Scientists from Japan use advanced analytical techniques to gain insights into the electrochemical phenomena in these batteries Aqueous potassium-ion batteries are a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries owing to their safety and low cost. However, not much is known about the properties of the solid-electrolyte interphases (SEI) that form between…

Scientists develop a novel synthesis route to produce a wide variety of sulfinate esters using readily available compounds Sulfinate esters, a type of organosulfur compounds, are typically synthesized using thiols. However, these substances are difficult to work with due to their unpleasant smell and oxidizability in air. Now, a research…

A chemically stable titanium dioxide electrode decorated with silver nanoparticles shows promise for converting carbon dioxide reduction into useful resources Carbon dioxide can be electrocatalytically reduced to useful resources using conventional catalysts such as gold or lead supported on conductive carbon. However, the high pH environment near electrodes often degrades…

Scientists identify a fungal strain that transforms patulin, a dangerous mycotoxin sometimes found in fruits, into less toxic byproducts Patulin is a harmful mycotoxin produced by fungi typically found in damaged fruits, including apples, pears, and grapes. In a recent breakthrough, researchers from Japan identified a new filamentous fungal strain…

Scientists develop an innovative approach for evaluating carbon particle dispersion in battery electrode slurries to enable enhanced battery electrodes Carbon slurries, which consist of a suspension of carbon particles in a solvent, are used to mass-produce battery electrodes. However, there are no adequate methods to evaluate whether the particles are…

Researchers from Japan propose a novel non-contact method that utilizes subtle color changes on the face to estimate heart rates Heart rate, an essential indicator of overall health and well-being, is traditionally measured by counting the number of cardiac pulses within a specific timeframe. Existing methods, however, require physical contact…

Researchers from Japan develop a new method to prepare organomagnesium intermediates having a protected azido group Azides are chemical compounds widely used in synthetic organic chemistry, pharmaceutical sciences, and materials chemistry. However, conventional synthesis methods for azide compounds have severe limitations. To this end, a team of researchers from Japan…

Scientists develop two novel silver cluster-assembled materials with enhanced stability and excellent selective Fe3+ sensing ability Silver cluster-assembled materials (SCAMs) are emerging light-emitting materials with molecular designability and unique properties. However, due to their dissimilar structural architecture in different solvents, their widespread application remains limited. …

Mutations in Pro1 — a mating-related protein — make rice blast fungus sterile, but may provide an adaptive advantage The Pro1 protein helps express mating-related genes in different species of fungi. But what happens when Pro1 malfunctions? Researchers from the Tokyo University of Science have found that mutations in Pro1…