Connect with us
We’re experimenting with AI-generated content to help deliver information faster and more efficiently.
While we try to keep things accurate, this content is part of an ongoing experiment and may not always be reliable.
Please double-check important details — we’re not responsible for how the information is used.

Chemistry

‘Fortifying Wood with Eco-Friendly Nano-Iron: A Breakthrough in Sustainable Materials Science’

With more than 181.5 billion tons of wood produced globally each year, a new method could revolutionize how we build sustainably. By infusing red oak with ferrihydrite using a simple, low-cost process, researchers strengthened the wood at the cellular level without adding weight or altering flexibility — offering a durable, eco-friendly alternative to steel and concrete. The treated wood retains its natural behavior but gains internal durability — paving the way for greener alternatives in construction, furniture and flooring.
Avatar photo

Published

2 months ago

on

The use of eco-friendly sources like plant waste has led to significant advancements in high-performance materials. Researchers at Florida Atlantic University, along with collaborators from the University of Miami and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, have successfully fortified wood using an environmentally conscious method involving nano-iron. This breakthrough could revolutionize sustainable materials science and pave the way for a new generation of bio-based materials.

The researchers focused on ring-porous hardwood, specifically red oak, which is commonly found in North America. By introducing an iron compound into the wood through a simple chemical reaction, they created ferrihydrite, an iron oxide mineral that strengthened the cell walls without adding significant weight or expense. The treatment weakened the connections between individual wood cells, affecting how the material holds together on a larger scale.

The study’s findings, published in ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, revealed that nanocrystalline iron oxyhydroxide can enhance the strength of wood while maintaining its overall behavior. This is crucial for applications such as tall buildings, bridges, furniture, and flooring, where traditional construction materials like steel and concrete are often used.

The researchers employed advanced tools like atomic force microscopy (AFM) to examine the wood at a very small scale, measuring properties such as stiffness and elasticity. They also conducted nanoindentation tests within a scanning electron microscope (SEM), pressing tiny probes into the wood to measure its response to force in different areas. Standard mechanical tests were performed to evaluate the overall strength and breaking behavior of both untreated and treated wood samples.

This combination of small- and large-scale testing helped the researchers understand how the treatment affected both the fine details inside the cell walls and the overall strength of the wood. The findings suggest that, with the right chemical treatment, it’s possible to enhance the strength of wood and other plant-based materials without increasing their weight or harming the environment.

The impact of this work reaches far beyond the field of engineering, contributing to global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, cut down on waste, and embrace sustainable, nature-inspired solutions for everything from buildings to large-scale infrastructure. The researchers are laying the groundwork for a new generation of bio-based materials that have the potential to replace traditional materials like steel and concrete in structural applications.

This research marks a significant advancement in sustainable materials science, and it has the potential to revolutionize various industries such as construction, furniture-making, and flooring production. By using eco-friendly methods to fortify wood, we can create more sustainable products while reducing our environmental footprint.

Source:Florida Atlantic University
Original Link:https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428221705.htm
Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Chemistry

Revolutionizing Magnetic Field Technology: A Breakthrough Design for MRI and Magnetic Levitation

Two German physicists have reimagined how to create powerful and uniform magnetic fields using compact permanent magnets. By overcoming the limitations of the well-known Halbach array, which works only with infinitely long magnets, they engineered innovative 3D magnet arrangements that work in practical, finite-size setups. Their designs not only boost field strength but also enhance homogeneity, verified through real-world experiments. This game-changing advancement could help bring affordable MRI technology to underserved regions and power applications like particle accelerators and magnetic levitation systems.
Avatar photo

Published

1 week ago

on

June 23, 2025

By

Physicists at the University of Bayreuth and Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz have made a groundbreaking discovery that could transform the way we generate magnetic fields. Prof. Dr. Ingo Rehberg and Dr. Peter Blümler developed an innovative approach to create homogeneous magnetic fields using compact, permanent magnets. This breakthrough design outperforms the traditional Halbach arrangement, which is ideal only for infinitely long and therefore unrealizable magnets.

The new approach presents optimal three-dimensional arrangements of very compact magnets, idealized by point dipoles. The researchers investigated the optimal orientation of the magnets for two geometries relevant to practical use: a single ring and a stacked double ring. This “focused” design allows the generation of homogeneous fields outside the magnet plane, enabling applications such as magnetic levitation systems.

To validate their theoretical predictions, Rehberg and Blümler constructed magnet arrays from 16 FeNdB cuboids mounted on 3D-printed supports. The resulting magnetic fields were measured and compared with theoretical calculations, revealing excellent agreement. In terms of both magnetic field strength and homogeneity, the new configurations clearly outperform the classical Halbach arrangement.

The potential applications of this breakthrough design are vast. Conventional MRI technology relies on powerful superconducting magnets, which are technically complex and extremely costly. The new approach offers a promising alternative for generating homogeneous magnetic fields using permanent magnets. Additionally, this innovation could lead to advancements in particle accelerators and magnetic levitation systems.

This study was published in the renowned interdisciplinary journal Physical Review Applied, showcasing significant advances at the intersection of physics with engineering, materials science, chemistry, biology, and medicine. The implications of this breakthrough design are far-reaching, and further research is expected to uncover new possibilities for its applications.

