Metals Tech

The global shift to electric vehicles is gaining momentum, yet the extraction of battery materials has a significant environmental footprint that comes with high costs. Now, two studies led by McGill University researchers offer hope in the search to manufacture cheaper and greener lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles (EVs). Their findings unlock the potential to produce […]

Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory used additive manufacturing to produce the first defect-free complex tungsten parts for use in extreme environments. The accomplishment could have positive implications for clean-energy technologies such as fusion energy. Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal, making it ideal for fusion reactors where plasma temperatures exceed 180 […]

The production of cement and quicklime is energy demanding and causes high carbon dioxide emissions. This is because the fuel, which is used for heating, and the limestone, which is converted into quicklime at high temperatures, emits carbon dioxide. By replacing fossil fuels with renewable ones, emissions can be reduced by up to 40%. “A […]

By some criteria, 1290 Embarcadero in Morro Bay, Calif. seems like a prime site for a facility to store renewable energy. The swath of coastal land houses a power plant that shuttered a decade ago and its still standing smokestacks. Vistra Corp.’s proposal for a 600-megawatt battery storage project on a portion of the site […]

A research team has developed a three-dimensional polymeric structure, a lightweight structure that facilitates the transport of lithium (Li) ions. Their study was recently published in the journal Advanced Science. Battery technology used in electronic devices such as electric vehicles and smartphones continues to evolve. Notably, lithium metal anodes have an energy capacity of 3,860 […]

A technology developed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory works to keep food refrigerated with phase change materials, or PCMs, while reducing carbon emissions by 30%. More than 100 million household refrigerators in operation across the United States consume up to 2 kilowatts of electricity daily. These refrigerators contribute to energy consumption and carbon emissions by […]

Like any other battery, a quantum battery is a device that stores energy. But unlike its electrochemical counterparts, which are charged by flows of electrons, a quantum battery feeds on photons. Effects such as quantum entanglement and quantum coherence mean that a quantum battery can charge faster as you add more cells (see Viewpoint: Sizing Up […]

TOKYO — Panasonic Holdings is looking to more than double its domestic production of EV batteries to supply potential customers like Mazda and Subaru and improve the performance of its Japanese factory. “We are estimating our target for 2030 based on our demand from [potential] customers,” President and CEO Yuki Kusumi said in an interview […]

Floating photovoltaics (FPV), also known as floating solar farms, are photovoltaic systems that can be deployed on the sea’s surface or on other bodies of water. While their environmental impact is still the topic of debate worldwide, these systems could be highly advantageous for generating renewable energy, particularly in warm regions where available land is […]

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is both an essential resource for life on Earth and a greenhouse gas contributing to global warming. Today, scientists are investigating CO2 as a promising resource that can be utilized to create renewable low-carbon fuels and high-value chemical products. The challenge for researchers has been to identify efficient and cost-effective CO2 conversion pathways […]