Articles tagged with Energy Storage
A team of researchers at North Carolina State University has created a zinc-ion battery prototype with a fiber-shaped cathode, which can power a wrist watch. The team used graphene oxide and manganese dioxide materials to create a yarn-shaped battery that is strong, flexible, and electrically conductive.
Research has shown that MOFs can enhance electrocatalytic performance by regulating the energy of reaction intermediates and adsorption strength. Strategies to design stable and conductive MOFs are crucial for commercialization.
A new study suggests that using underground water for thermal energy storage (ATES) can reduce heating and cooling energy demand in the US by 40%, making urban energy infrastructure more resilient. ATES stores energy as temperature underground, leveraging natural geological features to heat or cool buildings during extreme weather events.
Scientists have found that cells break down and reassemble fatty acids to create more beneficial variants, such as oleic acid. This process, called triglyceride cycling, refines poorly usable fatty acids into higher-quality forms.
Texas A&M researchers have found a significant increase in energy storage capacity of water-based battery electrodes, paving the way for safer and more stable batteries. The discovery could provide an alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which are facing material shortages and price increases.
The Faraday Institution has refocused six existing battery research projects to prioritize areas with the greatest potential for success. The £29 million investment will drive innovation in energy storage technologies, transforming the UK energy landscape from transportation to the grid.
The oxygen-ion battery has an extremely long service life due to its ability to regenerate and store capacity that does not decrease over time. It also solves the problem of fire hazards associated with lithium-ion batteries.
University of Minnesota-led researchers developed a new process for making spintronic devices with unmatched energy efficiency and memory storage density. The breakthrough enables smaller devices to be scaled down to sizes as small as five nanometers.
Numerical simulations reveal that spherical particles grow with dynamic oscillation during electrodeposition, influenced by applied electrical potential difference, electrolyte concentration, and diffusion coefficient. The oscillation state results from a competition between electrochemical reactions and ion transport.
Researchers at NIMS found that a lithium negative electrode degrades rapidly during charge/discharge cycles, causing overpotential and short cycle life. Using a lightweight protective layer, they extended the battery's cycle life without compromising its high energy density.
Researchers pioneered a technique to observe the 3D internal structure of rechargeable batteries, enabling direct observation of the solid electric interface (SEI) and its progression. The study reveals key predictors of SEI layer formation in a complex interplay of molecular dimensions, surface properties, and solvent interactions.
A team from Chalmers University of Technology has developed a method to observe the formation of lithium microstructures in real-time using X-ray tomographic microscopy. This breakthrough aims to improve the safety and capacity of lithium metal batteries, which could replace traditional lithium-ion batteries in the future.
TUS researchers develop novel method to create multi-walled CNT wiring on plastic films under ambient conditions, enabling flexible devices and energy conversion devices. The proposed method produces high-quality wires with varying resistance values.
A novel deep learning-based forecasting model predicts uncertain parameters related to renewable energy sources, their energy demand, and market prices. The model demonstrates improved prediction accuracy and efficiency compared to existing methods.
A new Argonne study compares drone energy usage to diesel trucks and electric vehicles, finding that drones consume as much energy as either on average windy days. The models are based on regional energy consumption and facility costs of direct delivery drones under various wind speed scenarios.
A Berkeley Lab-led team has designed a new type of solid electrolyte consisting of a mix of various metal elements, resulting in a more conductive and less dependent material. The new design could advance solid-state batteries with high energy density and superior safety, potentially overcoming long-standing challenges.
Researchers developed a new polymer-based device that efficiently handles record amounts of energy while withstanding extreme temperatures and electric fields. The device has outstanding dielectric properties, especially at high electric fields and temperatures.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have discovered that hydrogen atoms play a crucial role in twisting iron, enabling more efficient chemical reactions. Additionally, the lab has developed technology to reuse old electric vehicle batteries as energy storage systems for the grid, reducing pollution and carbon emissions.
A team of researchers has identified the importance of rifted margins in the transition to a green economy. These continental margins harbor vast accumulations of rocks and hydrocarbon reserves, making them a potential location for new resources needed for a carbon-neutral economy. The study provides an overview of the processes that s...
Researchers designed unique NiS2/FeS heterostructures to address sodium-ion battery drawbacks, exhibiting improved high-rate performance and cycling stability. DFT calculations confirmed the enhanced performance due to the strong internal electric field at the interface.
