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Categories: Energy: Alternative Fuels, Engineering: Graphene
Published Shining new light on solar cell development


An increase in the efficiency of solar panels may be on the horizon, as new research reduces their current limitations.
Published In nanotube science, is boron nitride the new carbon?


Engineers synthesized aligned forests of nanoscale fibers made of boron nitride, or 'white graphene.' They hope to harness the technique to fabricate bulk-scale arrays of these nanotubes, which can then be combined with other materials to make stronger, more heat-resistant composites, for instance to shield space structures and hypersonic aircraft.
Published New tech solves longstanding challenges for self-healing materials


Engineering researchers have developed a new self-healing composite that allows structures to repair themselves in place, without having to be removed from service. This latest technology resolves two longstanding challenges for self-healing materials, and can significantly extend the lifespan of structural components such as wind-turbine blades and aircraft wings.
Published Revolutionary technique to generate hydrogen more efficiently from water


Researchers have made a serendipitous scientific discovery that could potentially revolutionize the way water is broken down to release hydrogen gas -- an element crucial to many industrial processes. The team found that light can trigger a new mechanism in a catalytic material used extensively in water electrolysis, where water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. The result is a more energy-efficient method of obtaining hydrogen.
Published One-stop hydrogen shop: Reducing the cost of a future energy carrier


Researchers have demonstrated a proof-of-concept for a novel molecular hydrogen production method that bypasses the need for expensive purification steps. They developed a system where hydrogen is separated and stored in liquid organic hydrogen carriers by catalysis of triaryl boranes in one seamless process. The results of this work will help facilitate the transition to a hydrogen-based economy that is necessary for a more sustainable future.
Published Global collaboration saved countries $67 billion in solar panel production costs


A new study quantifies for the first time the historical and future cost savings to the solar industry from globalized supply chains.
Published Nano-sized islands open possibilities for application of single-atom catalysts


A new method to anchor single atoms of platinum-group metals on nanometer-sized islands allows for efficiently using these expensive metals as catalysts for a wide variety of applications. Researchers showed that platinum atoms could be confined on small cerium-oxide islands within a porous material to catalyze reactions without sticking to each other, which has been a major stumbling block for their use.
Published Dye-sensitized solar cells achieve a new record


Scientists have increased the power conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells beyond 15% in direct sunlight and 30% in ambient light conditions.
Published Tandem solar cells with perovskite: Nanostructures help in many ways


By the end of 2021, scientists had presented perovskite silicon tandem solar cells with an efficiency close to 30 percent. This value was a world record for eight months, a long time for this hotly contested field of research. Scientists now describe how they achieved this record value with nanooptical structuring and reflective coatings.
Published Improving light absorption in perovskite/Si tandem solar cells


Engineers have achieved a power conversion efficiency of 23.50% in a perovskite-silicon tandem solar cell built with a special textured anti-reflective coating (ARC) polymeric film.
Published Trapping polaritons in an engineered quantum box


Researchers have engineered a quantum box for polaritons in a 2D material, achieving large polariton densities and a partially 'coherent' quantum state. New insights from the novel technique could allow researchers to access striking 'collective' quantum phenomena in this material family, and enable ultra-energy efficient and high-performance future technologies. Laying a 'small' 2D material on top of a 'large' layer allowed the researchers to trap and investigate polaritons, comparing them with freely moving polaritons.
Published Durable, inexpensive catalyst reduces carbon footprint of ammonia production


To reduce the energy requirements of the Haber-Bosch process, which converts nitrogen and hydrogen to ammonia, researchers have developed a metal nitride catalyst containing an active metal (Ni) on a lanthanum nitride support that is stable in presence of moisture. Since the catalyst doesn't contain ruthenium, it presents an inexpensive option for reducing the carbon footprint of ammonia production.
Published Storing hydrogen fuel in salts -- a step toward 'cleaner' energy production


Hydrogen gas could someday replace fossil fuels as a 'clean' energy source, producing only water and energy. However, handling large quantities of gaseous hydrogen is cumbersome, and converting it to a liquid requires vessels that can withstand extremely high pressures. Now, researchers have developed a method to store and release highly pure hydrogen with salts in the presence of amino acids.
Published Scientists develop inexpensive device that can harvest energy from a light breeze and store it as electricity


Scientists have developed a low-cost device that can harness energy from wind as gentle as a light breeze and store it as electricity.
Published Driving high? Chemists make strides toward a marijuana breath analyzer


Chemists have developed a fuel cell sensor that they hope to develop into a handheld analyzer to detect THC on a person's breath. When THC is introduced into their laboratory-scale device it oxidizes, creating an electric current whose strength indicates how much of the psychoactive compound is present.
Published Keeping planes and wind turbines ice-free


Engineers have made a significant breakthrough in de-icing technology. New research examines a smart, hybrid -- meaning passive and also active -- de-icing system that works by combining an interfacial coating with an ice-detecting microwave sensor.
Published Solar harvesting system has potential to generate solar power 24/7


A professor is reporting on a new type of solar energy harvesting system that breaks the efficiency record of all existing technologies. And no less important, it clears the way to use solar power 24/7.
Published Artificial enzyme splits water


Progress has been made on the path to sunlight-driven production of hydrogen. Chemists present a new enzyme-like molecular catalyst for water oxidation.
Published Clean hydrogen: A long-awaited solution for hard-to-abate sectors?


One of the world's biggest climate challenges is decarbonizing fossil energy uses that cannot be directly electrified using renewable power. Among so-called 'hard-to-abate' (HTA) sectors are major industries that rely on fossil fuels, either for high-temperature energy or for chemical feedstocks. New research examines how China -- by far the largest producer of iron, steel, cement, and building materials -- can potentially utilize clean hydrogen ('green' and 'blue' hydrogen) to decarbonize HTA sectors, and aid in achieving its 2030 and 2060 decarbonization pledges.
Published More reasons to go solar when gearing up for a greener drive


With electric vehicles sales soaring worldwide, potential buyers are not just weighing up the price tag, but also the logistics and expense of charging the planet-friendly cars. A new study shows households with solar panels and batteries will be the big winners.