EurekAlert! News by Subject: Chemistry & Physics - News by Subject: Chemistry & Physics

Chemistry & Physics

Updates every hour. Last Updated: 27-Aug-2025 13:11 ET (27-Aug-2025 17:11 GMT/UTC)

New breakthrough in hydrogen oxidation catalysis: Rare earth atoms enhance platinum performance

Tsinghua University Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

In a groundbreaking study published in Nano Research, researchers from Beijing Normal University (Zhuhai) and the University of Wollongong have developed a novel catalytic system that significantly enhances the efficiency of hydrogen oxidation reactions (HOR) in alkaline media. This advancement could pave the way for more efficient and durable anion exchange membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs), a critical component in the transition to clean energy technologies.

Hydrogen fuel cells are a promising alternative to fossil fuels, offering a clean and renewable energy source. However, the efficiency of these cells is often limited by the sluggish kinetics of the hydrogen oxidation reaction, particularly in alkaline environments. Platinum (Pt) is the most effective catalyst for HOR, but its performance is hindered by high hydrogen adsorption binding energy (HBE) and insufficient hydroxyl adsorption energy (OHBE). This study addresses these challenges by introducing a new catalytic system that balances HBE and OHBE, thereby improving the overall efficiency of the reaction.

Journal: Nano Research

Converting environmental challenge into chemical resource: New catalyst for nitrite-to-ammonia conversion

Tsinghua University Press

Water pollution caused by nitrite (NO₂⁻) from agricultural runoff and industrial discharge presents significant challenges to ecosystem health and human wellbeing. Innovative water treatment technologies are essential for addressing this growing environmental concern. A new cobalt-iron layered double hydroxide decorated on 3D titanium dioxide arrays (TiO₂@CoFe-LDH/TP) shows promise as an effective electrocatalyst for nitrite reduction, offering a practical approach to converting harmful pollutants into valuable ammonia while minimizing unwanted byproducts during the electrochemical process.

Journal: Nano Research

Thermal scaling analysis of large hybrid laser arrays for co-packaged optics, published in ieee journal of selected topics in quantum electronics

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Optical transceivers often require multi-wavelength lasers in data communications applications. However, scaling the laser array size increases self-heating and thermal crosstalk. This affects the energy efficiency of lasers which are sensitive to temperature, emphasizing the need for careful consideration of thermal performance during the design stage. Researchers have now developed a thermo-optic laser model and investigated the impact of design choices on laser self-heating and overall energy efficiency.

Journal: IEEE Journal of Selected Topics in Quantum Electronics

Wiley empowers its Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Database KnowItAll subscribers with immediate access to over 17,500 additional spectra

Wiley
Business Announcement

Wiley today announced the addition of over 17,500 spectra to its Wiley Registry of Mass Spectral Data subscription.

Breaking the crystalline barrier: Amorphous nanomaterials in advanced photocatalysis

Tsinghua University Press
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Researchers from China Three Gorges University and Capital Normal University have published a comprehensive review highlighting the transformative potential of amorphous nanomaterials in photocatalysis. These materials, with their disordered atomic structures, offer superior catalytic activity, broad light absorption, and efficient charge separation, paving the way for breakthroughs in hydrogen production, CO₂ reduction, and pollutant degradation. The study, published in Nano Research, provides a roadmap for tackling global energy and environmental challenges.

Journal: Nano Research

Water tornado in the laboratory: A simple experiment simulates planet formation

Max Planck Institute for Astronomy
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Simple laboratory model for cosmic flows developed: A water tornado enables a realistic simulation of the dynamics of gas and dust in planet-forming discs.

Kepler’s laws confirmed in a water tank: The orbits of floating particles follow the same physical rules as celestial bodies in a gravitational field.

Potential for experiments on planet formation: The cost-effective and versatile setup opens up new ways to study interactions between dust and gas under laboratory conditions.

Journal: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters

Sodium-ion batteries: New storage mechanism for cathode materials

Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie
Peer-Reviewed Publication

Li-ion and Na-ion batteries operate through a process called intercalation, where ions are stored and exchanged between two chemically different electrodes. In contrast, co-intercalation, a process in which both ions and solvent molecules are stored simultaneously, has traditionally been considered undesirable due to its tendency to cause rapid battery failure. Against this traditional view, an international research team led by Philipp Adelhelm has now demonstrated that co-intercalation can be a reversible and fast process for cathode materials in Na-ion batteries. The approach of jointly storing ions and solvents in cathode materials provides a new handle for designing batteries with high efficiency and fast-charging capabilities. The results are published in Nature Materials.

Journal: Nature Materials

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