1 Mechanosynthetic C2 donation. (A) Schematic of the inverted-mode STM setup. EAOGe-C2I molecules are deposited on flat Si(100), and an H-passivated Si(100) silicon probe chip (SPC) with a flat, crystalline apex is positioned above the surface. The molecules function both as imaging probes, where an applied bias (VS) drives a tunneling current (IT) through the molecule, and as reagents capable of chemically reacting with the build site. (B-E) Mechanosynthetic sequence showing the evolution of the build site as it is imaged with and modified by a molecule (Tool 1). As the build sequence proceeds, both the tool termination (inset) and atomic composition in the target area (white rectangle) change. Starting from a bare build site (B), two Si dangling bonds (DBs) are patterned by bias pulsing in an inter-row (IR) configuration (C), followed by molecule de-iodination (D), and transfer of a C2 unit to the DB pattern (E). (F) Small-area scan of the build site following the C2 transfer, centered on the target area and imaged with a new, intact tool (Tool 2). (G, H) Simulated STM image and geometry of C2 in the IR configuration (IR-C2), reproducing the experimental image shown in (F).

Researchers upcycle pomegranate peel into high-performance water purifier

Pomegranate peel discarded by food vendors could soon help clean up contaminated water, thanks to research from the Department of Chemistry at the Faculty of Science. Led by Professor Sam Li, the research team developed a nanoscale carbon material derived from the fruit waste that is capable of efficiently removing 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), a persistent industrial pollutant, from water.

Researchers “reprogram” materials by quickly rearranging their atoms

MIT researchers developed a way to precisely move columns of individual atoms within a material, to produce exotic quantum properties. The approach works in minutes at room temperature, and could aid the development of stable quantum devices.

Professional chess analysis reveals faster decisions correlate with higher quality moves

In chess, faster decisions are on average of higher quality. This is the conclusion of a study that has just been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The team of researchers, which, in addition to Professor Uwe Sunde from LMU, includes scientists from Erasmus University Rotterdam and UniDistance Suisse, analyzed data from professional games of chess. Their aim was to investigate how the time taken to make a complex strategic decision is related to the quality of this decision. Sunde and his colleagues believe the outcome of their research indicates that the decision time reflects the subjectively perceived difficulty of the problem, which can vary depending on the situation.