Skoltech researchers have found a way to produce hydrogen from natural gas with 45% efficiency right in the gas field by injecting steam and a catalyst into a well and adding oxygen to ignite the gas. Catalyst-assisted combustion produces a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, from which the latter can be easily extracted. This […]
Metals Tech
China Accelerates Solid State Battery Development with Government Funding Boost
In the bustling world of battery innovation, China continues to make headlines. This time, it’s all about solid-state batteries. Over the past several years, the nation steadily powered up its battery metals research and development efforts, betting big on this game-changing technology. But why all the buzz? Let’s take a closer look at China’s recent […]
EV battery researchers unveil lightweight tech offering 2 key improvements over standard batteries: ‘A breakthrough in future battery technology’
Batteries to power electric vehicles, smartphones, and other machines are evolving, and another development in the industry promises to improve the performance of the cells and make them lighter. A team of researchers from South Korea created a lightweight structure to improve the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, enabling them to remain stable after more […]
Scientists develop ultra-thin battery for smart contact lenses that could be charged by tears
Scientist Lee Seok Woo said a scene from a “Mission Impossible” movie inspired his latest invention: batteries for smart contact lenses. In the fourth film of the series, an agent wears contact lenses capable of facial recognition and eye tracking. Lee wanted to make that lens a reality. “I was thinking, ‘How can I work […]
Study introduces improved plutonium production with enhanced efficiency and reduced costs
Have you ever wondered what a spacecraft and a pacemaker have in common? Both are powered by plutonium-238 (238Pu), a versatile isotope, known for its ideal heating properties. Recent research unveils a new high-resolution neutronics model that significantly improves the production of 238Pu, increasing yield by close to 20% in high-flux reactors and reducing costs. […]
Calculations predict that a large proportion of trucks in Denmark will run on electricity within the next 10 years
The transition to electric cars is well underway. At the turn of the year, Denmark reached 200,000 registered electric cars, and last year electric cars accounted for 36% of all newly registered cars. However, the figure is quite different for electric trucks. Electric trucks only make up about 1% of the total truck fleet in […]
A strategy to design anti-freezing electrolytes for batteries that can operate in extremely cold environments
Battery technologies that can reliably operate at very low temperatures could be highly valuable for a wide range of applications. These batteries could, for instance, power devices, vehicles, and robotic systems in outer space, deep under the sea, and in other extreme environments. To safely and effectively operate in these environments, batteries should have components […]
Ford patents unconventional method for battery-swapping EVs
A recently discovered Ford patent filing details an EV battery swapping system with an unusual design. Most battery swapping systems to date are designed to work with floor-mounted battery packs, but a patent application published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on May, and originally filed by Ford in 2018, discusses drive-up […]
Researchers use AI to accelerate the chase for safer, better batteries
As the clean transition drives uptake of electric vehicles and energy storage for an electricity grid with ever greater dependence on variable renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, the danger from battery fires grows as well. To limit this risk while improving battery performance, the next generation of batteries is likely to depend […]
Novel dry-film technique developed for sulfide all-solid-state batteries
The integration of all-solid-state batteries with sulfide electrolytes is emerging as a promising electrochemical system with potential advances in energy density. The demand for thin sulfides, especially those with high flexibility, superior ionic conductivity, and strong interfacial stability, is critical. The prevailing preference for solvent-free technology is well justified due to its environmental friendliness, cost […]
