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Published

Researchers improve the stability of perovskite solar cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Perovskite solar cells are considered the strongest contender to replace silicon solar cells. While they achieve high power conversion energy, they also suffer from lead leakage and perovskite degradation due to moisture. Now scientists leverage the technique of interfacial passivation, where lead ions are bound by crown ether B18C6, obtaining 21.7% power conversion energy. The crown ether also resists degradation due to moisture for 300 hours at room temperature and 85% humidity.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

Researchers closer to understanding hydrogen's great challenge      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Embrittlement is one of the biggest obstacles facing the transition to a global hydrogen economy. A new process uncovered by researchers is helping shed light on how to better prevent it.

Engineering: Graphene Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Quantum films on plastic      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Researchers have discovered that thin films of elemental bismuth exhibit the so-called non-linear Hall effect, which could be applied in technologies for the controlled use of terahertz high-frequency signals on electronic chips. Bismuth combines several advantageous properties not found in other systems to date, as the team reports. Particularly: the quantum effect is observed at room temperature. The thin-layer films can be applied even on plastic substrates and could therefore be suitable for modern high-frequency technology applications.

Energy: Alternative Fuels
Published

New study unveils scalable and efficient photoelectrode modules for green hydrogen production      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A recent study has achieved a remarkable technological breakthrough in the production of green hydrogen.

Biology: Biochemistry Biology: Biotechnology Biology: Cell Biology Biology: General Biology: Genetics Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Organic Chemistry Engineering: Nanotechnology Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

New disease testing component facilitates lower-cost diagnostics      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Biomedical researchers have developed a new, less expensive way to detect nuclease digestion -- one of the critical steps in many nucleic acid sensing applications, such as those used to identify COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Physics: General
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Researchers use Hawk supercomputer and lean into imperfection to improve solar cell efficiency      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Solar energy is one of the most promising, widely adopted renewable energy sources, but the solar cells that convert light into electricity remains a challenge. Scientists have turned to the High-Performance Computing Center Stuttgart to understand how strategically designing imperfections in the system could lead to more efficient energy conversion.

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Published

Resurrecting niobium for quantum science      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Niobium has long been considered an underperformer in superconducting qubits. Scientists have now engineered a high-quality niobium-based qubit, taking advantage of niobium's superior qualities.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

What will it take for China to reach carbon neutrality by 2060?      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

To become carbon neutral by 2060, China will have to build eight to 10 times more wind and solar power installations than existed in 2022, according to a new study. Reaching carbon neutrality will also require major construction of transmission lines.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Physics: Optics
Published

New world record for CIGS solar cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new record for electrical energy generation from CIGS solar cells has been reached. Scientists have achieved a 23.64 percent efficiency.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Scientists closer to solving mysteries of universe after measuring gravity in quantum world      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists are closer to unravelling the mysterious forces of the universe after working out how to measure gravity on a microscopic level. Experts have never fully understood how the force works in the tiny quantum world -- but now physicists have successfully detected a weak gravitational pull on a tiny particle using a new technique.

Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Measuring the properties of light: Scientists realize new method for determining quantum states      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Scientists have used a new method to determine the characteristics of optical, i.e. light-based, quantum states. For the first time, they are using certain photon detectors -- devices that can detect individual light particles -- for so-called homodyne detection. The ability to characterize optical quantum states makes the method an essential tool for quantum information processing.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Offbeat: General Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Physicists discover a quantum state with a new type of emergent particles: Six-flux composite fermions      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Physicists have reported a new fractional quantum Hall state that is very different from all other known fractional states and will invoke the existence of a new type of emergent particle, which they are calling six-flux composite fermions.

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Published

New evidence shows UK solar parks can provide for bees and butterflies      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A new study shows that UK solar parks, if managed correctly, can provide vital resources to help stem the decline in the nation's bees and butterflies. The new research provides peer-reviewed field data of insect pollinators at solar parks in the UK, covering 15 sites.

Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Engineering: Nanotechnology Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry Physics: General Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Revolutionary breakthrough in solar energy: Most efficient QD solar cells      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A research team has unveiled a novel ligand exchange technique that enables the synthesis of organic cation-based perovskite quantum dots (PQDs), ensuring exceptional stability while suppressing internal defects in the photoactive layer of solar cells.

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Published

Electrons become fractions of themselves in graphene      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Physicists have observed fractional quantum Hall effect in simple pentalayer graphene. The finding could make it easier to develop more robust quantum computers.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Energy: Alternative Fuels Physics: Optics
Published

Scientists invent ultra-thin, minimally-invasive pacemaker controlled by light      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A team of researchers has developed a wireless device, powered by light, that can be implanted to regulate cardiovascular or neural activity in the body. The feather-light membranes, thinner than a human hair, can be inserted with minimally invasive surgery and contain no moving parts.

Biology: Biochemistry Chemistry: Biochemistry Computer Science: Quantum Computers Physics: General Physics: Optics Physics: Quantum Computing Physics: Quantum Physics
Published

Engineers achieve breakthrough in quantum sensing      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A collaborative project has made a breakthrough in enhancing the speed and resolution of wide-field quantum sensing, leading to new opportunities in scientific research and practical applications.

Chemistry: Biochemistry Chemistry: General Chemistry: Inorganic Chemistry Chemistry: Thermodynamics Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Geochemistry
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.

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Published

Accelerating the discovery of single-molecule magnets with deep learning      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

Single-molecule magnets (SMMs) are exciting materials. In a recent breakthrough, researchers have used deep learning to predict SMMs from 20,000 metal complexes. The predictions were made solely based on the crystal structures of these metal complexes, thus eliminating the need for time-consuming experiments and complex simulations. As a result, this method is expected to accelerate the development of functional materials, especially for high-density memory and quantum computing devices.

Energy: Alternative Fuels Energy: Technology Environmental: General Geoscience: Environmental Issues
Published

Electrification or hydrogen? Both have distinct roles in the European energy transition      (via sciencedaily.com)     Original source 

A key step to achieving climate neutrality in the European Union is to rapidly shift from fossil fuels to electric technologies powered by renewable energies, a new study shows. At the same time, hydrogen produced from electricity will also be indispensable in hard-to-electrify sectors such as aviation, shipping and chemicals. By 2050, electrification and hydrogen are the key strategies to reach climate neutrality based on renewable power.