Radical predictions in polymer chemistry

Free radicals may have a bad reputation for causing ozone depletion and premature aging, but they are in fact extremely useful for making novel materials, particularly polymers. Skilled chemists can link up a wide range of ...

Paving the way for new single-molecule electrochemical switches

The degree of twisting of natural helical structures, such as the DNA double-helix, plays an essential role in many important biological functions. Because of their twisted architecture, artificial helices can facilitate ...

Pull-chain 'polymer' solves puzzle of complex molecular packing

(PhysOrg.com) -- Sometimes the simplest things hold the key to understanding complex effects. It turns out that a humble metal pull-chain -- just like those used on ceiling fans -- can be a pretty good model for complex properties ...

The Long and the Short of Acrylate Polymerization

(PhysOrg.com) -- Used in such diverse applications as adhesives, detergents, and super-absorbent disposable diapers, polyacrylates are key polymers, but the mechanisms of their formation are complex and have long been incompletely ...

Scientists Discover Pentagonal Ice

(PhysOrg.com) -- Scientists at the University of Liverpool have discovered a five-sided ice chain structure that could be used to modify future weather patterns.

It's raining pentagons

This week's Nature Materials (09 March 2009) reveals how an international team of scientists led by researchers at the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) at UCL have discovered a novel one dimensional ice chain structure ...

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