[Images above] Credit: NIST
NANOMATERIALS
Scientists demonstrate new, improved way to make infrared light—with quantum dots
University of Chicago researchers demonstrated a way to create infrared light using colloidal quantum dots. They created a black “ink” of trillions of tiny nanocrystals, spread it onto a surface, and sent an electrical current through.
ENERGY
NREL study: Pumped storage hydropower is the greenest renewable energy technology
In a new study, National Renewable Energy Laboratory researchers said closed-loop pumped storage hydropower will have a lower carbon footprint throughout the lifecycle of the technology, from construction to decommissioning, than other renewable energy storage technologies, such as lithium-ion batteries.
Heat pumps twice as efficient as fossil fuel systems in cold weather
According to research from Oxford University and the Regulatory Assistance Project thinktank, heat pumps are more than twice as efficient as fossil fuel heating systems in cold temperatures, even at temperatures approaching -30°C.
Method to recover silicon from expired solar panels for upcycling into Li-ion batteries
Nanyang Technological University researchers devised an efficient method of recovering high-purity silicon from expired solar panels to produce lithium-ion batteries. The new extraction method involves soaking the expired solar cell in hot diluted phosphoric acid until all metals are removed from the surface, resulting in a pure silicon wafer.
New ionic materials boost hydrogen fuel cell efficiency
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology researchers developed solid electrolyte materials from metal-organic frameworks that showed high hydrogen ion conductivity.
ENVIRONMENT
Composite coating enhances fiber optic sensor technology for detecting carbon emissions
Researchers at the National Energy Technology Laboratory and the University of Pittsburgh demonstrated how the use of plasmonic nanomaterials and porous polymer composite coating in optical fiber sensing technologies can detect energy-relevant gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane.
Study suggests energy-efficient route to capturing and converting CO2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers uncovered how carbon dioxide can be both captured and converted through a single electrochemical process. An electrode is used to attract the carbon dioxide, which is released from a sorbent, and convert it into carbon-neutral products.
Table salt could be the secret ingredient for better chemical recycling
Michigan State University researchers showed that table salt outperforms other expensive catalysts being explored for the chemical recycling of polyolefin polymers, which account for 60% of plastic waste. They also showed that table salt could be used in the recycling of metallized plastic films, which currently are not recyclable.
OTHER STORIES
Easier and faster materials microstructure analysis through human–AI collaboration
Researchers developed a technology that can automatically identify and quantify material microstructures from microscopic images through human-in-the-loop machine learning. They confirmed that the framework is universal and can be applied to a wide range of materials, microstructures, and microscopic imaging systems.
The effect of AlN surface pits on GaN remote epitaxy
Researchers at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology revealed the effect that aluminum nitride surface pits have on gallium nitride remote epitaxy. The pits damage the graphene layer between the aluminum nitride template and gallium nitride thin film during growth at high temperatures, causing the failure of film exfoliation.