Articles on or after 4/19/2024: PHYS.ORG - Technology
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A flexible and efficient DC power converter for sustainable-energy microgrids - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · Electric power comes in two kinds, AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current). Famously, the question over which kind should be used for national power grids, the "Current War" of the late 19th century, got settled in favor of AC and most power plants today produce this kind. However, solar power, batteries and in particular those in electric vehicles, and computers all depend on DC, making lossy AC-to-DC conversion necessary. An alternative to this is the establishment of DC microgrids that integrate various renewable DC energy sources and storage devices and deliver energy directly to data centers and other DC appliances. This eliminates the need for AC-to-DC ... Read more ... |
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Aerogel-based phase change materials improve thermal management, reduce microwave emissions in electronic devices - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 23) |
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Apr 23 · Chinese scientists from Beijing Normal University have been working on building shielding for electronic devices using multifunctional composite phase change materials (PCMs) to address these performance issues. PCMs are man-made materials built by combining different types of elements, allowing the creation of a new material with very specific purpose driven characteristics. In this case, the researchers are looking to improve thermal management, solar-thermal conversion and microwave absorption in the electronic devices. Using engineering inspired by biological systems, they built a neural network-inspired aerogel that increases the efficiency of thermal management and ... Read more ... |
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Amazon sold a chemical that led to 15 deaths: Who is responsible? - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 22) |
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Apr 22 · In December 2020, 15-year-old Tyler Schmidt took a deadly chemical to a wooded area near his home in Camas, Clark County, Washington. His body was found two days later. The chemical was determined to be his cause of death. That year, four more individuals died the same way. In 2021 and 2022, 10 more died after ingesting the same chemical. All 15 individuals purchased the chemical - a substance that can be used as a food preservative or in medical lab settings in a low purity form - from Amazon. It was sold there with 99% purity. The families of those 15 people have sued Amazon in six separate cases since 2022 - including one filed last month - alleging the ... Read more ... |
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An ultralow-concentration electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 22) |
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Apr 22 · Lithium salts make batteries powerful but expensive. An ultralow-concentration electrolyte based on the lithium salt LiDFOB may be a more economical and more sustainable alternative. Cells using these electrolytes and conventional electrodes have been demonstrated to have high performance, as reported by a research team in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition. In addition, the electrolyte could facilitate both production and recycling of the batteries. Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) provide power to smartphones and tablets, drive electric vehicles, and store electricity at power plants. The main components of most LIBs are lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) cathodes, ... Read more ... |
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Car giants vie for EV crown at Beijing's Auto China show - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · Chinese car giants locked in a cut-throat price war descended on the capital for the start of the Auto China show Thursday, vying to draw consumers and headlines in the world's biggest electric vehicle market and abroad. China's EV sector has exploded in recent years, and firms are now engaged in a no-holds-barred battle to offer customers the coolest accessories at the lowest prices. EV makers from China have made inroads into markets from Europe to Southeast Asia and Tesla's Elon Musk described them in January as "the most competitive car companies in the world". Beijing's Auto China show, which lasts until May 4, sees dozens of firms square off in a bid to draw ... Read more ... |
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Chinese automakers redefine the car as a living space at Beijing Auto Show - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · How about turning a car's front bucket seats 180 degrees so they face the rear seats and extending out a table so the occupants can play cards or eat a meal? Or a 43-inch (109 centimeter) screen for the passengers in the back seat? The seemingly never-ending efforts of China's electric car makers to redefine the automobile went on display Thursday at the opening of the nation's largest annual auto show. They are forcing established makers such as Volkswagen and Nissan to change the way they develop cars to remain players in what is the world's largest auto market. Nissan joined Toyota in announcing a tie-up at the Beijing Auto Show with a major Chinese technology company ... Read more ... |
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Climate change will increase value of residential rooftop solar panels across US, study finds - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · Climate change will increase the future value of residential rooftop solar panels across the United States by up to 19% by the end of the century, according to a new University of Michigan-led study. The study defines the value of solar, or VOS, as household-level financial benefits from electricity bill savings plus revenues from selling excess electricity to the grid - minus the initial installation costs. For many U.S. households, increased earnings from residential rooftop solar could total up to hundreds of dollars annually by the end of the century, say the authors of the study, which is scheduled for publication April 19 in the journal Nature Climate ... Read more ... |
