An anode-free zinc battery that could someday store renewable energy
Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, could help decrease the world’s reliance on fossil fuels. But first, power companies need a safe, cost-effective way to store the energy for later use. Massive lithium-ion batteries can do the job, but they suffer from safety issues and limited lithium availability. Now, researchers reporting in […]
A new archaeology for the Anthropocene era
IMAGE: Archaeological studies of low-density, agrarian-based cities such as ancient Angkor Wat in Cambodia are increasingly being used to inform the development of more sustainable urban centres in the future…. view more Credit: Alison Crowther Indiana Jones and Lara Croft have a lot to answer for. Public perceptions of archaeology are often thoroughly outdated, and these […]
Catalyst transforms plastic waste to valuable ingredients at low temperature
IMAGE: Graphical abstract view more Credit: Tamura/Osaka City University For the first time, researchers have used a novel catalyst process to recycle a type of plastic found in everything from grocery bags and food packaging to toys and electronics into liquid fuels and wax. The team published their results on Dec. 10 in Applied Catalysis B: […]
Faster, greener way of producing carbon spheres
IMAGE: Carbon spheres – microscope images A fast, green and one-step method for producing porous carbon spheres, which are a vital component for carbon capture technology and for new ways of storing… view more Credit: ESRI, Swansea University A fast, green and one-step method for producing porous carbon spheres, which are a vital component for […]
Scientists suggested a method to improve performance of methanol fuel cells
IMAGE: Metallic glass, microscopic image view more Credit: FEFU press office Fuel cells based on methanol oxidation have a huge potential in the motor and technical industries. To increase their energy performance, scientists suggest using electrodes made of thin palladium-based metallic glass films. A group of researchers from Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU), Austria, Turkey, Switzerland, […]
New hard-carbon anode material for sodium-ion batteries will solve the lithium conundrum
IMAGE: The higher capacity of this new hard carbon electrode material means that a 19% increase in energy density by weight is possible in sodium-ion batteries compared with lithium-ion batteries… view more Credit: Shinichi Komaba from Tokyo University of Science Cost-effective rechargeable batteries are at the heart of virtually all portable electronic devices, which have become […]
Scientists publish open resource to help design ‘greener’ energy systems
Researchers have created a database of measurements from existing global power grid systems that will help develop new power systems capable of meeting changing demands, such as the move towards renewable energy sources. The study, published in Nature Communications, is the first step towards a more collaborative approach to energy research. It is hoped the […]
Safe space: improving the “clean” methanol fuel cells using a protective carbon shell
IMAGE: If successfully commercialized, direct methanol fuel cells could replace the ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries in portable electronics thanks to their higher energy density view more Credit: Unsplash Because of the many environmental problems caused by the use of fossil fuels, many scientists worldwide are focused on finding efficient alternatives. Though high hopes have been placed on […]
New testing system could become the IoT of photovoltaics
IMAGE: New solar performance monitoring system has potential to become IoT of photovoltaics. view more Credit: Pexels A new system for measuring solar performance over the long term in scalable photovoltaic systems, developed by Arizona State University researchers, represents a breakthrough in the cost and longevity of interconnected power delivery. When solar cells are developed, they […]
Guiding the way to improved solar cell performance
IMAGE: Bilayer solar cell based on the organic semiconductor copper(I) thiocyanate (CuSCN) provides a new platform for exciton diffusion studies. view more Credit: © 2020 KAUST Understanding how particles travel through a device is vital for improving the efficiency of solar cells. Researchers from KAUST, working with an international team of scientists, have now developed a […]
