Catalysis is a term used to describe a process in the presence of a substance (the catalyst) controls and influences the rate and/or the outcome of the reaction. The substance — the catalyst — which helps in achieving this remains intact is not consumed during the reaction and neither becomes a part of the final … Continue reading Explained: The discovery that led to organocatalysis gold rush
Chemistry
Nobel Prize for simple but brilliant discovery of asymmetric organocatalysis
An efficient, “precise, cheap, fast and environmentally friendly” way to develop new molecules using a simple yet novel concept of catalysis — asymmetric organocatalysis — has won this year’s Nobel Prize for chemistry. An efficient, “precise, cheap, fast and environmentally friendly” way to develop new molecules using a simple yet novel concept of catalysis — … Continue reading Nobel Prize for simple but brilliant discovery of asymmetric organocatalysis
CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology: In a first, an all-women team wins the Nobel Prize
That scientists who pioneered the revolutionary CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing technology, the biggest game-changer in biology in recent years, will win the Nobel Prize was never in doubt; it was only a question of when and who would get recognised for the work done to develop the tool.
IIT Bombay team removes heavy metals from water with greater efficiency
IIT Bombay researchers have fabricated a carbon-based nanostructure that is capable of simultaneously adsorbing with very high efficiency four heavy metals — arsenic, chromium, cadmium and mercury — from wastewater. The nanostructure can be recycled and reused multiple times. Simultaneously removing heavy metals such as arsenic, chromium, cadmium and mercury from waste water with very … Continue reading IIT Bombay team removes heavy metals from water with greater efficiency
IIT Madras designs room temperature sodium sulphur battery
IIT Madras researchers have fabricated a new sodium sulphur battery that can be operated at room temperature and not at 300 degree C as is the case now. They achieved higher charge storage capacity and 83% retention of capacity even at the end of 500 cycles. While conventionally sodium sulphur batteries require very high temperature … Continue reading IIT Madras designs room temperature sodium sulphur battery
IISER Pune synthesises a photocatalyst to degrade organic pollutants
IISER Pune researchers have converted the highly unstable perovskite into a ultra-stable photocatalyst that can decompose toxic organic pollutants commonly present in water. The photocatalyst was synthesised by encapsulating nanocrystals of organic-inorganic perovskite inside a metal-organic framework (MOF). Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Pune have successfully converted the highly … Continue reading IISER Pune synthesises a photocatalyst to degrade organic pollutants
IIT Madras finds an eco-friendly way to degrade plastics
IIT Madras researchers have demonstrated an eco-friendly way to degrade a few types of plastics. All that is required to degrade the plastics into molecules is continuous stirring of the plastic in water containing glucose and metal ions for about 15 days at 70 degree C. Three years ago researchers from the Indian Institute of … Continue reading IIT Madras finds an eco-friendly way to degrade plastics
IIT Madras registers initial success with iron ion battery
Researchers from IIT Madras have for the first time fabricated a rechargeable iron ion battery using mild steel as the anode. The iron ion battery is cost-effective and has 54% capacity retention at the end of 50 cycles. It has 55-60% of lithium ion battery’s performance. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras researchers have for … Continue reading IIT Madras registers initial success with iron ion battery
IIT Madras develops breath humidity sensor for wearable electronics
IIT Madras researchers have fabricated a sensor that can measure minute variations in relative humidity levels in the exhaled breath. It can detect ethanol and acetone in the oral breath of alcoholics and diabetics, respectively. The highly sensitive sensors can be integrated into wearable electronics. A nanofibre sensor capable of sensing minute variations in relative humidity … Continue reading IIT Madras develops breath humidity sensor for wearable electronics
IIT Guwahati’s chitosan-based gel selectively removes oil or water
Researchers at IIT Guwahati have chemically modified the chitosan to make it selectively remove either oil or water phase from an oil-water mixture. In a first, they made it possible to switch liquid repellence of the material from extremely water-repelling to extremely oil-repelling and vice versa. A natural biopolymer, chitosan (a kind of polysaccharide obtained from … Continue reading IIT Guwahati’s chitosan-based gel selectively removes oil or water
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