The high field strength elements (HFSE, i.e. Ti, Zr, Hf, Nb, Ta, W, Th) reside in minerals that are traditionally considered to be nominally insoluble in aqueous fluids, but in recent years experimental and field-based evidence to the contrary has been presented. Here, first principles molecular dynamics simulations are used to demonstrate that at low concentrations both fluoride and chloride f...

Cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) prepared via 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-mediated oxidation of the C6 primary hydroxyls native cellulose to carboxylates are used as pseudocatalysts for enhancing aluminum powder/pure water reactions. The Al reaction is a stepwise reaction. It starts from hydration outmost Al2O3 thin layer and then inner metallic with water. At lower temperatures (<5...

Ettringite-based thermochemical energy storage has been recommended to be used in buildings for thermal supply because of its low material cost (<1000 €/m3), working temperature and high capacity. However, several physicochemical properties ettringite were still not clear, such as reversible reaction enthalpies, thermodynamic equilibrium, kinetics the dehydration/hydration reactions. In this st...

Calculations are performed on the free energies for proton-promoted reactions of the lithium-ionbattery electrode material LiMn2O4 spinel in acid, as a function of lithium excess and lithium deficiency relative to stoichiometry. In particular, we consider the dissolution reaction proposed by Hunter (J. Solid State Chem., 1981, 39, 142), in which protons react with lithium manganate spinel to fo...

The backbone of our infrastructure and modern architecture are cementitious materials. Despite their substantial role for society and their common involvement in the built environment, basic aspects of the hydration processes of cement are still not completely understood. During the first seconds of a building’s life, highly dynamic reaction processes prevail. These reactions have a direct infl...

Many high-yielding reactions for forming peptide bonds have been developed but these are complex, requiring activated amino-acid precursors and heterogeneous supports. Herein we demonstrate the programmable one-pot dehydration-hydration condensation of amino acids forming oligopeptide chains in around 50% yield. A digital recursive reactor system was developed to investigate this process, perfo...

Earth is the only terrestrial planet in our solar system where an oceanic plate subducts beneath an overriding plate. Although the initiation of plate subduction requires extremely weak boundaries between strong plates, the way in which oceanic mantle rheologically weakens remains unknown. Here we show that shear-enhanced hydration reactions contribute to the generation and maintenance of weak ...