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[Images above] Credit: NIST

NANOMATERIALS

Cannibalistic materials feed on themselves to grow new nanostructures

Scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory induced a two-dimensional material to cannibalize itself for atomic “building blocks” from which stable structures formed. The findings could improve design of 2-D materials for fast-charging energy-storage and electronic devices.

Heat transfer surprise could lead to thermal transistors

As much as 100 times more heat than predicted by the standard radiation theory can flow between two nanoscale objects, even at bigger-than-nanoscale distances, researchers have reported. The results could have implications for better solar cells and materials that behave like one-way valves for heat flow.

Carbon nanotubes give two excitons for the price of one

Scientists have identified how modified carbon nanotubes emit photon pairs, which are the result of the capture and recombination of two excitons. The approach could change lasers, used in everything from consumer electronics to scientific instruments.

 

ENERGY

Black and blue: Different silicon drops cost of solar

Engineers at Michigan Technological University and Aalto University find that switching silicon in solar cells drops production costs for this renewable energy source by more than 10 percent. When silicon is also treated with an appropriate atomic layer deposition coating, effects of surface defects are mitigated.

Scientists pioneer a new way to turn sunlight into fuel

A new study used semi-artificial photosynthesis to explore new ways to produce and store solar energy. Researchers used natural sunlight to convert water into hydrogen and oxygen using a mixture of biological components and human-made technologies.

MIT Energy Initiative study reports on the future of nuclear energy

The authors of a new MIT study say that unless nuclear energy is meaningfully incorporated into the global mix of low-carbon energy technologies, the challenge of climate change will be much more difficult and costly to solve.

Just add sun: McGovern startup converts CO2 into fuel

A ruinous, atmospheric greenhouse gas may soon get a public relations makeover, as Cornell startup Dimensional Energy has developed a way to add sunlight to carbon dioxide and transform it into an environmentally friendly fuel.

Nanoparticles for improving smart-window energy efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory has patented a new process for synthesizing vanadium dioxide nanoparticles that makes manufacturing energy-efficient “smart windows” economical. The new patent is available for licensing.

Researchers use silicon nanoparticles for enhancing solar cells efficiency

An international research group improved perovskite solar cells efficiency by using materials with better light absorption properties. For the first time, researchers used silicon nanoparticles, which can trap light of a broad range of wavelengths near the cell active layer.

ENVIRONMENT

3-D printing of nanoporous gold could ‘revolutionize’ electrochemical reactor design

Researchers report on the hierarchical 3-D printing of nanoporous gold, a proof of concept that researchers say could revolutionize the design of chemical reactors. The development could have a major impact on electrochemical plants, which today rely primarily on thermal energy.

MANUFACTURING

Argonne’s new Combustion Synthesis Research Facility heats up high-throughput manufacturing of nanomaterials

Argonne National Laboratory announces a manufacturing technology that simplifies the manufacture of nanomaterials in high volumes. Flame Spray Pyrolysis offers significant benefits over methods used to manufacture particle-based substances critical to producing a wide range of industrial materials.

OTHER STORIES

New smart materials could open new research field

Researchers have discovered a group of new smart materials that could significantly improve the efficiency of fuel burn in jet engines, cutting the cost of flying. The materials, which could also reduce airplane noise over residential areas, have additional applications in a variety of other industries.

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