2. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-advances-precise-nanoscale-cn-catalysts.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 13 Apr 2026 15:20:07 EDT news695304121 Rhodium is one of the most powerful catalytic metals known to chemistry. Small amounts of it can drive reactions that produce millions of tons of useful chemicals every year. But getting rhodium to work well—quickly, selectively, and without degrading—depends heavily on the ligands surrounding it. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-scientists-arsenic-lined-crystal-pore.html Analytical Chemistry Sun, 12 Apr 2026 17:00:01 EDT news695035888 In the process of converting carbon dioxide into useful chemicals such as ethylene—a key precursor for plastics—a major challenge has been the flooding of electrodes, where electrolyte penetrates the electrode structure and reduces performance. KAIST researchers have developed a new electrode design that blocks water while maintaining efficient electrical conduction and catalytic reactions, thereby improving both efficiency and stability. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-electrode-technology-efficiency-plastic-precursors.html Polymers Sun, 12 Apr 2026 11:00:04 EDT news694773151 Iron and oxygen bind together throughout the body. Most famously, iron binds dioxygen, or two oxygens paired with each other, in hemoglobin that transports oxygen through blood. But iron-oxo compounds, as they're called, are found in many other places throughout the body. For example, the highly reactive iron-oxo is used in liver enzymes that metabolize drugs. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-scientists-block-metals-yield-oxygen.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 10 Apr 2026 17:00:03 EDT news695046062 Materials databases lie at the heart of future data-driven discovery in energy-related fields, say researchers from Tohoku University. In an article published in the journal Precision Chemistry, they have examined how different types of databases, both computational and experimental, work together to support modern artificial intelligence (AI) tools used in materials science. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-bridging-ai-experimental-materials-discovery.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 09 Apr 2026 22:40:04 EDT news694965804 Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a method to convert a commonly discarded hydrocarbon polymer into gasoline- and diesel-like fuels. The team has applied for a patent for the discovery, which treats polyethylene—the stuff of white cutting boards and shopping bags—with aluminum chloride-containing molten salts that serve as both solvent and catalyst. The results are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-plastic-bags-gasoline-molten-salts.html Materials Science Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:40:01 EDT news694944021 How do radicals form in aqueous solutions when exposed to UV light? This question is important for health research and environmental protection. For example, with regard to the overfertilization of water bodies by intensive agriculture. A team at BESSY II has now developed a new method of investigating hydroxyl radicals in solution. By using a clever trick, the scientists gained surprising insights into the reaction pathway. The findings are published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-hydroxyl-radicals-uv-exposed-reveal.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 09 Apr 2026 15:40:01 EDT news694966861 Gas separation membranes are vital for carbon capture, biogas upgrading, and hydrogen purification, all of which require the separation of carbon dioxide from gases like nitrogen, methane and hydrogen. However, the membranes currently in use for these applications suffer from limitations like low throughput or performance under high pressure and humidity, low gas flow, instability, and reaction rate limits. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-membrane-filters-constant-adjustable-permeance.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 09 Apr 2026 14:20:03 EDT news694957030 Taking inspiration from how mussels and mistletoe plants build natural fibers and adhesives, researchers at McGill University have developed a new way to manufacture complex materials that could offer a more environmentally sustainable alternative to conventional plastics and glues. The findings are published in the journal Advanced Materials. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mussels-mistletoe-sustainable-materials.html Biochemistry Wed, 08 Apr 2026 17:20:05 EDT news694873142 When chemists design drug candidates, shape matters enormously. Many active pharmaceutical ingredients contain branched carbon structures—points where the molecular chain forks in a specific direction—that are critical to whether a molecule will bind to its biological target and whether it will be safe. The challenge is that the branched building blocks used to create these structures are not very abundant or commercially available. Now, scientists at Scripps Research have devised a new approach to building these branched molecular structures found in many medicines and materials: one that could make the early stages of drug discovery faster and more efficient. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-drug-discovery-bottleneck-cheaper-reagents.html Materials Science Wed, 08 Apr 2026 14:40:05 EDT news694877953 In a high-end fashion store or luxury car showroom, the term "vegan leather" sends a strong message of quality. For many shoppers, it promises the look and feel of real leather without using animal skins. As brands move away from animal leather, "vegan" has come to suggest something that is both kinder to animals and better for the planet. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-vegan-leather-isnt-sustainable-ecofriendly.html Materials Science Tue, 07 Apr 2026 20:50:02 EDT news694775117 An extract of turmeric and ginger helps bone implants bond strongly while killing bacteria and cancer cells, according to new research from Washington State University with implications for millions of patients with joint replacements and bone cancer. In early tests, the extract roughly doubled bone bonding within six weeks around the implant site, killed more than 90% of bacteria on implant surfaces, and sharply reduced cancer-causing cells. The findings marry elements of a naturopathic approach drawing on traditional medicine with current medical technologies. Turmeric, a golden-orange spice, and ginger root have been used for food and medicinal purposes in China and India for thousands of years. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-turmericginger-multiple-benefits-bone-implants.html Materials Science Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:40:04 EDT news694774262 Researchers at Koç University have developed a light-driven method to produce porous semiconducting polymers under ambient conditions without the need for metal catalysts. The study, led by Prof. Dr. Önder Metin from the Department of Chemistry, in collaboration with Dr. Melek Sermin Özer, Dr. Zafer Eroğlu, and Prof. Dr. Sermet Koyuncu, was published in Nature Communications. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-driven-method-enables-sustainable-production.html Polymers Tue, 07 Apr 2026 19:20:03 EDT news694796641 In a discovery recently published in Nature, MIT chemists led by Professor Alison Wendlandt have developed a precision technique that allows scientists to seamlessly relocate alcohol functional groups from one spot on a molecule to a neighboring site. The paper is titled "Alcohol group migration by proximity-enhanced H atom abstraction." https://phys.org/news/2026-04-molecular-tool-relocates-alcohol-groups.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 07 Apr 2026 18:20:01 EDT news694791481 A new review from Osaka Metropolitan University (OMU) summarizes the biocatalysts involved in semi-artificial photosynthesis, an exciting research field that combines natural photosynthesis with artificial technology to efficiently generate fuels and useful substances from sunlight. The review is published in Chemical Reviews. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-photocatalystbiocatalyst-semi-artificial-photosynthesis.html Biochemistry Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:20:01 EDT news694692719 Everyone's idea of the perfect cup of coffee is different. Whether you have yours black, with a splash of milk or extra sweet, you like it your way. But is there a universal law that governs how that flavor gets into your cup? According to new research published in the journal Royal Society Open Science, part of the answer lies in the permeability of the puck, the name for the bed of tightly packed coffee grains through which water passes under high pressure. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-equation-baristas-espresso-shot.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:20:05 EDT news694687725 "Methane reforming" is a process that turns methane (CH4) into hydrogen—which can be utilized as an environmentally friendly source of energy. The biggest downside is that methane reforming, in its current state, is not quite so gentle on the environment. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-precisely-oxygen-carriers-enable-temperature.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 06 Apr 2026 09:30:02 EDT news694686241 When paper dries and is subsequently rewetted, its properties change permanently. This phenomenon is known as hornification. New research now shows that the process is more complex than previously assumed, and that temperature, humidity, and fiber type all play decisive roles. During hornification, fibers in paper products lose some of their ability to absorb water. This has major implications for everything from paper manufacturing to recycling, where controlling the material's strength and durability is crucial. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-insights-hornification-future-paper-production.html Analytical Chemistry Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:00:05 EDT news694362890 Iridium is a key component in many electrochemical technologies used for chemical transformations. These include producing hydrogen fuel from water, manufacturing chlorine from seawater for use as a disinfectant and extracting metals from their ores. Yet scientists still know surprisingly little about how this metal behaves at the very spot where those reactions unfold—the thin boundary where the surface of a solid electrode meets a water-based electrolyte. https://phys.org/news/2026-03-iridium-hidden-surface-chemistry-hydrogen.html Analytical Chemistry Sat, 04 Apr 2026 10:00:03 EDT news694191593 A research team reports they have created an organic reaction called α-allylation with simple ketones and allyl alcohols. This work holds the potential for use in the development of next-generation catalysts. The research is published in the journal ACS Catalysis on March 2, 2026. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-mesoporous-silica-catalyst-enables-allylation.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 02 Apr 2026 16:30:03 EDT news694365781 A breakthrough method for chemically recycling acrylic—one of the world's most widely used plastics—has been developed by researchers at the University of Bath. In contrast to conventional mechanical recycling, this method uses lower temperatures and sustainable solvents without losing material quality, meaning the plastic can be recycled many times over with minimal environmental impact. https://phys.org/news/2026-04-uv-method-recycling-acrylic-plastics.html Polymers Thu, 02 Apr 2026 15:20:05 EDT news694351321