https://phys.org/ en-us Phys.org internet news portal provides the latest news on science including: Physics, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Space Science, Earth Science, Environment, Health and Medicine. A research team led by Seil Kim of the Korea Institute of Materials Science (KIMS) Energy & Environmental Materials Research Division has developed an Ag–PTFE composite plating technology that produces silver coatings with greater hardness and wear resistance than conventional silver plating by stably dispersing PTFE nanoparticles in a cyanide-free acidic silver plating bath. https://phys.org/news/2026-07-harder-longer-silver-plating.html Nanomaterials Tue, 14 Jul 2026 13:00:07 EDT news703245686 Scientists from the National Graphene Institute at the University of Manchester and Sun Yat-sen University have captured the growth of semiconducting tellurium nanostructures in liquid in real time, revealing how tiny seed particles form, grow into nanowires and compete for material as the structures develop. https://phys.org/news/2026-06-real-microscopy-reveals-semiconductor-nanowires.html Nanophysics Thu, 18 Jun 2026 11:00:15 EDT news700900801 The synthesis of materials can serve as a tool for developing smart, adaptive electrocatalysts. This rapidly evolving field of research involves in-situ analytics, data-driven discoveries and autonomous robotics. These new approaches could accelerate the discovery of long-lasting and efficient catalysts for future energy conversion and the decarbonization of the chemical industry. https://phys.org/news/2026-05-catalysts-synthesis-cleaner-fuels-greener.html Analytical Chemistry Fri, 29 May 2026 13:40:07 EDT news699280561 Radioactive cesium ions, due to their high-water solubility, pose a serious threat to human health and the environment. Conventional adsorbents such as Prussian blue (PB), although effective for cesium removal, often involve complex fabrication and high operational costs. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-prussian-blue-based-electrode-high.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:31:23 EST news690647461 A research team affiliated with UNIST has achieved a major breakthrough in the development of cost-effective, large-scale energy storage systems (ESS)—specifically, iron–chromium redox flow batteries (ICRFBs). Known for their safety, affordability, and suitability for grid-level applications, these batteries offer a reliable power source for high-demand facilities, like data centers, all while eliminating the risks associated with flammable electrolytes. https://phys.org/news/2026-02-safer-effective-solution-large-scale.html Analytical Chemistry Sat, 14 Feb 2026 08:00:01 EST news690132822 A pioneering new test that can recover fingerprints from ammunition casing, once thought nearly impossible, has been developed by two Irish scientists. https://phys.org/news/2025-09-forensic-recovers-fingerprints-ammunition-casings.html Analytical Chemistry Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:11:03 EDT news678463861 Metallic nanoparticles, consisting of a few to several thousand atoms or simple molecules, are attracting significant interest. Electrodes coated with layers of nanoparticles (nanolayers) are particularly useful in areas such as energy production, serving as catalysts. https://phys.org/news/2024-11-nanostructures-imaging-techniques-unveil-secrets.html Nanophysics Wed, 13 Nov 2024 11:11:05 EST news650718662 As global demand for electrochemical electrodes continues to rise, a new trend has emerged, emphasizing the need to maintain ion diffusion efficiency while accommodating ultra-high loadings of active materials to enhance capacity and energy density. In three-dimensional space, structured electrodes with high porosity and low tortuosity have proven effective in improving the performance of various electrochemical energy storage devices (EESDs). https://phys.org/news/2024-09-ion-diffusion-kinetics-interpenetrated-electrochemical.html Nanophysics Wed, 18 Sep 2024 16:22:03 EDT news645895321 Glycerol is a key byproduct of biodiesel fabrication, and its production has increased proportionally with the growth of biodiesel production. Glycerol electrooxidation is considered as an innovative strategy due to its low theoretical potential and the elimination of the need for external toxic oxidative agents, pressurized oxygen, and high temperature. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-efficient-electro-oxidation-glycerol-formate.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 12 Sep 2024 16:15:04 EDT news645376500 As the world shifts towards a more sustainable future, the development of advanced electrochemical devices, such as rechargeable batteries with higher energy densities and efficient electrodeposition capabilities, has become increasingly crucial. In recent years, ultra-concentrated electrolyte solutions, where metal salts are dissolved at concentrations two to three times higher than those in a single solvent, or mixtures where metal salts are excessively dissolved in a single solvent, have gained attention as new electrolyte solutions. https://phys.org/news/2024-09-glass-liquid-electrolyte-transition-broad.