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    Category Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Using Butterfly Morphology to 3D-print Colored Nanostructures

    February 11, 2022, Categories  Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    The male of the tropical butterfly species Cynandra opis served as the model for the 3D-printed structural colors. Credit: ETH Zurich

    ETH Zurich researchers have created artificial colors by 3D printing certain nanostructures inspired by those of a butterfly. This principle can be used in the future to produce color screens.

    For their new technology, scientists in the group of Andrew deMello, Professor of Biochemical Engineering, drew inspiration from butterflies. The wings of the species Cynandra opis, native to tropical Africa, are decorated with brilliant colors. These are produced by extremely intricate regular surface structures in the size range of the wavelength of visible light...

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    Predicting the Efficiency of Oxygen-Evolving Electrolysis on the Moon and Mars

    February 11, 2022, Categories  Astronomy/Space, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Lomax and Just. Credit The University of Manchester

    Scientists at The University of Manchester and The University of Glasgow have today provided more insight into the possibility of establishing a pathway to generate oxygen for humans to potentially call the Moon or Mars ‘home’ for extended periods of time.

    Creating a reliable source of oxygen could help humanity establish liveable habitats off-Earth in an era where space travel is more achievable than ever before. Electrolysis is a popular potential method which involves passing electricity through a chemical system to drive a reaction and can be used to extract oxygen out of lunar rocks or to split water into hydrogen and oxygen...

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    Using Gelatin and Sugar as Ink to Print 3D Soft Robots

    February 9, 2022, Categories  Physics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

     Sustainable 3D-printed soft actuators with integrated waveguide sensors.(A) Biodegradable constituents enable a cradle-to-cradle design for soft robotics, where thermoreversibility opens an additional subcycle for multiple usage and extended lifetime. (B) Three-chamber pneumatic actuator with fiber reinforcement and integrated optical sensors. The sensors detect obstacles in the path of the actuator and allow removal of the object. (C) When immersed in water, the gelatin actuator and waveguides swell and dissolve. Complete biodegradation is enabled in sewage or compost. Credit: DOI: 10.1126/scirobotics.abk2119

    A team of researchers at Johannes Kepler University Linz has used biodegradable materials as ink to print 3D soft robots...

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    Researchers report Game-Changing Technology to Remove 99% of Carbon Dioxide from Air

    February 7, 2022, Categories  Chemistry/Nanotechnology, Environment/Geology

    University of Delaware researchers have broken new ground that could bring more environmentally friendly fuel cells closer to commercialization. Credit: Graphic illustration by Jeffrey C. Chase

    University of Delaware (UD) engineers have demonstrated a way to effectively capture 99% of carbon dioxide from air using a novel electrochemical system powered by hydrogen.

    It is a significant advance for carbon dioxide capture and could bring more environmentally friendly fuel cells closer to market.

    The research team, led by UD Professor Yushan Yan, reported their method in Nature Energy on Thursday, February 3.

    Fuel cells work by converting fuel chemical energy directly into electricity. They can be used in transportation for things like hybrid or zero-emission vehicles.

    Yan, Hen...

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