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Denmark launches its biggest offshore wind farm tender - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 22) |
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Apr 22 · The Danish Energy Agency on Monday launched its biggest tender for the construction of offshore wind farms, aimed at producing six gigawatts by 2030 - more than double Denmark's current capacity. Offshore wind is one of the major sources of green energy that Europe is counting on to decarbonize electricity production and reach its 2050 target of net zero carbon production, but it remains far off the pace needed to hit its targets. Denmark's offshore wind parks currently generate 2.7 gigawatts of electricity, with another one GW due in 2027. The tender covers six sites in four zones in Danish waters: North Sea I, Kattegat, Kriegers Flak II and Hesselo. "We are ... Read more ... |
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Electric cars and digital connectivity dominate at Beijing auto show - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · Global automakers and EV startups unveiled new models and concept cars at China's largest auto show on Thursday, with a focus on the nation's transformation into a major market and production base for digitally connected, new-energy vehicles. Toyota and Nissan both announced tie-ups with major Chinese technology companies as they strive to meet customer demand for AI-enabled online connectivity in cars, from social media apps to autonomous driving features. Electric vehicles accounted for about a quarter of all auto sales in China last year. Hybrids, which have trailed EVs, are expected to be a growing segment going forward. China's largest EV maker, BYD, showed ... Read more ... |
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Energy-smart bricks keep waste out of landfill - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 23) |
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Apr 23 · RMIT University engineers collaborated with Visy—Australia's largest recycling company—to make bricks with a minimum of 15% waste glass and 20% combusted solid waste (ash), as substitutes for clay. Test results indicate that using these bricks in the construction of a single-story building could reduce household energy bills by up to 5% compared to regular bricks, due to improved insulation. Replacing clay with waste materials in the brick production helped reduce the firing temperature by up to 20% compared with standard brick mixtures, offering potential cost savings to manufacturers. Team leader Associate Professor Dilan Robert said about 1.4 ... Read more ... |
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Engineers uncover key to efficient and stable organic solar cells - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · Organic photovoltaics (OPV), which employs cost-effective, printable, and environmentally friendly polymer semiconductors, holds tremendous potential for generating sustainable and renewable energy. However, due to the soft nature of polymers, achieving OPV devices with both high efficiency and long operation stability has been a long-standing research challenge. By investigating the ultrafast charge dynamics using femtosecond laser pulses, the researchers first discovered that controlling the degree of aggregation of the polymerized Y6 acceptors (Y6-PAs) plays a crucial role in promoting electricity generation. This nanoscale percolation not only enhances charge ... Read more ... |
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Five things we learned at the China Auto Show - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · One of China's largest auto shows kicked off in Beijing on Thursday, with electric vehicle makers keen to show off their latest designs and high-tech accessories to consumers in the fiercely competitive market. Here are the key developments from Auto China's first day of action: The consumer tech giant is the latest entrant to China's cut-throat EV market, with its new SU7 model the star of the show. Less than one month after its launch, almost 76,000 pre-orders have been placed, Xiaomi said, an accumulation of orders that will take months to deliver given its current production capacity. Xiaomi boss Lei Jun was swarmed at Auto China on Thursday by legions of ... Read more ... |
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Going with the flow: Research dives into electrodes on energy storage batteries - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) have emerged as promising solutions for stationary grid energy storage due to their high efficiency, scalability, safety, near-room-temperature operation conditions, and the ability to size power and energy capacities independently. The redox reactions in a redox flow battery occur at the surfaces of the electrodes in contact with the electrolyte. Any modifications to the electrode surface can affect the electrochemical activity and affect the overall battery performance. In an effort to extend the lifespans of VRFBs, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists and collaborators from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory ... Read more ... |
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Harnessing solar energy for high-efficiency NH3 production - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · Led by Professor Sung-Yeon Jang and Professor Ji-Wook Jang from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering at UNIST, in collaboration with Professor Thomas F. Jaramillo from Stanford University, the team has developed an eco-friendly perovskite-based photoelectrode system for NH3 production that has surpassed the commercialization standard of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by an impressive 1.7 times, setting a new world record in ammonia production efficiency. The work is published in the journal Nature Catalysis. The system operates on the principle of reducing nitrate (NO3-) in water to produce NH3 using solar energy. This method not only offers a more ... Read more ... |
