Category Chemistry/Nanotechnology

9-anthryl gold(I) isocyanide (3?) turns invisible and emits infrared after it’s ground whereas phenyl gold(I) isocyanide (1) turns yellow.
Credit: Seki T. et al., Journal of the American Chemical Society, May 2, 2017

A gold compound shifts from a visible fluorescence to emitting infrared when ground – a big shift with potential applications in bioimaging and security inks. Some materials luminesce, changing their color and intensity when under mechanical forces such a

s grinding or rubbing. These luminescent “mechanochromic” materials can produce various emission colors in the visible light spectrum, from blue to red. Their color-shifts under force are well documented, and are caused by changes to the molecules’ crystal structures.

A research group at Hokkaido University in Japan found a go...

1.Prototype of a semi-transparent perovskite solar cell with thermal-mirror functionality.
Copyright : Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
2. Thermal images are taken by an infrared camera to compare the heat rejection performance of automobile window film, semi-transparent solar cell and glass.
Copyright : Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
3. Typical solar cells today are made of crystalline silicon, which is difficult to make translucent.
Copyright : Liu Fuyu / 123rf

A Korean team has developed semi-transparent perovskite solar cells that could be great candidates for solar windows...

Electron microscopy images of perovskite quantum dots embedded in the protective alumina matrix, and a photograph of the same film stable in water. Credit: © R. Buonsanti/EPFL

EPFL scientists have built a new type of inorganic nanocomposite that makes perovskite quantum dot exceptionally stable against air exposure, sunlight, heat, and water. Quantum dots are nanometer-size, semiconducting materials whose tiny size gives them unique optical properties. Much effort has been put in building quantum dots from perovskites, which already show much promise for solar panels, LEDs and laser technologies.

The new approach to stabilize the perovskite quantum dots was developed in the lab of Raffaella Buonsanti at EPFL Valais Wallis...

Pure platinum with thin fixed foils of yttrium have been used to create the new nanoalloys that are ten times as effective as pure platinum in fuel cells. Credit: Mia Halleröd Palmgren CC BY 3.0

A new type of nanocatalyst can result in the long-awaited commercial breakthrough for fuel cell cars. Research results from Chalmers University of Technology and Technical University of Denmark show that it is possible to significantly reduce the need for platinum, a precious and rare metal, by creating a nanoalloy using a new production technique. The technology is also well suited for mass production.

“A nano solution is needed to mass-produce resource-efficient catalysts for fuel cells. With our method, only 1/10 as much platinum is needed for the most demanding reactions...