Chemistry

A research team led by Distinguished Professor Hao Li at WPI-AIMR, Tohoku University has reported new findings on copper/cobalt-based catalysts that improve the efficiency of electrochemical nitrate reduction.

Researchers at Tohoku University developed a method that uses an abundant, renewable biomass to ultimately create environmentally-friendly fuels.

- DGIST develops a low-cost, high-performance fuel cell catalyst, paving the way for next-generation eco-friendly hydrogen technologies - The catalyst shows enhanced performance and durability compared to conventional ones, exceeding the U.S. Department of Energy’s 2025 targets

- Fully charges a commercial battery in under two hours... Achieves world-class energy efficiency - Enables battery charging inside the body without surgery... Expected to revolutionize future healthcare technology

Researchers from the Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, develop a new synthesis route for ultrathin photoanodes, which enables a 100 nm tantalum nitride layer to outperform much thicker films fabricated through conventional oxide precursors.

Researchers at Tohoku University unveil a cool new technique that can visualize both the structure and elemental distribution of nanomaterials in frozen solvents.

A novel technique has been developed using cellulose nanofibers, a blue-fluorescing amino acid and a covalent bond to yield an easily viewable, non-disruptive and dye-free alternative to conventional fluorescent tagging.

A joint international research team has, for the first time, unveiled the crucial link between the structure of the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) and the efficiency of lithium-mediated nitrogen reduction to ammonia, a promising eco-friendly approach to fertilizer production. Using in situ spectroscopy, the team directly observed the previously poorly understood SEI formation process, revealing that the ethanol-to-water ratio in the electrolyte significantly impacts ammonia conversion efficiency. This discovery opens a new avenue for sustainable fertilizer production by reducing reliance on fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.

Tohoku University researchers discovered some new principles that aid the electrochemical conversion of nitrate waste, an unwanted byproduct of modern day ammonia production. Their discovery will advance cleaner, more sustainable forms of ammonia production.

- A joint research team led by Kyoungsoo Park at DGIST, Sungkeun Kim at Seoul National University, and Graham Hutchings at Cardiff University, the UK, has developed a selective catalyst technology to convert carbon dioxide into an industrial raw material by controlling the interaction between rhodium and the carrier - The study findings were published in ACS Catalysis, one of the most renowned journals worldwide

- DGIST’s Daehwan Kim and Shijoon Sung implemented high-efficiency bifacial solar cells on transparent electrodes at low processing temperatures - Expected to contribute to improved performance in both bifacial and tandem solar cells

When fermented with plant-derived bacteria, stevia leaf extract is toxic to pancreatic cancer cells but not to healthy kidney cells

Formic acid produced from exhaust CO₂ and discarded silicon materials

Researchers have created an alloy that maintains its special ability to act as a sort of temperature-activated memory foam at temperatures as low as -200°C – making it highly suitable for space equipment.

Method has organic chemistry applications, especially in pharmaceuticals.

For many years, scientists have struggled to understand the mechanisms behind palladium/platinum catalysts for propylene electrooxidation, a sustainable means of producing valuable oxygen-containing organic compounds used in various industrial processes. Yet a research group has further clarified the matter in a recently published journal.

Scientists introduced a second molecule to achieve a donor–acceptor (push–pull) effect, aiming to enhance both the efficiency and stability of perovskite and organic solar cells.

In a significant step towards a carbon-neutral future, researchers developed an atomically precise copper nanocluster that demonstrates high stability and exceptional selectivity in electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction reactions.

By just sprinkling it on top and waiting 10 seconds, researchers can use this new fluorescent probe to clearly show synapses, the connection points between brain cells.

Households, cars, and factories generate heat, much of which goes to waste. Likewise, the increasing usage of solar panels means heat needs to be stored at large amounts for longer periods of time. Thus, thermal storage is critical for carbon-neurtrality. A collaboration between Tohoku University and Japan Atomic Energy Agency has developed nanosheets of layered manganese dioxide that can store heat even below 100°C.

Hyperconjugation between aromatic rings and their side chains to stabilize unpaired electrons

New study explains why too much ultrasound slows chemical reactions

Machine learning potential can create accurate, large-scale models of catalytic activity for a reaction that turns carbon dioxide into a sustainable energy source.

Comparing picosecond and nanosecond lasers usage with a newly developed index

Operando X-ray spectroscopy is a powerful tool for probing electrocatalyst dynamics—but intense X-ray exposure can distort structural insights. This study reveals flux- and dose-dependent artifact thresholds and proposes practical protocols to ensure accurate, artifact-free measurements.

A new nanoparticle capable of carrying much higher doses of drugs while staying stable for extended periods could make treatments more effective

Barth syndrome is a rare genetic disorder with no known cure. Researchers at Tohoku University examined a new oral drug called MA-5 that could provide life-changing relief to these young patients.

Researchers from the Institute of Industrial Science, The University of Tokyo, have developed nanoscale ‘molecular flasks’ based on single molecules of bottlebrush polymers to carefully control polymerization reactions in extremely small spaces

Researchers at the Nano Life Science Institute (WPI-NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, report in Small, a weekly peer-reviewed scientific journal covering nanotechnology, published by Wiley-WCH, Germany, how short peptides self-assemble linearly on atomically-thick solid surfaces, such as graphite and MoS₂. The research addresses a longstanding challenge in materials science: understanding the complex, sequence-specific interactions between peptides and solid substrates, and the critical role of local hydration structures in guiding nanoarchitecture formation. This work offers new strategies for integrating biomolecules with advanced materials in future bioelectronics and sensor devices.

- Real-time X-ray scattering analysis reveals the synthesis mechanism of eco-friendly ternary quantum dots - This eco-friendly PV hydrogen production technology is expected to be implemented and used in various next-generation semiconductor optoelectronic devices - The research results have been published in Advanced Science, a leading international journal in the field of multidisciplinary convergence