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Agronomy / Food Science - Chemistry - 27.09.2022

Germany’s oldest beer scientifically considered
Study reveals molecular profile of 19th century beer sample After almost 140 years, researchers at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) opened a lager beer that had been kept at room temperature throughout to analyze it. The beer, dating back to 1885, has now been characterized sensorially and analytically.

Astronomy / Space Science - Chemistry - 22.09.2022

What the ’prey’ of a peregrine falcon tells us about the beginnings of our solar system
An international research team led by Tomoki Nakamura (Tohoku, Japan) has studied soil samples collected by the Japanese spacecraft Hayabusa-2 on the asteroid Ryugu. Falko Langenhorst of Friedrich Schiller University in Jena, Germany, was part of the group that gained insights into the formation of the asteroid and the unique processes that took place during the first five million years after the birth of our solar system from the analysis of the extraterrestrial material.

Chemistry - Physics - 21.09.2022

Chiral oxide catalysts align electron spin
Controlling the spin of electrons opens up future scenarios for applications in spin-based electronics (spintronics), for example in data processing. It also presents new opportunities for controlling the selectivity and efficiency of chemical reactions. Researchers recently presented first successes with the example of water splitting for producing "green" hydrogen and oxygen.

Environment - Chemistry - 20.09.2022

Mirror molecules reveal drought stress in forests
Changes in ecosystems can be predicted more accurately via emissions of chiral compounds Worldwide, plants release about 100 million tonnes of monoterpenes into the atmosphere. These volatile organic molecules include many fragrances such as the molecule pinene, known for its fresh pine scent. Since these molecules are very reactive and can form tiny aerosol particles that can grow into condensation nuclei for raindrops, natural emissions play an important role in our climate.

Chemistry - Physics - 14.09.2022

New Oxidation State of Rhodium
Previously unknown oxidation state of rhodium(VII) could play a role in chemical reactions Mayara da Silva Santos , doctoral candidate at the University of Freiburg's Institute of Physics, has discovered a new oxidation state of rhodium. This chemical element is one of the most catalytically important platinum-group metals and is used, for example, in catalytic converters for automobiles.

Chemistry - Physics - 12.09.2022

When the chemistry is (not) right: Influence of the microscopic environment
Research team investigates reactivity of single molecules under controlled conditions Researchers around the world are working to develop efficient materials to convert CO2 into usable chemical substances. This is especially important in light of global warming. A team from the University of Göttingen and the Ulsan National Institute for Science, South Korea, has found a promising approach: Catalytically active molecules are anchored to a surface that serves as a conductive electron supplier.

Chemistry - Physics - 12.09.2022

Making and breaking of chemical bonds in single ’nanoconfined’ molecules
Research team investigates reactivity of single molecules under controlled microscopic conditions Researchers around the world are working to develop efficient materials to convert CO2 into usable chemical substances - work that is particularly pressing in view of global warming.

Physics - Chemistry - 07.09.2022

Researchers study catalytic activity of copper atoms
Fuel cells convert chemical reaction energy into electric power and heat. They are used, for example for the development of electric vehicles, in aviation and aeronautics or for sustainable energy supplies. During the conversion of energy, the catalytic reduction of oxygen plays an important role. Therefore, the development of efficient, inexpensive catalysts is extremely important.

Chemistry - Environment - 02.09.2022

Rethinking indoor air chemistry
People generate their own oxidation field and change the indoor air chemistry around them People typically spend 90 percent of their lives inside, at home, at work or in transport. Within these enclosed spaces, occupants are exposed to a multitude of chemicals from various sources, including outdoor pollutants penetrating indoors, gaseous emissions from building materials and furnishings, and products of our own activities such as cooking and cleaning.

Materials Science - Chemistry - 02.09.2022

Mechanism and Effects on Battery Cell Processes Elucidated
In order to exploit the promising potential of silicon (Si) as anode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), it is necessary to overcome existing challenges such as capacity losses during battery operation. A team from MEET Battery Research Center, BACCARA International Graduate School at the University of Münster, and Helmholtz Institute Münster of Forschungszentrum Jülich demonstrated that coating silicon thin-film anodes with aluminum fluoride (AlF 3 ) leads to an enhanced cycling stability.