Researchers discovered a size threshold beyond which antiferroelectric materials become ferroelectric, losing energy storage advantages. At thicknesses below 40 nm, the material becomes completely ferroelectric, while above 270 nm, ferroelectric regions appear.
Researchers have made progress toward fast-charging lithium-metal batteries by growing uniform lithium crystals on a lithiophobic nanocomposite surface. This approach enables charging in about an hour, competitive with today's lithium-ion batteries and overcoming a significant roadblock to widespread use.
Researchers developed a new molten salt battery design using sodium and aluminum that can charge and discharge faster, operate at lower temperatures, and maintain excellent energy storage capacity. The battery's specific energy density could reach up to 100 Wh/kg, making it a promising solution for 10-plus hours of energy storage.
Researchers developed an elastic material using liquid metal that resists both gases and liquids, offering a trade-off between elasticity and gas resistance. The material, created with gallium-indium alloy, has been tested to prevent the escape of oxygen and liquids, showing promising potential for use in high-value tech packaging
Researchers have discovered a new form of carbon, LOPC, which consists of 'broken C60 cages' connected by long-range periodicity. The formation of LOPC occurs under specific temperature and carbon/Li3N ratio conditions, and its characterization reveals unique electrical conductivity properties.
Researchers have used a technique called QCM-D to observe the interplay between hydration structures and ion configurations in layered materials. The study found that the hydration structure plays a crucial role in determining the material's ion-storage capacity, with flexible layers helping to stabilize the structure.
Researchers explore interfacial engineering to improve the stability and performance of flexible perovskite solar cells. By modifying interfaces, they can passivate defects, control stress and oxidation, and enhance charge extraction and transport.
Transition metal nitrides (TMNs) show high intrinsic electrocatalytic activities on hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), thanks to their unique electronic structures and properties. Recent strategies like facet, alloying, doping, vacancy, heterostructure, and hybridization have improved TMN performances.
Researchers fabricated Li-S batteries with ultra-long cycle life over 2000 cycles via multifunctional separator design. The novel hollow and hierarchically porous Fe3O4 nanospheres effectively regulate LiPSs behavior, achieving high sulfur utilization and excellent electrochemical performances.
Researchers have successfully fabricated bifunctional flexible electrochromic supercapacitors using silver nanowire flexible transparent electrodes. The devices can exhibit color changes to display energy status, offering potential for smart windows and wearable electronics. With excellent stability and high areal capacitance, these fl...
Researchers developed a novel separator using graphene oxide, acetylene black and polypropylene to suppress lithium polysulfide dissolution and improve lithium-ion transportation. The new separator enables efficient Li-S batteries with better performance and stability.
Researchers developed a new protective layer to stabilize Zn anode in aqueous Zn-ion batteries, improving cycling performance and lifespan. The NTP-C coated Zn electrode exhibits high corrosion potential, low nucleation overpotential, and stable cycling performance.
A KIT study reveals that low-temperature aquifer thermal energy storage is a promising technology for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from heating and cooling buildings. The study found that over 54% of German territory is suited well or very well for this system, with the potential to increase by 13% by 2100.
The formation of fine bubbles in catalyst pores enhances gas generation reactions from liquid phase systems. This leads to a significant increase in the release of hydrogen per unit time, making the technology more compact and powerful. The discovery provides new insights into performance-limiting factors in heterogeneous catalysis.
The proposal aims to provide a central repository for battery test information, enabling researchers to use advanced data science methods to accelerate battery technology development. The availability of open-source information on batteries is limited, but the Battery Data Genome could help address this challenge.
Scientists have created a new type of battery that stores sodium ions in combination with their solvate shell, enabling reversible co-intercalation. This innovation could improve efficiency and performance at low temperatures, making it suitable for alternative cell concepts.
Researchers created a thermally stable anatase material for sodium-ion batteries, overcoming key challenges of poor electron conductivity and ion diffusion. The material exhibits good rate performance and excellent cycling stability, with a reversible specific capacity of 228 mAh g−1.
Researchers aim to improve grid flexibility by reducing motor aging and increasing renewable energy utilization. They develop a numerical model to predict electric motor aging under different control conditions, promoting widespread adoption in electricity markets.
Researchers discuss micro-supercapacitors' applications in micro-wearable electronics, including integrated circuits. The study highlights the advantages of micro-supercapacitors, such as ultrahigh power density and small footprint, making them suitable for portable devices.
Researchers from Shanghai Polytechnic University developed new efficient phase change microcapsules for storing solar energy, demonstrating superior photothermal conversion and thermal conductivity. The study found that the novel PCM microcapsule shells showed a 54.9% photothermal conversion efficiency, significantly higher than non-do...
