Surprise at the grain boundary

For the first time, an international research team has been able to observe how solute elements introduce new grain boundary phases using state-of-the-art microscopy and simulation techniques

31-Oct-2024 - Using state-of-the-art microscopy and simulation techniques, an international research team systematically observed how iron atoms alter the structure of grain boundaries in titanium. They were in for a surprise: “Iron atoms not only segregate to the interface, but they form entirely unexpected ...

Primates and non-primates differ in the architecture of their neurons

Various mammalian species and high-resolution microscopy reveal the variable axonal origin

08-Jun-2022 - High-resolution microscopy now enabled an international research team to enlarge the knowledge about species-specific differences of the architecture of cortical neurons. Researchers from the research group Developmental Neurobiology at Ruhr-Universität Bochum around Professor Petra Wahle, in ...

Catalyst surface analysed at atomic resolution

Particles observed during the catalysis process

12-Jan-2022 - Catalyst surfaces have rarely been imaged in such detail before. And yet, every single atom can play a decisive role in catalytic activity. A German-Chinese research team has visualised the three-dimensional structure of the surface of catalyst nanoparticles at atomic resolution. This structure ...

Catalytic activity of individual cobalt oxide nanoparticles determined

Using a robotic arm

16-Dec-2020 - Analyzing nanoparticles individually is a challenge precisely because they are so small. A new technique using electron microscopy and a robotic arm could make the process much easier. Precious metal-free nanoparticles could serve as powerful catalysts in the future, for example for hydrogen ...

Artificial intelligence classifies colorectal cancer using IR imaging

Infrared microscopy can automatically detect the type of intestinal tumour within only 30 minutes

26-Jun-2020 - A research team from the Prodi Centre for Protein Diagnostics at Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) has used infrared (IR) microscopes based on quantum cascade lasers to classify tissue samples of colorectal cancer from routine clinical operations in a marker-free and automated way. Artificial ...

Catalyst deposition on fragile chips

17-Feb-2020 - Electrocatalysts can help to obtain chemicals from renewable raw materials or to use alternative energy sources. But testing new catalysts brings challenges. Researchers at the Ruhr-Universität Bochum (RUB) and the University of Duisburg-Essen have developed a new method of depositing catalyst ...

Determining the activity of noble-metal-free catalyst particles

08-Oct-2019 - Noble-metal-free nanoparticles could serve as catalysts for the production of hydrogen from water. Because they are so small, their properties are difficult to determine. Chemists have developed a new method with which they can characterise individual noble-metal-free nanoparticle catalysts. The ...

Monitoring the lifecycle of tiny catalyst nanoparticles

06-May-2019 - Since they are so tiny, it is difficult to investigate single nanoparticles. However, this is exactly what researchers are aiming for in order to tailor their properties. A novel approach: particle at the stick. Nanoparticles can be used in many ways as catalysts. To be able to tailor them in ...

Examining silver nanoparticles in natural environments

28-Feb-2019 - Thanks to their antibacterial properties, the particles are used in many products. Their effect on the environment is largely unexplored. This is mainly due to the lack of suitable analytical methods. Researchers from the Resolv Cluster of Excellence at Ruhr-Universität Bochum have developed a ...

Structure and function of photosynthesis protein explained in detail

02-Jan-2019 - Photosynthetic complex I is a key element in photosynthetic electron transport, but little has been known about it so far. An international team of researchers has solved the structure and elucidated the function of photosynthetic complex I. This membrane protein complex plays a major role in ...