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 04 Sep 2024 04:52:09 EDT news644644326 A multi-institutional team of chemists, metallurgists and engineers has developed a highly efficient way to retrieve silver from dead solar panels. Their paper is published in Environmental Technology & Innovation. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-recover-silver-dead-solar-panels.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 28 Aug 2024 11:10:01 EDT news644060774 New research from Northwestern University has systematically proven that a mild zap of electricity can strengthen a marine coastline for generations—greatly reducing the threat of erosion in the face of climate change and rising sea levels. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-coastal-erosion-electricity.html Earth Sciences Thu, 22 Aug 2024 05:00:01 EDT news643470182 Coupling electrochemical conversion of the greenhouse gas CO2 with renewable electricity sources—such as solar and wind—promises green production of high-demand chemicals and transportation fuels. Carbon dioxide coupling products such as ethylene, ethanol and acetic acid are particularly useful as feedstocks for the chemical industry and powering vehicles. https://phys.org/news/2024-08-chemical-industries-boost-catalyst-coating.html Materials Science Thu, 01 Aug 2024 11:58:13 EDT news641732290 Environmental pollution by heavy metals is a major social problem. Among these metals, mercury (Hg) is strictly controlled due to its high toxicity. Focusing on soil, which is closely related to our daily lives, the environmental standard for mercury is set at less than 0.5 µg/L (µg is a unit of 1 millionth of a gram). https://phys.org/news/2024-07-high-sensitivity-technique-mercury-soil.html Nanomaterials Mon, 29 Jul 2024 09:05:34 EDT news641462729 A research team led by Prof. Chen Changlun from the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with collaborators, developed advanced cobalt-doped nickel hydroxide bipolar electrodes and non-noble metal catalysts, which significantly improved the efficiency and stability of two-step water electrolysis for hydrogen production. https://phys.org/news/2024-07-electrolysis-hydrogen-production.html Analytical Chemistry Mon, 08 Jul 2024 10:36:02 EDT news639653761 Research conducted in Brazil at the Center for Development of Functional Materials (CDMF) and the Center for Innovation in New Energies (CINE) has developed a novel approach to the plasma treatment of antimony tri-selenide (Sb2Se3) films that makes their surface hydrophilic, i.e. attracted to water molecules and easily dissolved by water, instead of hydrophobic (repelled by water). https://phys.org/news/2024-05-material-solar-driven-hydrogen.html Materials Science Thu, 16 May 2024 16:32:39 EDT news635095955 Nanostructured high entropy alloys—metals made from a chaotic mix of several different elements—show a lot of promise for use in industries such as aerospace and automotive because of their strength and stability at high temperatures compared with regular metals. https://phys.org/news/2024-05-commercially-viable-class-metals.html Nanomaterials Tue, 07 May 2024 15:06:57 EDT news634313214 Ammonia is one of the most widely produced chemicals in the world, and is used in a great many manufacturing and service industries. The conventional production technology is the Haber-Bosch process, which combines nitrogen gas (N2) and hydrogen gas (H2) in a reactor in the presence of a catalyst. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-scientists-catalyst-ammonia-production-sustainable.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 21 Mar 2024 17:25:11 EDT news630260709 Hydrogen (H2) is considered a possible alternative to fossil fuels, which are responsible for a large proportion of atmospheric emissions and global warming, but production costs must be lowered if it is to become a viable option. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-brazilian-scientists-material-hydrogen-production.html Analytical Chemistry Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:58:03 EDT news629549881 A research team led by Professor Wang Qi from Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, has successfully synthesized a heterogeneous Ce@CoFe-LDH electrocatalyst by combining a simple hydrothermal method with rapid electrodeposition. https://phys.org/news/2024-03-urchin-cofe-layered-hydroxide-high.