Energy News - SciTechDaily

Harnessing Blue Energy: The Sustainable Power Source of Tomorrow

Osaka University — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 05:04:01 +0000

Researchers at Osaka University have demonstrated how to control the flow of ions through a nanopore membrane by applying voltage to a gate electrode, potentially advancing the harvesting of sustainable blue energy. Blue energy offers a promising sustainable alternative to fossil fuels by harnessing the energy generated when ions in a salt solution move from [...]

How a Simple Enzyme Might Revolutionize Clean Energy

Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology — Wed, 14 Aug 2024 18:00:00 +0000

Nitrogenases, crucial for life, can also reduce CO2 to valuable chemicals. New research reveals that Fe-nitrogenase is more effective at this process, presenting opportunities for sustainable biotechnologies. Nitrogenases are among the most geochemically important enzymes on Earth, providing all forms of life with bioavailable nitrogen in the form of ammonia (NH3). Some nitrogenases can also [...]

Missing Link Discovered: New Research Paves the Way for Charging Phones in Under a Minute

University of Colorado at Boulder — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 23:52:33 +0000

CU Boulder scientists have found how ions move in tiny pores, potentially improving energy storage in devices like supercapacitors. Their research updates Kirchhoff’s law, with significant implications for energy storage in vehicles and power grids. Imagine if your dead laptop or phone could be charged in a minute, or if an electric car could be [...]

Nano-Enhanced Sodium Carbonate Breaks Barriers in Carbon Capture

Chiba University — Sat, 03 Aug 2024 13:10:00 +0000

Scientists have developed a carbon nanocomposite using sodium carbonate that significantly improves carbon dioxide from industrial emissions. Industrial emissions are one of the main sources of carbon dioxide (CO2), the leading greenhouse gas implicated in climate change. While adopting renewable and clean energy alternatives is one option for mitigating these carbon emissions, carbon capture technology [...]

Game-Changing Advances in All-Solid-State Lithium Battery Technology

Chinese Academy of Sciences — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 09:00:06 +0000

A new strategy for all-solid-state lithium batteries enhances energy density and extends lifespan by using a special material that removes the need for additional additives. This advancement promises over 20,000 cycles of efficient operation, marking a significant step forward in battery technology. An innovative cathode homogenization strategy for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASLBs) has been introduced [...]

Building a Sun on Earth: ITER’s Historic Milestone in Fusion Energy Development

ITER — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 06:10:46 +0000

Major milestone in European and Japanese contributions to ITER fusion energy project. The ITER fusion energy project marks a significant milestone with the completion of 19 toroidal field coils, crucial for magnetic confinement in fusion energy. Developed over two decades through a multinational effort, these components signify a step forward in producing a clean, abundant [...]

Solid-State Cooling: A Future Without Refrigerants

Scott Gibson, Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Tue, 23 Jul 2024 17:16:00 +0000

Researchers have made significant advancements in understanding atomic-scale heat motion in materials, crucial for developing solid-state cooling technology. This technology, which operates without traditional refrigerants or moving parts, uses materials like nickel-cobalt-manganese-indium magnetic shape-memory alloys to exploit the magnetocaloric effect for efficient cooling. A crucial knowledge gap in atomic-scale heat motion was recently bridged by [...]

Elastic Horizons: The Science Behind 5000% Stretchable Lithium-Ion Batteries

American Chemical Society — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 12:00:11 +0000

A newly developed stretchable lithium-ion battery retains efficient charge storage after 70 cycles and expands up to 5000%. This innovation caters to the growing demand for batteries in wearable electronics, ensuring flexibility and durability. When you think of a battery, you probably don’t think of something stretchy. However, batteries will need this shape-shifting quality to [...]

Revolutionizing H2O2 Production: Ultrathin Nanosheets Show Immense Promise

Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy Sciences — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 23:42:19 +0000

Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of ultrathin Bi4O5Br2 nanosheets with controlled oxygen vacancies in enhancing the piezocatalytic production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), presenting a viable, environmentally friendly alternative to traditional methods. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) serves as a crucial chemical raw material with extensive applications in numerous industrial and everyday contexts. However, the industrial anthraquinone [...]

Spectacular Auroras Signal Potential Danger to Earth’s Critical Infrastructure

Frontiers — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 10:54:55 +0000

Scientists discover that interplanetary shocks that strike Earth’s magnetic field head-on cause more powerful ground-level electric currents, threatening pipelines and submarine cables. Auroras are caused by particles from the sun hitting the Earth’s magnetic field — but these impacts also cause geomagnetically induced currents at ground level, which can damage infrastructure that conducts electricity. Scientists [...]

How Organic Semiconductors Are Revolutionizing Solar Power

University of Kansas — Fri, 12 Jul 2024 21:13:15 +0000

New research partially explains the exceptional performance of a new class of organic semiconductors called non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs). Solar energy plays a vital role in the transition to a clean-energy future. Typically, silicon, a common semiconductor found in everyday electronics, is used to harvest solar energy. However, silicon solar panels come with limitations—they are costly [...]

“Super Grids” to the Rescue: Harnessing Sun and Wind Against Caribbean Hurricanes

Oak Ridge National Laboratory — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 23:40:10 +0000

Researchers have developed a model for “super grids” to sustain electricity in the Caribbean during hurricanes, exploring interconnected grid systems to offset the impact of reduced solar power. This initiative aims to enhance energy reliability and resilience in the face of frequent storms. When hurricanes threaten tropical shores, “super grids” could come to the rescue. [...]

