Showing 20 articles starting at article 61
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Categories: Chemistry: Thermodynamics
Published New device gathers, stores electricity in remote settings (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Wirelessly connected devices perform an expanding array of applications, such as monitoring the condition of machinery and remote sensing in agricultural settings. These applications hold much potential for improving the efficiency, but how do you power these devices where reliable electrical sources are not available? Research points to a possible solution in the form of a novel type of battery.
Published Proof-of-principle demonstration of 3-D magnetic recording (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Research groups have made a breakthrough in the field of hard disk drives (HDD) by demonstrating the feasibility of multi-level recording using a three-dimensional magnetic recording medium to store digital information. The research groups have shown that this technology can be used to increase the storage capacity of HDDs, which could lead to more efficient and cost-effective data storage solutions in the future.
Published Elastocaloric cooling: Refrigerator cools by flexing artificial muscles (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
There is room for just one small bottle in the world's first refrigerator that is cooled with artificial muscles made of nitinol, a nickel-titanium alloy. But the mini-prototype is groundbreaking: it shows that elastocalorics is becoming a viable solution for practical applications. This climate-friendly cooling and heating technology is far more energy-efficient and sustainable than current methods.
Published Sunrise to sunset, new window coating blocks heat -- not view (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Windows welcome light into interior spaces, but they also bring in unwanted heat. A new window coating blocks heat-generating ultraviolet and infrared light and lets through visible light, regardless of the sun's angle. The coating can be incorporated onto existing windows or automobiles and can reduce air-conditioning cooling costs by more than one-third in hot climates.
Published Heat, cold extremes hold untapped potential for solar and wind energy (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Conditions that usually accompany the kind of intense hot and cold weather that strains power grids may also provide greater opportunities to capture solar and wind energy. A study found that widespread, extreme temperature events are often accompanied by greater solar radiation and higher wind speeds that could be captured by solar panels and wind turbines. The research, which looked at extensive heat and cold waves across the six interconnected energy grid regions of the U.S. from 1980-2021, also found that every region experienced power outages during these events in the past decade. The findings suggest that using more renewable energy at these times could help offset increased power demand as more people and businesses turn on heaters or air conditioners.
Published New method to measure entropy production on the nanoscale (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Entropy, the amount of molecular disorder, is produced in several systems but cannot be measured directly. A new equation sheds new light on how entropy is produced on a very short time scale in laser excited materials.
Published Cool paint coatings help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler in urban setting (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
A real-world study has shown that the use of cool paint coatings in cities can help pedestrians feel up to 1.5 degrees Celsius cooler, making the urban area more comfortable for work and play.
Published In-situ observation of nanoscale heat propagation (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
A research team has developed a technique that enables the nanoscale observation of heat propagation paths and behavior within material specimens. This was achieved using a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM) capable of emitting a pulsed electron beam and a nanosized thermocouple -- a high-precision temperature measurement device.
Published Bendable energy storage materials by cool science (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Imaging being able to wear clothes that charge your gadgets just by wearing them. New research has brought us a step closer to achieving this reality.
Published Using light to produce medication and plastics more efficiently (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Anyone who wants to produce medication, plastics or fertilizer using conventional methods needs heat for chemical reactions -- but not so with photochemistry, where light provides the energy. The process to achieve the desired product also often takes fewer intermediate steps. Researchers are now going one step further and are demonstrating how the energy efficiency of photochemical reactions can be increased tenfold. More sustainable and cost-effective applications are now tantalizingly close.
Published Advance for soft robotics manufacturing, design (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Engineers propose a new quantitative framework to account for and predict the impact of temperature on the curing speed of platinum-catalyzed silicone elastomers. The findings could maximize throughput and minimize waste in the manufacturing of components for soft robotics and wearables.
Published Revolutionary method developed for mass-producing polymer solid electrolytes (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Scientists have unveiled a groundbreaking technique for mass-producing polymer solid electrolytes, crucial components in batteries.
Published Supply chain disruptions will further exacerbate economic losses from climate change (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Global GDP loss from climate change will increase exponentially the warmer the planet gets when its cascading impact on global supply chains is factored in, finds a new study.
Published Molecular simulations of ammonia mixtures support search for renewable fuels (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Ammonia is an important molecule with many applications. The end product of the famed Haber-Bosch process, it is commonly synthesized to capture nitrogen for fertilizers, and is used for refrigeration, in cleaning products, and in the production of pharmaceuticals. Recently, this modest molecule has also attracted interest as a potential resource for addressing one of today's most pressing challenges -- the need for reliable and abundant renewable fuels.
Published Spiral wrappers switch nanotubes from conductors to semiconductors and back (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
By wrapping a carbon nanotube with a ribbon-like polymer, researchers were able to create nanotubes that conduct electricity when struck with low-energy light that our eyes cannot see. In the future, the approach could make it possible to optimize semiconductors for applications ranging from night vision to new forms of computing.
Published Preventing magnet meltdowns before they can start (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
High-temperature superconductor magnets have the potential to lower the costs of operating particle accelerators and enable powerful new technologies like fusion reactors. But quenches -- the sudden, destructive events wherein a part of the material loses superconductivity -- are a major barrier to their deployment. Scientists have developed an approach to prevent quenches altogether, rather than simply trying to manage them after they occur.
Published Physicists develop more efficient solar cell (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Physicists have used complex computer simulations to develop a new design for significantly more efficient solar cells than previously available. A thin layer of organic material, known as tetracene, is responsible for the increase in efficiency.
Published Benefits of heat pumps (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
Millions of U.S. households would benefit from heat pumps, but the cost of installing the technology needs to come down to make their use a more attractive proposition.
Published Eco-friendly way to generate power from waste wood (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
A new study by researchers has revealed a sustainable method of efficiently converting waste heat into electricity using Irish wood products, while minimizing costs and environmental impact.
Published Physicists capture the first sounds of heat 'sloshing' in a superfluid (via sciencedaily.com) Original source
For the first time, physicists have captured direct images of 'second sound,' the movement of heat sloshing back and forth within a superfluid. The results will expand scientists' understanding of heat flow in superconductors and neutron stars.