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 07 Mar 2024 16:04:11 EST news629049849 Hematite (α-Fe2O3) is considered one of the most promising materials for photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting under solar light. However, the drawbacks of lower charge transfer efficiency and slow oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics limit the practical application of α-Fe2O3 photoanodes. Therefore, efforts have been made to promote the PEC properties of α-Fe2O3, such as elemental doping, morphology modulation, and construction of heterojunctions. https://phys.org/news/2023-09-photoanode-multilayered-nanostructure-efficient-photoelectrochemical.html Nanomaterials Tue, 05 Sep 2023 12:59:09 EDT news613137547 In a review led by Prof. Chunyi Zhi (City University of Hong Kong) and published in the journal Science China Chemistry, researchers focused on the current advances in the development of MOF/COF-based materials for ARZIBs, including the material design of MOFs/COFs, the storage mechanism of Zn2+ in MOFs/COFs, the use of MOFs/COFs to control the deposition behavior of Zn2+, and the use of MOFs/COFs as separators and solid electrolytes. https://phys.org/news/2023-07-metalcovalent-frameworks-aqueous-rechargeable-zinc-ion.html Analytical Chemistry Thu, 06 Jul 2023 16:20:03 EDT news607879202 Nanoscientists have developed a wearable textile that can convert body movement into useable electricity and even store that energy. The fabric potentially has a wide range of applications from medical monitoring to assisting athletes and their coaches in tracking their performance, as well as smart displays on clothing. https://phys.org/news/2023-06-wearable-textile-captures-energy-body.html Nanomaterials Mon, 05 Jun 2023 15:30:04 EDT news605197802 Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a major greenhouse gas emitted through various types of human activities. In an effort to decrease humanity's carbon footprint, scientists and policymakers across the globe are continuously trying to explore new methods for reducing atmospheric CO2 emissions and converting them into useful forms. In this regard, the electrochemical method of reducing CO2 to other carbonaceous forms like carbon monoxide, alcohols and hydrocarbon has gained considerable attention. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-sustainable-electrochemical-method-carbon-dioxide.html Materials Science Mon, 15 May 2023 10:07:45 EDT news603364063 The adverse effects of excess nitrate in water on human productivity and lives have received increasing attention due to the discharge of industrial wastewater and the overuse of farmland fertilizers. An international team of researchers has conducted an in-depth study of the significant need and challenge of efficient nitrate removal. https://phys.org/news/2023-05-carbon-nanotube-membranes-pd-cu-modification.html Bio & Medicine Fri, 12 May 2023 13:36:02 EDT news603117361 High-quality data transmission, high-precision information sensing, and high-sensitivity signal detection are important means to achieve precise perception and effective identification. High-performance chips, terahertz transmission T/R components, and extreme environment sensor manufacturing technologies have become key frontier research hotspots. Its effective implementation strongly depends on the ultra-precision micro-nano manufacturing level of the complex microstructure of core functional devices. As an excellent carrier for information-enabled core functional devices, pure copper metal has ultra-high electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and high ductility, as well as low-loss signal transmission capabilities. Therefore, it has received extensive attention in the field of micro-nano manufacturing. https://phys.org/news/2022-07-advanced-pure-copper-3d-sub-micron.html Nanomaterials Wed, 27 Jul 2022 12:41:23 EDT news578144479 The boiling of water or other fluids is an energy-intensive step at the heart of a wide range of industrial processes, including most electricity generating plants, many chemical production systems, and even cooling systems for electronics. https://phys.org/news/2022-07-surfaces-efficiently.html Condensed Matter Tue, 12 Jul 2022 10:29:48 EDT news576840576 Flashing graphene into existence from waste was merely a good start. Now Rice University researchers are customizing it. https://phys.org/news/2022-03-graphene.html Nanomaterials Thu, 31 Mar 2022 12:22:14 EDT news567948116 Various photocatalyst powders can remove contaminants and microorganisms from water efficiently, but their practical application is limited due to poor recovery performance. https://phys.org/news/2022-03-material-photocatalyst-powders-recyclable-application.html Nanomaterials Thu, 31 Mar 2022 11:02:40 EDT news567943358 Energy researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have reported progress using controlled architectural design and structural engineering as a method to fine-tune materials to have simultaneous high power and high energy density for electrochemical storage in portable devices. https://phys.org/news/2022-02-fine-tuning-materials-energy-storage.html Materials Science Thu, 24 Feb 2022 16:24:18 EST news564942255