New Lithium Metal Batteries Promise Double the Energy and Half the Environmental Impact

ETH Zurich — Tue, 09 Jul 2024 16:26:35 +0000

ETH Zurich has developed a method that dramatically cuts down on fluorine use in lithium metal batteries, doubling energy storage capacity while enhancing safety and environmental friendliness. Lithium metal batteries stand out as a leading contender for the next wave of advanced, high-energy batteries. They offer at least double the energy storage per unit volume [...]

Revolutionizing Gas Separation: A Breakthrough in Efficiency and Cost

University of Colorado at Boulder — Sat, 06 Jul 2024 10:49:24 +0000

A new porous material allows for efficient, low-energy gas separation and is scalable for industrial use, offering a sustainable alternative to traditional methods. Separating gases plays a crucial role in various industries, from medical applications, where nitrogen and oxygen are separated from air, to environmental processes like carbon capture, where carbon dioxide is isolated from [...]

600% Boost: Scientists Develop Game-Changing AI Chip With Impressive Energy Efficiency

Oregon State University — Thu, 27 Jun 2024 22:02:44 +0000

A new AI chip could potentially increase energy efficiency by six times, aligning computation and data storage in a manner akin to biological neural networks and significantly reducing AI’s electrical footprint. A researcher from the College of Engineering at Oregon State University has contributed to the development of a new artificial intelligence chip that boasts [...]

3x Improvement: Revolutionary Catalyst Coating Technology Skyrockets Fuel Cell Performance in Just 4 Minutes

National Research Council of Science & Technology — Wed, 26 Jun 2024 17:10:43 +0000

A new oxide catalyst coating technique significantly enhances the performance of solid oxide fuel cells, tripling their efficiency. This breakthrough technology is versatile and can be applied to various applications, including solid oxide fuel cells and high-temperature electrolysis. Researchers have developed a groundbreaking catalyst coating technology for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) that drastically enhances [...]

Green Hydrogen Breakthrough: New Catalyst Unveils the Hidden Power of Water

The Institute of Photonic Sciences — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 19:51:44 +0000

Researchers have developed a breakthrough iridium-free catalyst for water electrolysis, paving the way for sustainable and large-scale green hydrogen production. Hydrogen offers significant potential as both a chemical and energy carrier for decarbonizing society. Unlike traditional fuels, using hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide. However, most hydrogen currently produced derives from methane, a fossil fuel, [...]

Rewriting Basic Biology Textbooks: Scientists Reveal Secret Behind Humans’ Microbial Ancestors’ Hydrogen Production

Monash University — Fri, 21 Jun 2024 02:13:00 +0000

An international team of scientists has transformed our understanding of archaea, ancient microbial ancestors of humans dating back two billion years, by demonstrating their utilization of hydrogen gas. The findings, published in Cell, reveal how these microorganisms generate energy by consuming and producing hydrogen. This straightforward yet reliable method has enabled them to survive and [...]

Cutting Costs and Increasing Efficiency: New Catalyst Revolutionizes Hydrogen Production

Brookhaven National Laboratory — Thu, 20 Jun 2024 10:51:57 +0000

A successful demonstration could enhance the production of hydrogen from water. Hydrogen (H2) holds great potential as a fuel to reduce greenhouse gases, particularly when produced by using renewable energy to split water molecules (H2O). However, despite the apparent simplicity of breaking water into hydrogen and oxygen, the underlying chemistry is quite complex. Two separate [...]

Poultry Power: Transforming Waste Chicken Fat into Clean Energy

American Chemical Society — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 18:01:15 +0000

Researchers have developed a novel method to convert chicken fat into carbon-based electrodes for supercapacitors, offering an eco-friendly alternative to traditional materials. This innovation not only addresses the cost and environmental issues associated with existing storage devices but also enhances the performance and efficiency of energy storage technologies. Global Shift to Sustainable Energy and Storage [...]

Stanford Unveils Game-Changing Liquid Fuel Technology for Grid Energy Storage

Stanford University — Tue, 18 Jun 2024 00:24:54 +0000

Stanford scientists are enhancing liquid fuel storage methods by developing new catalytic systems for isopropanol production to optimize energy retention and release. As California transitions rapidly to renewable fuels, it needs new technologies that can store power for the electric grid. Solar power drops at night and declines in winter. Wind power ebbs and flows. [...]

From Near Death to High-Tech: Taming the Beast of Electricity

Trisha Radulovich, Florida State University — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 11:16:43 +0000

An engineering professor transformed a traumatic childhood experience with electricity into a career dedicated to enhancing electrical safety. He developed a Z-source inverter that responds to electrical faults 1,000 times faster than traditional methods, aiming to fortify power grid stability and prevent disasters like wildfires caused by downed power lines. When FAMU-FSU College of Engineering [...]

Longstanding Theories Challenged – Energy Cost of Animal Reproduction Much Higher Than Previously Thought

American Association for the Advancement of Science — Thu, 13 Jun 2024 00:55:07 +0000

A study shows that the energy costs of animal reproduction are significantly higher than once thought, mainly due to indirect costs like gestation. This discovery challenges traditional biological models and suggests climate change could further affect reproductive strategies in temperature-sensitive species. A recent study reveals that the energy expended in animal reproduction could be up [...]

1200V and Rising: Scientists Push the Limits of High-Performance GaN Semiconductors

Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 18:58:04 +0000

Scientists have developed GaN semiconductors to boost efficiency and reduce costs in electric vehicles and renewable energy, aiding the energy transition. Key technologies crucial for the energy transition—including electric vehicles, charging infrastructure converters, energy storage systems, as well as solar and wind power plants—depend heavily on electronic components that deliver both high performance and efficiency. [...]