An international research team led by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech (UPC) has created a hybrid device that combines, for the first time ever, molecular solar thermal energy storage with silicon-based photovoltaic energy. It achieves a record energy storage efficiency of 2.3% and up to 14.9% total solar energy utilization. Photovoltaic solar energy has become […]
Metals Tech
How workplaces can better support the growing number of EV drivers
A new study from the University of California San Diego has developed an innovative computational tool that can help institutions to better design electric vehicle (EV) charging networks by focusing on how real drivers use their cars and charge them. The study, published in the journal Renewable Energy, is designed to meet the needs of […]
Unique hybrid device generates electricity and stores thermal energy efficiently and sustainably
An international research team led by the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech (UPC) has created a hybrid device that combines, for the first time ever, molecular solar thermal energy storage with silicon-based photovoltaic energy. It achieves a record energy storage efficiency of 2.3% and up to 14.9% total solar energy utilization. Photovoltaic solar energy has become […]
Porous plastic sheets can cool buildings by radiating light to space
Traditional cooling systems for buildings use refrigerants and electricity, which contribute to the atmospheric greenhouse effect that exacerbates more extreme weather events. In response, materials scientists have turned to unconventional methods for cooling down buildings. An international team of researchers co-led by Akhlesh Lakhtakia, Penn State Evan Pugh University Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics, […]
Self-powered sensor can generate electricity and light simultaneously using only movement
DGIST research teams have developed a self-powered sensor that uses motion and pressure to generate electricity and light simultaneously. This battery-free technology is expected to be used in various real-life applications, such as disaster rescue, sports, and wearable devices. Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENG) and mechanoluminescence (ML) have attracted attention as green energy technologies that can generate […]
Norway nears 100% goal of all-electric cars
Almost 96 percent of new cars registered in Norway in January were electric, an unparalled number in the world and close to the country’s goal of selling only zero-emission vehicles as of this year. A total of 9,343 new cars were sold in January, of which 8,954 were all-electric, the Norwegian Road Federation (OFV) said. […]
Chip-free wireless sensors could reduce environmental impact of electronic tags
A more sustainable new form of electronic tag could help reduce the vast environmental impact caused by single-use RFID technologies, researchers say. Engineers from the University of Glasgow have developed the new wireless tag system, which can identify objects and measure temperature without the use of microchips. Instead, the tags use inexpensive coils and a […]
Improving the range of electric vehicles using aluminum
There are many electric vehicles in Norway, and each contains many electrical conductors. These electrical conductors contribute significantly to the overall weight of the vehicles. “Historically, electrical conductors have been made of copper, for the simple reason that this metal has excellent conductivity, formability and strength,” said Ph.D. research fellow Jørgen A. Sørhaug at NTNU. […]
Your fridge still uses tech from the 50s, but scientists have an update
Researchers report on Jan. 30 in the journal Joule that a more efficient and environmentally friendly form of refrigeration might be on the horizon. The new technology is based on thermogalvanic cells that produce a cooling effect by way of a reversible electrochemical reaction. Thermogalvanic refrigeration is cheaper and more environmentally friendly than other cooling […]
The First Carbon-14 Diamond Battery Is Here—and It Will Run for 5,700 Years
The development of batteries that can last for years (or even decades) forever changed human health, space exploration, and telecommunications. But a battery that can last thousands of years—who knows what that could enable. Now, scientists at the University of Bristol and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) are eager to find out. Earlier this […]
