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An unexpected way to upcycle: Plastic waste transforms into soap

Scientists have discovered a new method of recycling plastics - from milk cartons, food containers, and plastic bags - into soap. The method: Heat the long carbon chains in the plastics then quickly cool them.

Aug 11th, 2023

How solar energy can be stored in 'batteries' made from food waste

Soon you may be able to keep your house warm in winter using heat which molecules from food waste have borrowed from yesterday's sunshine.

Aug 8th, 2023

Breakthrough polymer research promises to revolutionize recycling

An innovative approach to working with polymers has led researchers to develop a new method for recycling that promises to lower the energy requirement without sacrificing the quality of the plastic.

Aug 8th, 2023

New photocatalytic system converts carbon dioxide to valuable fuel more efficiently than natural photosynthesis

Researchers developed a stable artificial photocatalytic system that is more efficient than natural photosynthesis. The new system mimics a natural chloroplast to convert carbon dioxide in water into methane, a valuable fuel, very efficiently using light.

Aug 3rd, 2023

Imaging shows how solar-powered microbes turn CO2 into bioplastic

Researchers have developed a multimodal platform to image biohybrids to better understand how they function and how they can be optimized for more efficient energy conversion.

Jul 28th, 2023

Three-dimensional structure control technology enables high-performance fuel cells with higher stability

Developing a new type of fuel cell utilizing three-dimensional structures. Solving water management issues by improving the structure of the fuel cell's electrode layer, electrolyte membrane, and transport layer.

Jul 26th, 2023

New catalyst could dramatically cut methane pollution from millions of engines

Researchers demonstrate a way to remove the potent greenhouse gas from the exhaust of engines that burn natural gas.

Jul 20th, 2023

Chemists recycle shrimp waste as catalyst for hydrogen generation

Flexible spheres of the biomolecule chitosan, made from shrimp waste, can be used for catalysts that generate hydrogen gas from borohydride salts.

Jul 20th, 2023

Aluminum materials show promising performance for safer, cheaper, more powerful batteries

Researchers are using aluminum foil to create batteries with higher energy density and greater stability. The team's new battery system could enable electric vehicles to run longer on a single charge and would be cheaper to manufacture - all while having a positive impact on the environment.

Jul 19th, 2023

New biodegradable plastics are compostable in your backyard

Researchers have developed new bioplastics that degrade on the same timescale as a banana peel in a backyard compost bin. These bioplastics are made entirely from powdered blue-green cyanobacteria cells, otherwise known as spirulina.

Jul 10th, 2023

A safe, easy, and affordable way to store and retrieve hydrogen

Researchers have discovered a compound that uses a chemical reaction to store ammonia, and the important hydrogen is carries, potentially offering a safer and easier way to store this important chemical.

Jul 10th, 2023

Organic electronics: Sustainability during the entire lifecycle

Organic electronics can make a decisive contribution to decarbonization and, at the same time, help to cut the consumption of rare and valuable raw materials.

Jul 7th, 2023

The future of recycling could one day mean dissolving plastic with electricity (w/video)

Chemists have developed a new way to recycle a common type of plastic found in soda bottles and other packaging. The team's method relies on electricity and some nifty chemical reactions, and it's simple enough that you can watch the plastic break apart in front of your eyes.

Jul 5th, 2023