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Category: chemistry

New formula improves accuracy of particle concentration measurements in diverse samples

Researchers can use a metric called the particle number concentration (PNC) to calculate the number of particles in a sample, such as the number of marbles in a jar.

Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed a new mathematical formula to calculate the concentration of particles suspended in a solution. The new approach, which yields more accurate results than current methods, can be used to deliver the correct drug dosage to patients, measure the amount of nanoplastics in , and help ensure the correct level of additives in , among other applications.

The researchers have published their findings in Analytical Chemistry.

Growing ultrathin semiconductors directly on electronics could eliminate a fragile manufacturing step

A team of materials scientists at Rice University has developed a new way to grow ultrathin semiconductors directly onto electronic components.

The method, described in a study published in ACS Applied Electronic Materials, could help streamline the integration of two-dimensional materials into next-generation electronics, neuromorphic computing and other technologies demanding ultrathin high-speed semiconductors.

The researchers used (CVD) to grow tungsten diselenide, a 2D semiconductor, directly onto patterned gold electrodes. They next demonstrated the approach by building a functional, proof-of-concept transistor. Unlike conventional techniques that require transferring fragile 2D films from one surface to another, the Rice team’s method eliminates the transfer process entirely.

Ultrabroadband laser ‘comb’ can enable rapid identification of chemicals with extreme precision

Optical frequency combs are specially designed lasers that act like rulers to accurately and rapidly measure specific frequencies of light. They can be used to detect and identify chemicals and pollutants with extremely high precision.

Watching Electron Dynamics Shape Chemical Reactions

Scientists have used ultrashort x-ray pulses to directly observe the motion of electrons driving a chemical reaction.

A chemical reaction occurs when chemical bonds break and new ones form. These bonds hold atoms together within molecules and are governed by the atoms’ outermost electrons. The motion of these so-called valence electrons dictates how a reaction starts and determines its final products. For decades, chemists have envisioned the possibility of watching such electron movement in real time, capturing a movie of valence electrons as bonds break and form. Now Ian Gabalski at Stanford University and his colleagues have brought this dream closer to reality [1]. They have observed valence-electron motion occurring within a few hundred femtoseconds—where one femtosecond is a millionth of a billionth of a second. This feat was accomplished using ultrashort, high-energy x-ray pulses produced at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in California. The team’s findings provide an intuitive view of how electron dynamics influence chemical reactions.

Directly observing electron motion during chemical reactions presents two main challenges. First, it requires an imaging technique that can map the spatial distribution of electrons, known as the electron density. This distribution spans only a few tenths of a nanometer, demanding extremely high spatial resolution. Second, the task needs ultrahigh temporal resolution, because electron movement occurs on a timescale of femtoseconds or even attoseconds—thousandths of a femtosecond. Capturing such rapid motion requires the sample to be subjected to light pulses that are short enough to effectively freeze electron dynamics in time, similarly to using a high-speed camera to capture the fluttering wings of a hummingbird.

Breaking Barriers in Surface Chemistry: The autoSKZCAM Framework for Ionic Materials

Understanding and predicting chemical reactions on surfaces lies at the heart of modern materials science. From heterogeneous catalysis to energy storage and greenhouse gas sequestration, surface chemistry defines the efficiency and viability of advanced technologies. Yet, computationally modeling these processes with both accuracy and efficiency has been a grand challenge.

A recent study published in Nature Chemistry introduces a breakthrough: the autoSKZCAM framework, an automated and open-source method that applies correlated wavefunction theory (cWFT) to surfaces of ionic materials at costs comparable to density functional theory (DFT). This achievement not only bridges the accuracy gap but also enables routine, large-scale studies of surface processes with chemical accuracy.

Magnetically induced convection enhances water electrolysis in microgravity

Electrochemical devices producing oxygen in space face limited buoyancy, hindering gas bubble removal and increasing reaction overpotentials. Now, it has been shown that commercial magnets can enhance the reaction efficiency and induce phase separation in microgravity. The optimized magnetoelectrochemical architectures developed here may guide the designs of future life-support systems.

One atom, endless power: Scientists create a shape-shifting catalyst for green chemistry

A team in Milan has developed a first-of-its-kind single-atom catalyst that acts like a molecular switch, enabling cleaner, more adaptable chemical reactions. Stable, recyclable, and eco-friendly, it marks a major step toward programmable sustainable chemistry.

Mitsui Works With Quantinuum and QSimulate to Launch Quantum-Integrated Chemistry Platform

Mitsui & Co. has formally launched a new quantum-enabled chemistry platform, QIDO, in collaboration with U.S.-based Quantinuum and QSimulate. The system, designed to accelerate the discovery of new materials and pharmaceuticals, blends classical and quantum computing resources to streamline complex chemical calculation, according to a story in Nikkei and a Quantinuum blog post.

Quantum computers hold promise for modeling chemical reactions beyond the reach of traditional supercomputers. But fully fault-tolerant systems remain years away, leaving companies searching for ways to extract value from today’s noisy, early-stage machines. QIDO, short for Quantum-Integrated Discovery Orchestrator, attempts to bridge that gap.

The platform runs most computations on powerful classical hardware while sending only the most computationally expensive steps — such as the modeling of strongly correlated electrons — to a quantum computer. This hybrid workflow allows companies to perform higher-precision chemical simulations today, without waiting for fully mature quantum systems, Nikkei reports.

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