New ion speed record holds potential for faster battery charging, biosensing

20-Nov-2024 - A speed record has been broken using nanoscience, which could lead to a host of new advances, including improved battery charging, biosensing, soft robotics and neuromorphic computing. Scientists at Washington State University and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have discovered a way to ...

Breakthrough in capturing 'hot' CO2 from industrial exhaust

A metal-organic framework is capable of capturing CO2 at extreme temperatures

19-Nov-2024 - Industrial plants, such as those that make cement or steel, emit copious amounts of carbon dioxide, a potent greenhouse gas, but the exhaust is too hot for state-of-the-art carbon removal technology. Lots of energy and water are needed to cool the exhaust streams, a requirement that has limited ...

Fighting microplastics for a cleaner future

Dr. Manish Shetty is working to break down microplastics to create usable fuel

13-Nov-2024 - Microplastics, plastics smaller than 5 millimeters, are littered across the world, contributing to global warming, disrupting food chains, and harming ecosystems with toxic chemicals. This is why Dr. Manish Shetty is working to break down plastics before they can get into the ...

“The integration of robotics and AI is poised to revolutionize science labs”

By automating routine tasks, scientists can focus on higher-level research questions, paving the way for faster breakthroughs

28-Oct-2024 - Science laboratories across disciplines—chemistry, biochemistry and materials science—are on the verge of a sweeping transformation as robotic automation and AI lead to faster and more precise experiments that unlock breakthroughs in fields like health, energy and electronics, according to ...

Research breakthrough could be key to low-cost, long-lasting renewable batteries for electric vehicles

A cost-effective solution that delivers more energy

28-Oct-2024 - Lithium-sulfur batteries have never lived up to their potential as the next generation of renewable batteries for electric vehicles and other devices. But ​SMU mechanical engineerDonghai Wang and his research team have found a way to make these Li-S batteries last longer – with higher energy ...

Are trees the future for the production of industrial chemicals?

Finding could help turn trees into affordable, greener industrial chemicals

22-Oct-2024 - Trees are the most abundant natural resource living on Earth’s land masses, and North Carolina State University scientists and engineers are making headway in finding ways to use them as sustainable, environmentally benign alternatives to producing industrial chemicals from petroleum. Lignin, a ...

Researchers unlock the “silicate magic” for safer, cheaper, and more efficient batteries

Xiaowei Teng leads team eyeing new way of using iron to create high-performance energy storage

22-Oct-2024 - The world is rapidly transitioning to renewable power, but there are shortcomings. Solar power falls at night, and wind power recedes and ascends irregularly. New technologies need to be developed that can store energy from the electrical grid when there’s a surplus and deploy it when there’s not ...

Octopus-inspired adhesive works well in wet conditions

14-Oct-2024 - In research published in Advanced Science, investigators drew inspiration from the octopus to develop an adhesive that achieves strong attachment and controlled release on varied substrates in wet and underwater environments. The feat could have numerous applications in fields ranging from ...

Bubble findings could unlock better electrode and electrolyzer designs

A new study of bubbles on electrode surfaces could help improve the efficiency of electrochemical processes that produce fuels, chemicals, and materials

14-Oct-2024 - Industrial electrochemical processes that use electrodes to produce fuels and chemical products are hampered by the formation of bubbles that block parts of the electrode surface, reducing the area available for the active reaction. Such blockage reduces the performance of the electrodes by ...

Scientists develop novel method for strengthening PVC products

New method may mean less microplastic pollution

10-Oct-2024 - Researchers have developed a way to make one type of plastic material more durable and less likely to shed dangerous microplastics. The study identified a secure way to attach chemical additives to polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Found in everything from toys, construction supplies and medical ...