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High-energy-density capacitors with 2D nanomaterials could significantly enhance energy storage - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Though the prototype device is just 1-inch by 1-inch, scaled-up versions of this innovation could potentially revolutionize energy storage systems across various industries, including medical, aviation, auto (EV), consumer electronics and defense. Dielectric capacitors, critical components of electronic devices and energy storage systems, are known for their ability to discharge high amounts of energy quickly, making them crucial for high-power applications. "High-energy and high-power capacitors are essential for a reliable power supply, especially as we shift to using more renewable energy sources. However, current dielectric capacitors don't store as much energy as ... Read more ... |
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Honda announces US$11 bn EV battery and vehicle plant in Canada - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · Japanese auto giant Honda announced Thursday the largest automotive investment in Canada's history, worth Can$15 billion (US$11 billion), for a massive new EV battery and vehicle assembly plant. Honda chief executive Toshihiro Mibe told a joint news conference with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other officials that electric vehicles (EVs) will start rolling off the new assembly line in 2028. Once fully operational, the factory will have a production capacity of 240,000 vehicles per year, and a batteries output of 36 GWh per year. "The world is changing rapidly, and we must work toward realizing carbon neutrality to sustain the global environment," Mibe ... Read more ... |
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Honda to build major EV plant in Canada: govt source - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 23) |
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Apr 23 · Japanese auto giant Honda will open an electric vehicle plant in eastern Canada, a Canadian government source familiar with the multibillion-dollar project told AFP on Monday. The federal government as well as the province of Ontario, where the plant will be built, will both provide some financial incentives for the deal, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official announcement is due Thursday, though Ontario premier Doug Ford hinted at the deal on Monday. "This week, we've landed a new deal. It will be the largest deal in Canadian history. It'll be double the size of Volkswagen," he said, referring to a battery plant announced last ... Read more ... |
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How electric vehicle drivers can escape range anxiety - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · Two of the biggest challenges faced by new and potential electric vehicle (EV) drivers are range anxiety and speed of charging, but these shouldn't have to be challenges at all. That is according to a study by Chalmers University of Technology, Sweden, and the University of Delaware, U.S. Researchers discovered that a change in refueling mindset, rather than improving the size or performance of the battery, could be the answer to these concerns. The transition from filling up at a petrol station to recharging your electric vehicle in the most convenient location for you, requires a whole new way of thinking about refueling a car. However, new EV drivers often remain in their ... Read more ... |
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How potatoes, corn and beans led to breakthrough in smart windows technology - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 23) |
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Apr 23 · A study from researchers at The University of Texas at Austin aims to solve these problems through a new type of electrochromic device and materials. The device uses common, low-cost, sustainable building blocks such as amylose, a natural polymer found in corn, potatoes and beans. "There's an urgent need to develop novel sustainable electrochromic materials and devices with excellent properties for smart windows," said Guihua Yu, a professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering's Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering and the Texas Materials Institute. "The biomass materials we extracted from corn, potatoes and other common sources enable the achievement of ... Read more ... |
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Ion thermoelectric conversion devices for near room temperature - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 22) |
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Apr 22 · Prof. Zeng Wei of the Institute of Chemical Engineering, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, said that at the beginning, the research team mainly carried out study based on the thermal diffusion effect and published a series of research results. In spite of this, their results never realized the expected effect, and the prospect of practical application was not optimistic. Later, they tried to make a further enhancement on the basis of the thermal current effect; that is, to incorporate the redox reaction of the electrode. The reason for this is that the thermal current effect is redox in the electrolyte, so the gain and loss of electrons mainly occur in the solution, and the ... Read more ... |