Continue Reading

Chemistry

Breakthrough at Rice University Keeps CO2 Electrolyzers Running 50x Longer with a Surprisingly Simple Method

A Rice University team discovered that bubbling CO₂ through a mild acid dramatically improves the lifespan and efficiency of electrochemical devices that convert CO₂ into useful fuels. This simple trick prevents salt buildup—a major barrier to commercialization—by altering local chemistry just enough to keep salts dissolved and flowing. The result? A device that ran for over 4,500 hours without clogging, using common catalysts and scalable technology. It’s a breakthrough that could make green CO₂ conversion far more viable in the real world.
Avatar photo

Published

1 week ago

on

June 23, 2025

By

The researchers at Rice University have made a groundbreaking discovery that vastly improves the stability of electrochemical devices converting carbon dioxide into useful fuels and chemicals. Their innovative approach involves simply sending the CO2 through an acid bubbler, which dramatically extends the operational life of these devices by more than 50 times.

Electrochemical CO2 reduction (CO2RR) is a promising green technology that uses electricity to transform climate-warming CO2 into valuable products like carbon monoxide, ethylene, or alcohols. These products can be further refined into fuels or used in industrial processes, potentially turning a major pollutant into a feedstock.

However, the practical implementation of this technology has been hindered by poor system stability due to salt buildup in gas flow channels. This issue occurs when potassium ions migrate from the anolyte across the anion exchange membrane to the cathode reaction zone and combine with CO2 under high pH conditions.

To combat this problem, the Rice team tried a clever twist on standard procedures. Instead of using water to humidify the CO2 gas input into the reactor, they bubbled the gas through an acid solution such as hydrochloric, formic, or acetic acid.

The vapor from the acid altered local chemistry in trace amounts, preventing salt crystallization and channel blockage. The effect was remarkable: systems operated stably for over 4,500 hours in a scaled-up electrolyzer, compared to just about 80 hours under standard water-humidified CO2 conditions.

This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of carbon capture and utilization technologies. By extending the lifespan of CO2 electrolyzers, this innovation can help make these technologies more commercially viable and sustainable.

The simplicity of this approach is noteworthy, as it requires only small tweaks to existing humidification setups, which means it can be adopted without significant redesigns or added costs. This makes it an attractive solution for industries looking to integrate carbon utilization technologies into their operations.

This work was supported by the Robert A. Welch Foundation, Rice University, the National Science Foundation, and the David and Lucile Packard Foundation. The researchers’ findings have the potential to transform the field of CO2RR and pave the way for more durable, scalable electrochemical devices that can efficiently convert CO2 into valuable products.

The study’s authors highlight the significance of this discovery, saying it “addresses a long-standing obstacle with a low-cost, easily implementable solution.” They also emphasize its potential impact on making carbon utilization technologies more commercially viable and sustainable.

Continue Reading

Chemistry

“Rewriting Chemistry with Light: A Breakthrough in Fossil Fuel Transformation”

Researchers at Colorado State University have developed a new photoredox catalysis system that uses visible light mimicking photosynthesis to drive energy-intensive chemical reactions at room temperature. This groundbreaking process could significantly reduce the energy required in chemical manufacturing, especially in industries reliant on fossil fuels.
Avatar photo

Published

1 week ago

on

June 21, 2025

By

The world is on the cusp of a revolutionary change in the way we transform fossil fuels into useful modern chemicals. Researchers at Colorado State University have made a groundbreaking discovery that uses light to rewrite the chemistry of fossil fuels, reducing energy demands and associated pollution. This breakthrough, published in Science, could be a game-changer for industries reliant on chemical manufacturing.

At the forefront of this research are professors Garret Miyake and Robert Paton from the Department of Chemistry and the Center for Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis (SuPRCat). Inspired by photosynthesis, their organic photoredox catalysis system harnesses visible light to gently alter the properties of chemical compounds. By exposing them to two separate photons, the team’s system generates energy needed for desired reactions, performing super-reducing reactions that are normally difficult and energy-intensive.

The research has shown remarkable results on aromatic hydrocarbons – resistant compounds like benzene in fossil fuels. Miyake boasts that their technology is “the most efficient system currently available” for reducing these compounds, paving the way for the production of chemicals needed for plastics and medicine.

This work continues the efforts of the U.S. National Science Foundation Center for Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis at CSU, led by Miyake as its director. This multi-institution research effort aims to transform chemical synthesis processes across various uses, making synthetic and computational chemists team up to understand the fundamental chemical nature of photoredox catalysis.

Katharine Covert, program director for the NSF Centers for Chemical Innovation program, highlights the importance of photoredox catalysis in pharmaceutical development and other industries. Through the NSF Center for Sustainable Photoredox Catalysis, researchers are developing catalysis systems similar to the one described in this paper to support energy-efficient production of ammonia for fertilizers, the breakdown of PFAS forever chemicals, and the upcycling of plastics.

Miyake emphasizes the urgency of meeting these challenges and making a more sustainable future for our world. He concludes that “the world has a timeclock that is expiring,” and we must develop sustainable technologies before it’s too late.

This breakthrough has far-reaching implications, not just in chemical manufacturing but also in addressing pressing environmental concerns. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible with light-based chemistry, one thing is certain – the future of fossil fuel transformation has never looked brighter.

Continue Reading

Trending