Chemistry - Physics - 12.08.2022

Important milestone on the way to transition metal catalysis with aluminum
Chemists successfully synthesize a cationic, low-valent aluminum complex salt via metathesis The chemists Philipp Dabringhaus , Julie Willrett and Ingo Krossing from the Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry at the University of Freiburg have succeeded in synthesizing the low-valent cationic aluminum complex [Al(AlCp*) 3 ] + by a metathesis reaction.

Chemistry - Physics - 10.08.2022

Chemists develop new reagent for deelectronation
The reagent provides access to the class of clustered transition metal carbonyl cations Chemists from Freiburg have succeeded in converting polynuclear transition metal carbonyls into their homoleptic complex cations using typical inorganic oxidants. In their work, the research team of Malte Sellin , Christian Friedmann and Ingo Krossing from the Institute of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry and Maximilian Mayländer and Sabine Richert from the Institute of Physical Chemistry at the University of Freiburg show that the anthracene derivative with a half-step potential of 1.

Chemistry - History / Archeology - 01.08.2022

Researchers study historical developments of the periodic system of chemical elements
In the 1860s, the chemists, Lothar Meyer and Dmitri Mendeleev, independently presented the first periodic system. Since then, the well-known tabular arrangement of the elements has been the guiding principle of chemistry. A team of researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Mathematics in the Sciences and the Interdisciplinary Center for Bioinformatics at the University of Leipzig provides computational approaches based on extensive data sets from the Reaxys chemistry database that explain the development of the first periodic systems.

Physics - Chemistry - 28.07.2022

A nanokelvin microwave freezer for molecules
A new method to cool gases of polar molecules to near absolute zero paves the way for studying quantum effects of exotic forms of matter Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics have developed a novel cooling technique for molecular gases. It makes it possible to cool polar molecules down to a few nanokelvin.

Chemistry - Life Sciences - 27.07.2022

A Molecular Machine At Work
Researchers unravel the assembly of an enzyme that detoxifies the greenhouse gas N2O The greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) is produced as a by-product of industrial processes and through the use of fertilizers in agriculture. It makes a steadily growing contribution to climate change and ozone depletion.

Environment - Chemistry - 22.07.2022

Porous Crystals Bind Fluorine-containing Greenhouse Gases
HEIDELBERG RESEARCHERS DEVELOP NEW CRYSTALLINE MATERIALS THAT ADSORB POLYFLUORINATED HYDROCARBONS ON THEIR SURFACE Emissions of greenhouse gases contribute significantly to global warming. Not only carbon dioxide (CO2) but also fluorine-containing gases - including so-called per- or polyfluorinated hydrocarbons, or PFCs - have a significant share in this development.

Physics - Chemistry - 22.07.2022

More safety, less cost: Small spectroscopy devices are coming more and more into reach
New approach combines zero-to-ultra-low field magnetic resonance with hyperpolarization technique SABRE-Relay to study alcohols Nuclear magnetic resonance provides the basis for numerous applications, such as magnetic resonance imaging in medical diagnostics. However, strong magnetic fields are still required, which limits the use of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR).

Physics - Chemistry - 22.07.2022

Porous Crystals Bind Fluorine-containing Greenhouse Gases
Heidelberg researchers develop new crystalline materials that adsorb polyfluorinated hydrocarbons on their surface Emissions of greenhouse gases contribute significantly to global warming. Not only carbon dioxide (CO2) but also fluorine-containing gases - including so-called peror polyfluorinated hydrocarbons, or PFCs - have a significant share in this development.

Chemistry - Life Sciences - 21.07.2022

First electric nanomotor made from DNA material
Synthetic rotary motors at the nanoscale perform mechanical work A research team led by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) has succeeded for the first time in producing a molecular electric motor using the DNA origami method. The tiny machine made of genetic material self-assembles and converts electrical energy into kinetic energy.

Physics - Chemistry - 20.07.2022

Making food ingredients visible
Mass spectrometry imaging (MS imaging) provides highly precise information on the spatial distribution of substances in many areas. Researchers at the University of Bayreuth have now presented some exemplary new applications in food analysis in the journal "Food Chemistry". For the first time, they have succeeded in making visible an additive in dairy products and a production-related contamination in baked goods.