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Italy fines Amazon over 'recurring' purchase option - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Italy's competition authority said Wednesday it had fined two Amazon companies 10 million euros ($10.6 million) for unfair commercial practices, for pushing customers into agreeing to "recurring" rather than "one-time" purchases online. In a statement, the AGCM said the option to set up regular purchases was "pre-selected by default" on a wide selection of products listed on Amazon's Italian website. "The graphic layout of the pre-selected recurring purchase option may lead consumers to buy products periodically - even when there is no actual need - thereby limiting their ability to choose freely," the AGCM said in a statement. "Moreover, the conduct implemented by ... Read more ... |
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Microsoft and Amazon face scrutiny from UK competition watchdog over recent AI deals - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · British competition regulators said Wednesday they'll scrutinize recent artificial intelligence deals by Microsoft and Amazon over concerns that the moves could thwart competition in the AI industry. The Competition and Markets Authority said it's looking into Microsoft's partnership with France's Mistral AI and the company's hiring of key staff from another startup, Inflection AI. The watchdog also separately announced that it's investigating Amazon's $4 billion investment in San Francisco-based Anthropic. Big Tech companies have been pouring money into generative AI startups amid growing public and business interest in the technology, but the investments have also ... Read more ... |
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More support needed to help households transition to green energy, UK research concludes - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 23) |
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Apr 23 · New gas boiler installations need to be phased out before 2050 in order for the UK to meet its climate change targets. There are grants of £7,500 available in England and Wales to help with the cost of installing heat pumps. The study draws on data from deliberative workshops representing a diversity of geographic and housing contexts across the UK. Academics found that while participants were open to the fact that there needed to be a move away from fossil fuel use for heating, there were also concerns about the impact such changes might have on their finances as well as the upheaval of retrofitting homes. No one retrofit measure was seen as preventing ... Read more ... |
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New insights lead to better next-gen solar cells - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Saliba and Malekshahi reached out to researchers at the Molecular Foundry, a Department of Energy Office of Science user facility located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab). Fast forward several months, and the Berkeley Lab team has applied a set of techniques to reveal changes in the crystalline structures of perovskite solar cell materials in real-time as they were being fabricated with Saliba's process. The results, published in a recent Advanced Materials paper, provide researchers with a deeper understanding of how to make better perovskite solar cells. "Material fabrication is often a black box," said Carolin Sutter-Fella, a Molecular Foundry ... Read more ... |
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New survey finds positive perceptions of solar projects - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Among these respondents, 42% support additional development in their community, compared to 18% who would oppose further projects. At the same time, more than 80% of the respondents were unaware of the project prior to construction and a third did not know until completing the survey. Doug Bessette, associate professor for energy systems in the Department of Community Sustainability at Michigan State University's College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, was one of the leads on the project. "The responses from residents were generally positive, which is good to see considering the amount of solar that is likely to be developed in the coming years," Bessette said. "At ... Read more ... |
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Plasma treatment enhances electrode material for fuel cells in industry, homes and vehicles - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 22) |
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Apr 22 · These are a promising technology for cleaner and more efficient electrical power generation. Published in the Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, the study even shows that the cheaper-to-make air plasma is better-suited for processing the carbon material than pure nitrogen or oxygen plasma. One way to make burning natural gas cleaner is to use fuel cells. These are devices that technically do not burn the fuel but rather oxidize it in a different manner. That process is friendlier to the environment, because it produces more useful power, less greenhouse gases and emits no pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and aerosol particles. Fuel cells are used ... Read more ... |
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Q&A: Could automation, electrification of long-haul trucking reduce environmental impacts? - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 22) |
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Apr 22 · For long-haul routes below 300 miles, electrification can reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas damages by 13%, or $587 million annually, according to the study. For long-haul routes above 300 miles, electrification of just the urban segments facilitated by hub-based automation of highway driving can reduce damages by 35%, or $220 million annually. "It's the first study we know of that simultaneously studies a realistic model of automation and a realistic model of electrification—things that are feasible in the near term—and assesses their environmental benefits," said lead author Parth Vaishnav, assistant professor at the U-M School for Environment and ... Read more ... |
