200 times more effective biosensors and “VibroBraille”: what was created in Russia in September

In September, Russian scientists managed to get one step closer to creating superconductors at room temperature, to design a device for communicating with people with simultaneous visual, hearing and speech impairments, which has no analogues in the world, to synthesize a substance for biosenors that is 200 times more effective than natural particles. and also propose a way to improve existing solar panels.

This material is from the cycle “Made in Russia ”, which describes the main domestic inventions, as well as important events in various fields of science and industry in Russia.

SibFU created a monolayer of lithium molecules – an important step towards nanoelectronics

In simple words

Scientists for the first time in history were able to make a very thin stable layer of special lithium molecules on the surface of copper. This opens up tremendous opportunities on the way to creating microscopic electronic devices. Also, these layers of special molecules can be used to create drugs, for example, anti-cancer drugs.

In detail

Scientists of the International Research Center for Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemistry of the Scientific Research Center of the Siberian Federal University, together with colleagues from Japan, South Korea and Sweden, were able to obtain and study a monolayer of endohedral fullerenes doped with lithium on the copper surface. Endohedral fullerenes are nanosized objects with unique physicochemical properties and prospects for practical application in biology and medicine (for example, in the creation of anticancer drugs), as well as in nanoelectronics. However, lithium often leaves the cavity of the molecule, as it is not stable enough. Therefore, to create a well-defined Li @ C60 monolayer on a copper surface was an incomprehensible task up to this point. This research opens up great prospects in the field of organic electronics. However, this is only the first step and it is still very far from the practical application of the technology.

Chemists of Moscow State University have created a biosensor that works 200 times better than natural enzymes

In simple words

In order to measure the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the human body, sensors are used that are made from natural organic elements. Scientists have recently managed to create an inorganic material that works 200 times better than analogues. This can be used both in medical practice and for various biological studies.

In detail

Hydrogen peroxide (Н2О2) is a chemically very active compound used almost everywhere (for bleaching tissues and hair, disinfecting wounds, producing foamy materials, and so on). However, it is also traumatic for large organisms (if ingested) and destructive for microscopic ones. At the same time, in humans, H2O2 can be formed during various pathological processes, for example, violations of oxygen metabolism. To determine the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, one can use biosensor devices based on peroxidase, a natural enzyme that in living organisms provides protection against the destructive activity of H2O2.

Chemists of the Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov, proposed a new method for producing inorganic nanoparticles (nanozymes) with ultra-high peroxidase activity based on Prussian blue, an available blue pigment that is extremely sensitive to hydrogen peroxide. It turned out that the particles produced by the new method are 200 times more efficient than natural peroxidase in terms of catalysis efficiency. These nanozymes are stable and very active, and their size can be changed by choosing the component composition of the solution for synthesis and the applied voltage. This will make it possible to use them for cell research and for the industrial production of biosensors.

Particles of coal ash less than 10 microns in size were isolated and studied in Krasnoyarsk

In simple words

Coal ash emitted by factories and power plants pollutes nature and harms human health. However, until recently, scientists could not even properly study its smallest particles. It turned out that it consists mainly of useful components. This means that it can be recycled and used to produce useful things, which will also help to make the environment cleaner.

In detail

Coal-fired power plants generate 38% of the world’s electricity annually and about 1 billion tons of fly ash as industrial waste. Fly ash is a difficult object to study and use, since it is heterogeneous in size, composition, morphology of globules, and so on. In addition, they contain aerosol particles of the PM2.5 class with a size of less than 2.5 micrometers, which are practically constantly suspended in the atmosphere and are not removed from the human lungs. Scientists of the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences for the first time in the world managed to isolate the magnetic fractions of microspheres PM2.5, PM2.5-10, PM10 from the fly ash of Ekibastuz coal and determine their characteristics. It turned out that these components have unique technological properties, due to which they can be used in many modern technologies. For example, these particles can be used to create highly efficient microspherical functional materials – sorbents, magnetic carriers, catalysts, and biosensors. In addition, their processing will reduce environmental pollution by aerosol particles harmful to human health.

Russian engineers have created a device for full communication with deaf-blind people

In simple words

In Russia, a working model of a unique device has been created that allows you to communicate with people with simultaneous visual, hearing and speech impairments. It looks like a joystick, works in tandem with a mobile phone application, and does not require additional knowledge from people without disruption.

In detail

NUST MISIS engineers and the Karfdov Lab design bureau developed the VibroBraille communicator by order of 4Blind. This device is designed for communication with people with simultaneous visual, hearing and speech impairments. It is equipped with 6 buttons on the front panel and built-in tactile elements that transmit signals to the user at their fingertips in a Braille manner. You also need a mobile device with a special application installed to work. A person types a word on “VibroBraille” with buttons and presses “enter”. Information is transmitted to a mobile device and voiced through speakers. The interlocutor says what he wants to answer, his speech is translated into text, and the text is converted into tactile signals according to the Braille principle and transmitted back to VibroBraille. Communication is via Bluetooth. There are no direct analogs of the device either in Russia or abroad.

Russian scientists are one step away from creating superconductors at room temperature

In simple words

Materials with zero electrical resistance at room temperature are the dream of modern scientists. Previously, they could achieve this effect only under very great pressure, which is impossible to repeat in everyday conditions. Now scientists have found a material that shows the desired properties under low pressure, but at very low temperatures. Now they only need to combine old and new knowledge. Then there will be an incredible leap forward in electronics.

In detail

Scientists have been working on the creation of superconductors (materials with zero electrical resistance) for a very long time. However, superconductivity can be achieved either at extremely low temperatures, close to absolute zero, or at extremely high pressures (lanthanum hydride LaH10 becomes a superconductor at a temperature of -23 ° C and a pressure of 1.7 million atmospheres). Now scientists from Skoltech and several Chinese universities have completed a study of the superconductivity of two cerium superhydrides – CeH9 discovered in 2019 and CeH10 synthesized for the first time. As a result, it turned out that they demonstrate stability and superconductivity with a critical temperature of up to -160 ° C at low pressure (about 0.8 million atmospheres). Thus, LaH10 goes superconducting at higher temperatures, while CeH10 is stable at lower pressures. Scientists now have to figure out how to connect the elements to achieve superconductivity at higher temperatures and lower pressures in ternary hydrides.

Skoltech researchers find a way to improve solar panels

In simple words

Renewable energy sources do not pollute nature and do not run out over time. Therefore, the development of effective methods for the production of renewable energy is a priority task for modern scientists. One example is solar panels for converting energy from the sun into electricity. Scientists have recently found new environmentally friendly materials to create more efficient solar cells.

In detail

The fastest transition to environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources is one of the main tasks of mankind in the modern world. However, to do this, scientists need to work to significantly improve the efficiency of current technologies. Researchers from Skoltech just in September demonstrated the first results to improve organic and perovskite solar cells for batteries, which could supplant existing commercial solar cells based on crystalline silicon. Their main advantage is the low cost of applying a photosensitive layer from a solution. The main disadvantage is the low stability of such devices.

Conjugated polymers are used to optimize the composition of the photosensitive layer and ensure its reliable protection. These are organic materials, the structure of which is formed by alternating donor and acceptor components. Skoltech scientists have succeeded in synthesizing a new conjugated polymer, the chain of which contains a link based on the isomer of the well-known indigo dye, isoindigo. Then the material was tested in organic solar cells as a component of the photoactive layer, as well as in perovskite solar cells as a hole-transport layer. As a result, organic and perovskite solar cells showed high efficiency: 15.1% and 4.1%, respectively.