Every year, researchers perform thousands of materials science experiments at synchrotron facilities, seeking breakthroughs in alloy design, affordability, and mechanical performance. These advancements can accelerate growth in various fields from electronics and energy to aerospace and infrastructure.
Cornell researchers have uncovered a way to control these transformations in metal solidification by adjusting alloy composition, ultimately leading to stronger, more reliable metal parts.
Fuel cells efficiently convert hydrogen and oxygen directly into electricity, with catalysts playing a crucial role in accelerating the process. Platinum has long been the preferred catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction due to its efficiency and durability, but its high cost limits widespread adoption.
Chicken consumption has doubled in the U.S. since 1980, breezing past beef in 2010. But nearly three-quarters of production costs in the industry are bound up in what the birds eat.
Spent grain from the brewing industry offers a huge opportunity for animal agriculture, with about 36.4 million tons produced as waste annually. Brewers’ spent grain (BSG) is frequently upcycled and used as cattle and hog feed, but chickens cannot efficiently digest such fiber-rich ingredients.
Now, in a new paper appearing in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, a team of researchers from Cornell and the University of Wisconsin report new catalysts which exhibit superior ORR activity and robust stability. The team has characterized metal–organic framework-derived nonprecious dual metal single-atom catalysts (SACs), consisting of Co–N4 and Zn–N4 local structures.
What is the discovery?
The group’s paper, “Dendritic Deformation Modes in Additive Manufacturing Revealed by Operando X-Ray Diffraction,” published Oct. 10 in Nature Communications Materials. The lead author is doctoral student Adrita Dass, M.S. ’20.
Doctoral students Adrita Dass (left) and Chenxi Tian, and Atieh Moridi, assistant professor in the Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, created a portable twin of their 3D-printing setup.
The CHESS Lending Library is a scientific equipment loan program hosted by the Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source that provides free hands-on experiment kits for empowering teachers and engaging students in high quality labs. Kits are designed for specific scientific fields such as biology, chemistry, and physics as well as different age groups including elementary, middle, and high school grade levels. Learn more by downloading our 2023 brochure!