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Researchers develop high-energy-density aqueous battery based on halogen multi-electron transfer - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 23) |
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Apr 23 · Aqueous batteries use water as the solvent for electrolytes, significantly enhancing the safety of the batteries. However, due to the limited solubility of the electrolyte and low battery voltage, aqueous batteries typically have a lower energy density. This means that the amount of electricity stored per unit volume of aqueous battery is relatively low. In a study published in Nature Energy, a research group led by Prof. Li Xianfeng from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), in collaboration with Prof. Fu Qiang's group also from DICP, developed a multi-electron transfer cathode based on bromine and iodine, realizing a ... Read more ... |
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Researchers develop sodium battery capable of rapid charging in just a few seconds - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · The innovative hybrid energy storage system integrates anode materials typically used in batteries with cathodes suitable for supercapacitors. This combination allows the device to achieve both high storage capacities and rapid charge-discharge rates, positioning it as a viable next-generation alternative to lithium-ion batteries. However, the development of a hybrid battery with high energy and high power density requires an improvement to the slow energy storage rate of battery-type anodes as well as the enhancement of the relatively low capacity of supercapacitor-type cathode materials. To account for this, Professor Kang's team utilized two distinct metal-organic ... Read more ... |
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Researchers propose a new method for wind turbine blade recycling - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 23) |
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Apr 23 · Wind turbine blades play a crucial role in harnessing renewable energy but as these blades reach the end of their operational lifespan, the issue of disposal becomes a serious concern. Made from composite materials, such as layers of fiberglass or carbon fiber reinforced with epoxy or polyester resin, these wind turbine blades can be used for 20 to 25 years. While these materials ensure the strength, lightness, and stiffness of turbine blades, they also significantly complicate the recycling of the equipment. Pyrolysis: A promising strategy for wind turbine blade recycling However, until a few years ago, wind turbine blades were almost impossible to recycle. ... Read more ... |
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Rubber-like stretchable energy storage device fabricated with laser precision - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · The advent of wearable technology has brought with it a pressing need for energy storage solutions that can keep pace with the flexibility and stretchability of soft electronic devices. Micro supercapacitors (MSCs) have emerged as a promising candidate for deformable energy storage, due to high-power density, rapid charging, and long cycle life. However, the fabrication of interdigitated electrode patterns capable of maintaining the energy storage performance under repeated stretching and twisting has remained a great challenge, because brittle materials like gold (Au) have been commonly used as an electrode. Meanwhile, though eutectic gallium-indium liquid metal (EGaIn) has ... Read more ... |
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Salt battery harvests osmotic energy where the river meets the sea - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Estuaries - where freshwater rivers meet the salty sea - are great locations for birdwatching and kayaking. In these areas, waters containing different salt concentrations mix and may be sources of sustainable, "blue" osmotic energy. Osmotic energy can be generated anywhere salt gradients are found, but the available technologies to capture this renewable energy have room for improvement. One method uses an array of reverse electrodialysis (RED) membranes that act as a sort of "salt battery," generating electricity from pressure differences caused by the salt gradient. To even out that gradient, positively charged ions from seawater, such as sodium, flow through the ... Read more ... |
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Securing competitiveness of energy-intensive industries through relocation: The pulling power of renewables - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · This 'renewables pull' would create strong incentives for businesses to invest in low-emission production facilities in these renewable-rich countries. Renewable-scarce countries could put all focus on down-stream production and refinement as the smart way to secure industrial competitiveness. "Our new study shows that renewable-scarce countries like parts of the EU, Japan and South Korea could save between 18 to 38 percent in production costs," explains Philipp Verpoort, scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) and lead author of the study published in Nature Energy. "They could do so by relocating their production of industrial basic ... Read more ... |
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Single-walled carbon nanotubes doped with 'nitrogen' enhance the performance of secondary battery anode - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Silicon, despite offering significantly higher energy density compared to graphite (a common anode material), suffers from a major drawback: it expands 3-4 times during charging and discharging, leading to performance degradation. To address this issue, researchers are blending silicon with graphite to balance their strengths and weaknesses. To maximize silicon content and overcome its limitations, the Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) has utilized nitrogen-doped single-walled carbon nanotubes and graphene. Single-walled carbon nanotubes, being thinner and more conductive than multi-walled ones, present challenges in dispersion due to their small diameter. ... Read more ... |
