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Uppsala team develops composite polymer dots for efficient, stable H2 production from water and sunlight

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Researchers at Uppsala University have developed photocatalytic composite polymer nanoparticles (“polymer dots”) that show promising performance and stability for the production of hydrogen from water and sunlight. These polymer dots are designed to be both environmentally friendly and cost-effective. Photograph: P-Cat.

Polymer 397
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MIT engineers create 2D polymer that self-assembles into sheets

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Using a novel polymerization process, MIT chemical engineers have created a new two-dimensional polymer that self-assembles into sheets, unlike all other polymers which form one-dimensional chains. Until now, scientists had believed it was impossible to induce polymers to form 2D sheets. —Michael Strano.

Polymer 435
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New solid polymer electrolyte outperforms Nafion; novel polymer folding

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Researchers, led by a team from the University of Pennsylvania, have used a polymer-folding mechanism to develop a new and versatile kind of solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) that currently offers proton conductivity faster than Nafion by a factor of 2, the benchmark for fuel cell membranes.

Polymer 250
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Researchers show coordination polymer glass membranes can produce as much energy as liquid-based counterparts in fuel cells

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Scientists at Kyoto University’s Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS) have developed a new coordination polymer glass membrane for hydrogen fuel cells that works just as well as its liquid counterparts with added strength and flexibility. Adding zinc to this liquid led to the formation of a solid, elastic polymer glass.

Polymer 332
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U Oregon team advances effectiveness of catalytic water dissociation in bipolar membranes

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Researchers at the University of Oregon have advanced the effectiveness of the catalytic water dissociation reaction in bipolar membranes. The technology behind bipolar membranes, which are layered ion-exchange polymers sandwiching a water dissociation catalyst layer, emerged in the 1950s. —Oener et al.

Oregon 284
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New polymer membrane efficiently removes carbon dioxide from mixed gases; high permeability and selectivity

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A team of researchers from North Carolina State University, SINTEF in Norway and the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, has developed a polymer membrane technology that removes carbon dioxide from mixed gases with both high permeability and high selectivity. A paper on their work is published in the journal Science.

Polymer 186
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Polymer-based membranes offer alternative to thermal processes for separating hydrocarbon and crude oil mixtures

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Polymer-based membranes developed at KAUST could enable greener and cheaper industrial separation approaches. Polymer membranes are cheaper and easier to manufacture and adapt to large-scale processes than inorganic membranes. A paper on the work is published in Science.

Polymer 186