Characterization comment, December 2012

New catalyst uses platinum atoms to split water on the cheap

By dispersing single atoms of platinum on a sheet of molybdenum sulphide, researchers have developed an inexpensive catalyst for splitting water.

Flashy process derives both graphene and hydrogen from waste plastic

Researchers have shown that conerting waste plastics into graphene by rapid flash Joule heating also results in the production of hydrogen.

Ultrasound technology and biomaterials for precise drug therapy

X-ray images reveal inner workings of battery electrodes

By mining data from X-ray images, researchers have made significant new discoveries about the reactivity of lithium iron phosphate electrodes.

Hexagonal boron nitride sheds light on nanofluidic systems

By using the fluorescent properties of hexagonal boron nitride, researchers have traced the paths of individual molecules within nanofluidic structures.