A University of Houston professor has developed a nonreciprocal solar energy harvesting system that surpasses the thermodynamic limit and clears the way to use solar power 24/7. The new system can achieve significant efficiency boosts, paving the way for practical applications in power plants.
A new Stanford study found that widespread home electric vehicle charging at night could strain the US western grid by up to 25% by 2035. The researchers recommend daytime charging at work or public stations to reduce peak demand and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at Boise State University and Argonne National Laboratory create high-performance battery electrode material with a unique crystalline structure. The material shows promise for fast charging and excellent storage capacity, potentially overcoming significant shortcomings in lithium-ion batteries.
Researchers at Linköping University used computer simulations to show that stable aromatic molecules can become reactive after absorbing light. This could enable new ways to control photochemical reactions using the aromaticity of molecules.
ORNL researchers have won seven 2022 R&D 100 Awards for their advancements in materials science, machine learning, and energy storage. DuAlumin-3D, a high-strength aluminum alloy, and Gremlin, an AI system to identify weaknesses in machine learning models, are among the winning technologies.
Researchers at MIT have developed a new kind of battery using abundant and inexpensive materials, offering a potential solution for large-scale backup power systems. The battery's molten salt electrolyte has been shown to prevent dendrite shorting, a common reliability issue in lithium-ion batteries.
A new study by Boston University School of Public Health found that decarbonization pathways need to incorporate more efficient electric heating technologies and renewable energy sources to minimize strain on the US electric grid. The researchers analyzed building energy data from March 2010 to February 2020 and found that winter heati...
The US Department of Energy has selected six new science and technology innovators to advance game-changing clean energy technologies through the Innovation Crossroads program. The startups will receive support from world-class experts and unique capabilities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
A team of scientists has designed a system that uses water, CO2, and sunlight to produce synthetic kerosene, which can power long-haul commercial flights. The design has been implemented in the field, and its efficiency is around 4%, with plans to improve it to over 15%.
Researchers have developed microsupercapacitors that can be integrated onto stone tiles, enabling high-performance and customizable power from natural building materials. The devices maintain a high energy storage capacity even after multiple charge-discharge cycles.
Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley Lab have found a way to generate an alternative jet fuel by harvesting an unusual carbon molecule produced by soil-dwelling bacteria. The fuel, which works similarly to biodiesel, has the potential to be powerful enough to send a rocket into space.
Researchers used an isomer beam to study isomer depletion in a low gamma-ray background environment. They found no evidence of isomer depletion and measured the excitation probability at less than 2×10^−5, consistent with theoretical calculations.
Researchers developed a mathematical model that brings together physics and chemistry involved in dendrite formation, suggesting swapping new electrolytes with certain properties could slow or stop dendrite growth. The study aims to guide the design of lithium-metal batteries with longer life span.
A new study found that farmers can increase farm revenues and double net profitability by harvesting 30% of corn stover for biofuel production. Removal of the stover also mitigates greenhouse gas emissions, but reduces soil carbon content. The approach could help US agriculture reach its goal of net zero emissions.
Harvard researchers develop new method to extend the lifetime of organic molecules in organic aqueous flow batteries, improving their commercial viability. The approach works by periodically providing a shock to revive decomposed molecules, resulting in a net lifetime increase of up to 260 times.
Researchers developed a bumpy carbon-based material that maintains rechargeable storage capacity down to -31 F, improving lithium-ion batteries' performance in freezing temperatures. The new material enables electric cars to drive longer and reduces the risk of battery failure in extreme cold.
Scientists designed novel hard carbon anodes with controlled defects, pore structures, and cation doping to boost sodium storage capacity. The optimized materials showed improved rate capability, cycling stability, and energy density. Introducing potassium ions regulated the microstructure and surface functionality of the anodes.
Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have made significant advancements in recovering rare earth metals, developing safer batteries, and enhancing material properties through tailored molecules and advanced microscopy. These discoveries could lead to more efficient clean energy technologies and reduced carbon impacts.
A new study suggests achieving a 50% reduction in US greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 is possible through increasing renewable capacity and transitioning to electric vehicles. This would limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, aligning with the UN's climate target.
Researchers have found a way to perform hydrogen atom transfer reactions with fewer chemicals and less cost, making it more efficient for industrial and academic settings. The new method uses electrochemistry to create cobalt hydride catalysts, reducing the need for expensive oxidants and reductants.