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Chemical crossover accelerates degradation of lithium electrode in high energy density rechargeable lithium–oxygen batteries

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.

SourceNational Institute for Materials Science, Japan·JournalAdvanced Energy Materials·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 15, 2023

Study quantifies global impact of electricity in dust storms on Mars

Researchers find that electrical discharge in Martian dust storms could be a major driving force of the planet's chlorine cycle. The study reveals high yields of chlorine gases from common chlorides when electrified by Martian conditions, indicating a promising pathway for converting surface chlorides to atmospheric phases.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalGeophysical Research Letters·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2023

New ultrafast water disinfection method is more environmentally friendly

Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have developed a new ultrafast water disinfection method that uses locally enhanced electric field treatment, killing bacteria with nanosecond pulses. This technology reduces energy consumption by eight times and shortens treatment time by 1 million times, making it an affordable sanitatio...

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalNature Water·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 16, 2023

Towards highly conducting molecular materials with a partially oxidized organic neutral molecule

A team of researchers from Japan has developed a single purely organic neutral molecule with an incomplete oxidation state for the first time. The new molecule exhibits multi-step phase transitions and crossover caused by intra- and intermolecular electronic interactions, leading to unique strongly correlated electron properties.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 19, 2023

New UCF-developed battery could prevent post-hurricane electric vehicle fires

The UCF-developed battery uses saltwater as an electrolyte, eliminating volatile solvents and overcoming limitations of previous aqueous batteries. The novel design allows for fast charging in just three minutes and increased stability, making it a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional lithium-ion batteries.

SourceUniversity of Central Florida·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 10, 2023

Researchers zoom in on battery wear and tear

Researchers at the University of Chicago's Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering have used a combination of electron microscopy and computational modeling to understand how lithium-ion batteries degrade. They found that variation between areas of the battery, particularly electrolyte corrosion, leads to faster degradation.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalJoule·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateDec 22, 2022

CityU scientists discover a novel photophysical mechanism that has achieved record-breaking efficiency for organic photovoltaics

Researchers from City University of Hong Kong developed a novel device-engineering strategy to suppress energy conversion loss in organic photovoltaics, achieving PCE over 19%. The discovery enables OPVs to maximize photocurrent and overcome the limit of maximum achievable efficiency.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalNature Energy·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 21, 2022

Scientists fabricated highly long-life Li-S batteries based on multifunctional separators functionalized by porous mediators

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.

SourceInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·JournalInternational Journal of Extreme Manufacturing·DateDec 15, 2022

Charged porphyrins: The key to investigating the properties of stacked ion pairs

Charged porphyrins enable researchers to study π-electronic ion pairs and their interactions, leading to the creation of electronic materials with unique properties. The study reveals fascinating new properties of stacked ion pairs and their potential applications in fields like nanomagnetism and ferroelectrics.

SourceRitsumeikan University·JournalJournal of the American Chemical Society·TypeExperimental study·DateNov 21, 2022

Ben-Gurion University scientist resolves one of the holy grails of physical chemistry after 17 years of research

A team of researchers, led by Prof. Ehud Pines, has confirmed his theory that a proton moves through water in trains of three water molecules, contradicting the long-held Grotthuss Mechanism. This breakthrough resolves one of the holy grails of physical chemistry after 17 years of research.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalAngewandte Chemie·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 29, 2022

More reasons to go solar when gearing up for a greener drive

Researchers from the University of South Australia found that households with solar panels and batteries can significantly reduce their annual electricity costs when charging electric vehicles. With off-peak charging, EV owners can save up to 39.6% on energy costs, making it a more affordable option for environmentally-friendly driving.

SourceUniversity of South Australia·JournalRenewable Energy·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateSep 27, 2022

Magnetic field helps thick battery electrodes tackle electric vehicle challenges

Researchers at UT Austin fabricated a new type of electrode using magnets to create vertical alignment, enabling faster charging and potentially doubling range on single charge. The vertically assembled nanosheet networks show superior electrochemical performance due to high mechanical strength and electrical conductivity.

SourceUniversity of Texas at Austin·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 26, 2022

Higher solar yield, less power effort

Researchers at Kyoto University have developed a new type of organic solar cell that generates electricity efficiently even with a relatively low offset of 0.1 eV. This breakthrough offers a promising solution for the production of more efficient and flexible solar panels, potentially reducing energy consumption and environmental impact.

SourceKyoto University·JournalEnergy & Environmental Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 7, 2022

Multi-functional electrostatic droplet tweezer remotely guides droplet motion

A research team from City University of Hong Kong developed a multi-functional electrostatic droplet tweezer that can precisely trap and remotely guide liquid droplets on flat and tilted surfaces, as well as in oil mediums. The technology offers precise and programmable droplet manipulation with high velocity and agile direction steering.

SourceCity University of Hong Kong·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 1, 2022

Quantum mechanics affects light emission

Researchers found that quantum mechanics' influence on particles affects light emission, demonstrating wavefunction collapse and altering interference patterns. The study sheds new light on the counter-intuitive phenomenon, revealing a direct connection between light emission and quantum entanglement.

SourceTel-Aviv University·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateOct 4, 2021

Surprising qualities of insulator ring surfaces

Researchers have discovered that ring-shaped topological insulators display characteristics similar to those in spherical materials. The study reveals a zero-energy state on the surface of ring-shaped insulators and a coupling between charge carriers and curvature, leading to gauge fields and unique electron spin behavior.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal B·DateJun 29, 2016

Electric charge disorder: A key to biological order?

Researchers discovered that random patches of disordered electric charges can induce a twisting force strong enough to affect biological objects at nanometers or micrometers away. This phenomenon could help understand patterns in biology, such as lock and key interactions.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateApr 30, 2012

The art of stabilizing entangled spaghetti-like materials

Researchers have found that electric charge ratio and polymer concentrations control complex properties, allowing stable delivery of DNA into targeted cell nuclei. Future work focuses on forming complexes with controlled size and electric charge for efficient gene therapy.

SourceSpringer·JournalThe European Physical Journal E·DateNov 28, 2011