'Blinking' crystals may convert CO2 into fuels
Unusual nanoparticles could benefit the quest to build a quantum computer


Date:
July 16, 2020
Source:
Rutgers University
Summary:
Imagine tiny crystals that ''blink'' like fireflies and can convert
carbon dioxide, a key cause of climate change, into fuels. A team
has created ultra-small titanium dioxide crystals that exhibit
unusual ''blinking'' behavior and may help to produce methane and
other fuels, according to a new study. The crystals, also known
as nanoparticles, stay charged for a long time and could benefit
efforts to develop quantum computers.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Imagine tiny crystals that "blink" like fireflies and can convert carbon dioxide, a key cause of climate change, into fuels.


==========================================================================
A Rutgers-led team has created ultra-small titanium dioxide crystals that exhibit unusual "blinking" behavior and may help to produce methane and
other fuels, according to a study in the journal Angewandte Chemie. The crystals, also known as nanoparticles, stay charged for a long time and
could benefit efforts to develop quantum computers.

"Our findings are quite important and intriguing in a number of ways, and
more research is needed to understand how these exotic crystals work and
to fulfill their potential," said senior author Tewodros (Teddy) Asefa,
a professor in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology in the
School of Arts and Sciences at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. He's
also a professor in the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
in the School of Engineering.

More than 10 million metric tons of titanium dioxide are produced
annually, making it one of the most widely used materials, the study
notes. It is used in sunscreens, paints, cosmetics and varnishes, for
example. It's also used in the paper and pulp, plastic, fiber, rubber,
food, glass and ceramic industries.

The team of scientists and engineers discovered a new way to make
extremely small titanium dioxide crystals. While it's still unclear why
the engineered crystals blink and research is ongoing, the "blinking"
is believed to arise from single electrons trapped on titanium dioxide nanoparticles. At room temperature, electrons -- surprisingly -- stay
trapped on nanoparticles for tens of seconds before escaping and then
become trapped again and again in a continuous cycle.

The crystals, which blink when exposed to a beam of electrons, could be
useful for environmental cleanups, sensors, electronic devices and solar
cells, and the research team will further explore their capabilities.


========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by Rutgers_University. Note: Content
may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Tao Zhang, Jingxiang Low, Jiaguo Yu, Alexei M. Tyryshkin, Eliska
Mikmekova', Tewodros Asefa. A Blinking Mesoporous TiO 2- x Composed
of Nanosized Anatase with Unusually Long‐Lived Trapped
Charge Carriers. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2020;
DOI: 10.1002/ anie.202005143 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200716101545.htm

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