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South Africa's electricity crisis: A series of failures over 30 years have left a dim legacy - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · Back then only 36% of all South Africans had electricity in their homes. The development program promised to double that number by electrifying an additional 2.5 million homes by 2000. This seemed achievable—during the 1980s, the state-owned power utility Eskom's build program was so aggressive it had surplus electricity. Some power stations even had to be mothballed. By 1994, South Africa's coal industry was generating high quality coal which was exported mainly to Europe. These earnings cross-subsidized low quality, inexpensive coal provided by mines built next door to the coal-fired power stations, which was delivered affordably by conveyor belt. These factors made ... Read more ... |
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Storing and utilizing energy with innovative sulfur-based cathodes - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Sulfur is a sustainable alternative to the materials commonly used in lithium-ion batteries because it is less toxic and—unlike cobalt—is abundant. However, the storage capacity of batteries in which sulfur is used as a cathode material has so far declined rapidly. "Our development paves the way for sulfur electrodes as a viable alternative to conventional metal-based cathodes. It could fundamentally change the way we store and use energy and represents an important step towards a more sustainable future," explains Prof Bojdys. Solving the sulfur-shuttle problem using polymer chemistry With sulfur-based cathodes, the mobility of the sulfur has so far ... Read more ... |
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Study shows potential of super grids when hurricanes overshadow solar panels - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Caribbean islands are starting to shift away from importing expensive fossil fuels, using instead their own abundant sun and wind to make electricity. However, their frequent hurricanes can put a damper on solar energy generation. Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory developed a comprehensive modeling method to predict the drop in electricity generation better when these storm clouds overshadow solar panels. The team explored ways to compensate for these energy losses with super grids, a collection of grids connected so electricity can flow across island chains or between continents. The historically underserved island residents can't ... Read more ... |
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Study unlocks opportunities to bridge the US wind energy workforce gap - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · A new National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) report, "National Wind Workforce Assessment: Challenges, Opportunities, and Future Needs," estimates that in 2030, the demand for workers could reach 258,000, whereas the supply of full-time workers might reach only 134,000—a shortfall of approximately 124,000 workers. The report builds on a 2019 report released by NREL that identified the wind energy workforce gap, in which wind energy employers indicate difficulty finding qualified applicants while recent graduates and current workers indicate difficulty finding open work positions. "Although wind continues to be a major renewable energy source in the United ... Read more ... |
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Team develops new testing system for carbon capture in fight against global warming - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 26) |
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Apr 26 · Now, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) aims to facilitate the development of this rapidly emerging technology that the International Energy Agency (IEA) says will be a "key technology" for combating global warming. NIST scientists have developed a high-precision testing apparatus for benchmarking the performance of the materials, called sorbents, used in DAC plants to trap and remove carbon from the air. The apparatus will enable the agency to develop research-grade test material (RGTM) sorbents for the DAC industry. These reference materials will be tested in the apparatus and validated to remove a certain amount of CO2 from a given amount of ... Read more ... |
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Tesla 1Q profit falls 55%, but stock jumps as company moves to speed production of cheaper vehicles - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Tesla's first-quarter net income plummeted 55%, but its stock price surged in after-hours trading Tuesday as the company said it would move up production of new, more affordable vehicles. The Austin, Texas, company said it made $1.13 billion from January through March compared with $2.51 billion in the same period a year ago. Investors and analysts were looking to the earnings release for some sign that Tesla will move to end a stock slide this year and reverse the sales decline. The company did that in a letter to investors Tuesday, saying that production of smaller, more affordable models will start in the second half next year, ahead of previous guidance. The ... Read more ... |
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Tesla cuts the price of its 'Full Self Driving' system by a third to $8,000 - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 22) |
