Chemistry & Catalysis
SLAC’s Ultrafast ‘Electron Camera’ Visualizes Ripples in 2-D Material
Using a new technology for ultrafast science, researchers have for the first time observed extremely rapid atomic motions in a three-atom-thick layer of a promising material that could be used in next-generation solar cells, electronics and catalysts.
Stanford's Global Climate and Energy Project Awards $9.3 Million for Innovative Energy Research
SUNCAT and SIMES researchers have received funding from Stanford's Global Climate and Energy Project to support research related to generating renewable fuels.
SLAC Builds One of the World's Fastest 'Electron Cameras'
A new technology at SLAC uses high-energy electrons to unravel motions faster than a tenth of a trillionth of a second in materials, opening up new research opportunities in ultrafast science.
New Fuel-cell Materials Could Pave the Way for Practical Hydrogen-powered Cars
In separate studies, researchers at Stanford and the University of Wisconsin-Madison report advances on chemical reactions essential to fuel-cell technology.
Single-catalyst Water Splitter Produces Clean-burning Hydrogen 24/7
SIMES scientists have developed a cheap and efficient way to extract clean-burning hydrogen fuel from water 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
New ‘Molecular Movie’ Reveals Ultrafast Chemistry in Motion
Scientists for the first time tracked ultrafast structural changes, captured in quadrillionths-of-a-second steps, as ring-shaped gas molecules burst open and unraveled.
Study Finds a Way to Prevent Fires in Next-Generation Lithium Batteries
Researchers discovered that adding two chemicals to the electrolyte of a lithium metal battery prevents the formation of dendrites – “fingers” of lithium that pierce the barrier between the battery’s halves, causing it to short out, overheat and sometimes burst into flame.
New 'Designer Carbon' Boosts Battery Performance
SLAC and the SUNCAT Center for Interface Science and Catalysis supported creation of a new carbon material that significantly improves the performance of batteries and supercapacitors.
Researchers Watch Protein 'Quake' after Chemical Bond Break
An experiment at SLAC’s X-ray laser provides new insight into the ultrafast motions of a muscle protein in a basic biochemical reaction.
Researchers Study How Metal Contamination Makes Gasoline Production Inefficient
Scientists at SLAC and Utrecht University have identified how catalysts degrade when used to refine crude oil.