Latest News
Quantum-based tool searches quadrillions of materials to optimize catalysts
For the first time, a quantum-computing-inspired tool has been used for catalyst discovery — specifically for the investigation of a new catalyst for the production of hydrogen via electrolysis. Created jointly by scientists from Fujitsu Ltd. (Tokyo; www.fujitsu.com) and the…
Hydrothermal synthesis of cobalt-free lithium-ion-battery cathodes
Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE; Washington, D.C.; www.energy.gov) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL; Oak Ridge, Tenn.; www.ornl.gov) have developed a hydrothermal-synthesis method for high-voltage lithium-ion battery cathodes that avoids several key issues with traditional battery processing. Key…
Chementator briefs
Magnet Metals Bilfinger SE (Mannheim, Germany; www.bilfinger.com) is supporting REEtec AS (Oslo, Norway; www.reetec.no) with engineering, procurement, construction and management (EPCM) services for a new processing plant for neodymium and praseodymium — two rare earth elements (REE) used in the…
Business News: February 2023
Plant Watch Entegris to expand production capacity of Electronic Chemicals facilities January 12, 2023 — Entegris, Inc. (Billerica, Mass.; www.entegris.com) plans to increase production and purification capacity for its Pueblo, Colo. and Hollister, Calif. sites to support the anticipated increase…
Supporting advanced manufacturing
Manufacturing is becoming more advanced as companies adopt new technologies to stay competitive and to help achieve newer sustainability goals. The Covid-19 pandemic and issues, such as supply-chain shortages, have accelerated this adoption, particularly of digitalization. The shift to advanced…
Capture ammonia reversibly with this new MOF
Production of ammonia by the Haber-Bosch process not only requires a lot of energy for the high-temperature (300–500°C) synthesis of NH3 itself, but the recovery of ammonia takes place by condensation at –20°C. As a result, large changes in both…
A colorful new way to visualize gaseous properties
Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS; Ibaraki, Japan; www.nims.go.jp), along with Harvard University (Cambridge, Mass.; www.harvard.edu) and the University of Connecticut (Storrs, Conn.; www.uconn.edu), have designed a new imaging device that uses structural colors — visible colors that change…
Harvesting hydrogen from humid air
Chemical engineers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL; www.epfl.ch), in collaboration with scientists from Toyota Motor Europe (Zaventem, Belgium; www.toyota-europe.com), have invented a photoelectrochemical (PEC) “artificial leaf” that splits water vapor into H2. The technology features a…
Get steam at its set pressure, nearly immediately
The MC-COS multi-control valve (photo) is a fully integrated device consisting of this company’s COS pressure-reducing valve, a separator, steam trap and a motorized actuator. It is designed for steam conditioning, as well as to control either the steam pressure…
These pressure gages are now equipped for 400% overpressure
This company’s 1209 solid-front stainless-steel pressure gage (photo) is now available with the new XRA option, which allows the gage to accommodate up to 400% overpressure without damaging the gage. In applications where pressure spikes, surges and waterhammer are a…