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Apr 22 · Tesla knocked roughly a third off the price of its "Full Self Driving" system - which can't drive itself and so drivers must remain alert and be ready to intervene - to $8,000 from $12,000, according to the company website. Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk promised in 2019 that there would be a fleet of robotaxis on the road in 2020, but the promise has yet to materialize, and the system still has to be supervised by humans. The cuts, which occurred on Saturday, follow Tesla's moves to slash $2,000 off the prices of three of its five models in the United States late Friday. That's the latest evidence of the challenges facing the electric vehicle maker. Tesla ... Read more ... |
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Tesla driver in Seattle-area crash that killed motorcyclist told police he was using Autopilot - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · A Tesla that may have been operating on the company's Autopilot driving system hit and killed a motorcyclist near Seattle, raising questions about whether a recent recall went far enough to ensure Tesla drivers using Autopilot pay attention to the road. After the crash Friday in a suburban area about 15 miles (24 kilometers) northeast of the city, the driver of a 2022 Tesla Model S told a Washington State Patrol trooper that he was using Autopilot and looked at his cellphone while the Tesla was moving. "The next thing he knew there was a bang and the vehicle lurched forward as it accelerated and collided with the motorcycle in front of him," the trooper wrote in a ... Read more ... |
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Tesla earnings a 'moment of truth' for Musk after stumbles - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 23) |
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Apr 23 · Tesla CEO Elon Musk faces heightened pressure with Tuesday's earnings report to reassure investors that recent stumbles are simply unexpected speed bumps - and not indications of a road to decline. The electric car maker, which enjoyed scorching growth for most of 2022 and 2023, has experienced setbacks that analysts say have raised the stakes for the first-quarter report. Tuesday's earnings and conference call are a "moment of truth" for Tesla and Musk, constituting "one of the most important moments in the company's history in our view," said a note from Wedbush. Heading into 2024, Tesla watchers were already girding for a tougher path, with Musk's once-dominant ... Read more ... |
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Tesla to recall Cybertruck over acceleration defect - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · Tesla is recalling 3,878 Cybertruck vehicles because of a defect that can cause unintentional vehicle acceleration, increasing crash risk, according to a US notice posted this week. Tesla notified the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on April 17 of the condition in which the accelerator pedal may become trapped on the Cybertruck, Elon Musk's futuristic take on the American pickup truck. If the accelerator pedal becomes trapped, "the performance and operation of the pedal will be affected, which may increase the risk of a collision," Tesla said in the notice. Tesla said it was not aware of any collisions or injuries related to the condition. The ... Read more ... |
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The biggest barrier to a vibrant second-hand electric vehicle market? Price - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · As early adopters of electric vehicles (EVs) trade up for the latest models, the used EV market is beginning to mature in the United States. Yet many potential buyers, particularly low-income drivers, are skeptical of EV's conveniences and are put off by the price, according to a study conducted at Rutgers University–New Brunswick. "While the transition to electric vehicles is an important piece of reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, the market for used electric vehicles in the U.S. remains dominated by wealthy households," said Wei San Loh, a former graduate student of the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers–New Brunswick. "Our ... Read more ... |
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Ultra-thin, flexible solar cells demonstrate their promise in a commercial quadcopter drone - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · Conventional energy solutions—including fossil fuels, batteries and other alternative energy generation methods—have their challenges. For example, they are either often too large, require cables or stationary charging, negatively impact on the environment, or their power density is too low. Ultra-thin and flexible solar cells made from a new material called "perovskite" are proving to be an efficient and lightweight solution to facilitate self-sufficient energy generation over extended periods of time. As part of a groundbreaking development, researchers at the JKU have now succeeded in developing ultra-lightweight quasi-2D perovskite solar cells with an ... Read more ... |
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Understanding the impact of environmental factors on molded fiber products - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · In a study published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, a group of researchers from China has outlined some mathematical models of the mechanical parameters of MFP they constructed. The change of mechanical parameters of MFP with moisture content (MC) was described, and the change of MC with temperature and humidity was described by the moisture sorption isotherm. "The preparation of MFP often requires the first preparation of the mold, but the time and labor cost of repeatedly preparing the mold verification are too high. These costs can be greatly reduced by the method of numerical simulation, and the mechanical parameters of the material are essential in the ... Read more ... |
