New! Sign up for our free email newsletter.
Science News
from research organizations

Controlling chemical reactions with electrons: Quantum physics paves the way for new chemical products

Date:
October 17, 2017
Source:
Open University
Summary:
New research reveals that electrons can control chemical reactions in experiments, potentially paving the way to purer, cheaper chemical products.
Share:
FULL STORY

New research, published Oct. 16, 2017 in Nature Physics, reveals that electrons displaying their own quantum mechanical nature (i.e., the state, such as momentum and position), can induce coherence in other molecules.

Observing these low energy electrons, physicists from both The Open University and Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai, have discovered that chemical reactions can be controlled using electrons -- rather than lasers, which are currently used -- providing a much cheaper alternative to controlling chemical reactions. This has applications in the manufacturing of new chemical products that can be used in industry, including new drugs for cancer therapy and new electronics for computers.

Professor of Molecular Physics in the School of Physical Sciences at The Open University, Nigel Mason, is leading on the research; he said: "The ability to control chemical reactions is one of the major goals in chemistry; it would enable scientists and the manufacturing industry to reduce production costs and waste by targeting only the chemicals they want. The discovery that an electron rather than a laser can control the process means that this is approach is cheaper and faster."

The experiments, carried out using a Velocity Map Imaging spectrometer built at the OU, were funded by through a visiting Fellowship of Professor Krishnakumar.


Story Source:

Materials provided by Open University. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.


Journal Reference:

  1. E. Krishnakumar, Vaibhav S. Prabhudesai, Nigel J. Mason. Symmetry breaking by quantum coherence in single electron attachment. Nature Physics, 2017; DOI: 10.1038/NPHYS4289

Cite This Page:

Open University. "Controlling chemical reactions with electrons: Quantum physics paves the way for new chemical products." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 17 October 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171017092246.htm>.
Open University. (2017, October 17). Controlling chemical reactions with electrons: Quantum physics paves the way for new chemical products. ScienceDaily. Retrieved March 28, 2024 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171017092246.htm
Open University. "Controlling chemical reactions with electrons: Quantum physics paves the way for new chemical products." ScienceDaily. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171017092246.htm (accessed March 28, 2024).

Explore More

from ScienceDaily

RELATED STORIES