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Underwater robot pioneers new energy-efficient buoyancy control - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · A remotely operated underwater robot built by a team of Rice University engineering students pioneers a new way to control buoyancy via water-splitting fuel cells. The device, designed and constructed at the Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen over the course of a year-long senior design capstone class, offers a more power-efficient method of maintaining neutral buoyancy—a critical component in underwater operations. The robot serves as proof-of-concept for the potential of fuel cell-based buoyancy control devices (BCDs) to reduce operating costs for remotely operated or autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) with potential applications ranging from environmental monitoring ... Read more ... |
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Using liquid metal to develop energy storage systems with 100 times better heat transfer - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · From April 22 to 26, 2024, the researchers will present a model of their energy storage system at the KIT stand at the Energy Solutions (Hall 13, Stand C76) of the Hannover Messe. Worldwide, high-temperature heat storage systems are being developed to supply resource-intensive production companies with heat independently of fluctuating renewable energy production. These storage systems convert electrical power into heat, which is then stored. The heat is used if needed, for instance when electricity is expensive and production processes cannot be stopped. The higher the temperature stored, the better. This reduces the amount of additional energy that would be needed to ... Read more ... |
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Using sodium to develop rechargeable batteries may bolster the EU's green ambitions - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 25) |
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Apr 25 · The idea behind sodium-ion batteries is to reduce Europe's reliance on the lithium-ion ones that power everything from toothbrushes and mobile phones to mopeds and cars. Today's batteries include materials such as lithium, nickel and cobalt that are both scarce and toxic, whereas sodium is one of the most plentiful elements on Earth. "Sodium-ion batteries are based on more abundant and safer materials than lithium-ion batteries," said Abou-Rjeily. "There's not enough lithium ions and cobalt and nickel to meet everyone's needs." He is a research and development engineer at Tiamat, which designs and manufactures sodium-ion batteries. Abou-Rjeily led a research ... Read more ... |
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Versatile fibers offer improved energy storage capacity for wearable devices - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 19) |
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Apr 19 · A joint research team led by Dr. Hyeonsu Jeong and Namdong Kim of the Center for Functional Composite Materials, Jeonbuk Branch, and Dr. Seungmin Kim of the Center for Carbon Fusion Materials has developed a fiber-like electrode material that can store energy. The research is published in the journal Advanced Energy Materials. The fibers are strong, lightweight, and highly flexible, enabling greater freedom in wearable device form factors and the ability to be made into various shapes and applications. Carbon nanotube fibers are flexible, lightweight, and possess excellent mechanical and electrical properties, making them a promising material for wearable devices. ... Read more ... |
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Volkswagen revamps its approach in China in bid to overtake upstart EV makers - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · As auto giant Volkswagen AG races to catch up with upstart Chinese competitors, it has drivers like 26-year-old Ren Yiling in mind. She is young and wants to play video games in her car. The digital features of her Zeekr 001, a European-designed electric car from China's Geely Holding Group, appeal to her. She uses her smartphone to help her parents adjust their seats and tells an animated voice assistant to open the window or play music. "I once sung karaoke in the car when travelling a long way with my family," she said. "To me, the car is more like an entertainment place. I am a singer." Foreign automakers have been caught flat-footed in China by an electric ... Read more ... |
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Why Germany ditched nuclear before coal - and why it won't go back - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 24) |
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Apr 24 · In the face of climate change, calls to expedite the transition away from fossil fuels, and an energy crisis precipitated by Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Berlin's move to quit nuclear before carbon-intensive energy sources like coal has attracted significant criticism. (Greta Thunberg prominently labeled it "a mistake.") This decision can only be understood in the context of post-war socio-political developments in Germany, where anti-nuclearism predated the public climate discourse. From a 1971 West German bestseller evocatively titled Peaceably into Catastrophe: A Documentation of Nuclear Power Plants, to huge protests of hundreds of thousands—including the ... Read more ... |
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Wind and solar in limbo: Long waitlists to get on the grid are a 'leading barrier' - PHYS.ORG - Technology  (Apr 22) |
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Apr 22 · Ninety miles west of Chicago, the corn and soybean fields stretch to the sky, and dreams of the clean energy future dangle - just out of reach. To the east of Route 52, there's the first phase of the 9,500-acre Steward Creek solar farm, in the works since 2019. To the west, there's South Dixon Solar, which once hoped to begin construction on 3,800 acres in 2022. Both projects have been approved by the Lee County Board. But neither can be built, according to a county official, due to PJM Interconnection, a powerful but little-known entity that controls access to the high-voltage electric grid in northern Illinois. "There isn't anything we can do to help the ... Read more ... |
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