Energy research - MaterialsViews

Nanoscale interface improves Li-ion battery electrodes

June 13, 2013 By Duoduo Liang Leave a Comment

Microscope images and schematics of (top) one-dimensional C/Sn nanocables and (bottom) two-dimensional G/Sn/G sandwiches.

Scientists from the National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China develop high-performance electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries.

Filed Under: Carbon, Energy research, Nano Tagged With: Carbon Materials, electrodes, interface, lithium-ion batteries

Buffalo researchers to examine hydrogen fuel production

June 12, 2013 By MaterialsViews staff Leave a Comment

Sarbajit Banerjee, co-director of UB's New York State Center of Excellence in Materials Informatics, is one of two UB researchers working on the alternative energy project.

Two scientists have received a grant from the Research Corporation for Science Advancement to devise a new method for gleaning hydrogen fuel from water.

Filed Under: Community news, Energy research, Nano, Research Tagged With: grants, hydrogen fuel, nanowires, Research Corporation for Science Advancement, semiconductors, University at Buffalo

Nanoengineering boosts heat to energy conversion

June 12, 2013 By MaterialsViews staff Leave a Comment

The dark spots show quantum dots within a thermoelectric material. University of Michigan researchers devised a way to increase the heat-to-energy conversion by 200 percent and the electrical conductivity of their material by 43 percent. Thermoelectric materials can convert waste heat to electricity. Image: Pierre Ferdinand P. Poudeu.

Nanoengineering boosts semiconducting material’s ability to convert heat into power by 200 percent and its electrical conductivity by 43 percent.

Filed Under: Energy research, Nano, Research Tagged With: alloys, Journal of the American Chemical Society, semiconductors, thermoelectrics, University of Michigan

Link to the original paper

Block copolymers make better solar cells

June 12, 2013 By MaterialsViews staff Leave a Comment

Researchers at Rice and Pennsylvania State universities have created solar cells based on block copolymers, self-assembling organic materials that arrange themselves into distinct layers. Image: Verduzco Laboratory.

Solar cells created by laboratories at Rice and Pennsylvania State universities could open the door to research on a new class of solar energy devices.

Filed Under: Energy research, Polymers, Research Tagged With: energy generation, Nano Letters, organic electronics, photovoltaics, Rice University, solar cells

Link to the original paper

Solar Cells as Inexpensive as Paint?

June 12, 2013 By Martin Grolms Leave a Comment

Organic photovoltaic materials may lead to solar cells that produce more power and cost less.

Filed Under: Energy research, Research, Surfaces Tagged With: Advanced Materials, energy production, organic photovoltaics, photovoltaic, solar panels, solar power

Link to the original paper on Wiley Online Library

A step towards QD solar cells

June 11, 2013 By MaterialsViews staff Leave a Comment

This illustration shows a lead sulfide quantum dot array. Each quantum dot (the colored clusters) is 'passivated' by molecules that bind to its surface. Dots that are made up of unequal amounts of lead and sulfur tend to cause electrons (shown in red) to become highly localized, which can substantially lower the electrical transport of the device. Image: Donghun Kim and Jeffrey C. Grossman.

MIT researchers find that the secret lies in off-kilter ratios of the two basic components that make up the dots.

Filed Under: Energy research, Research Tagged With: energy generation, MIT, Physical Review Letters, quantum dots, solar cells

Link to the original paper

Tiny Tubes: Hydrogen Storage Inside Single-Walled Nanotubes

June 11, 2013 By John Uhlrich Leave a Comment

Hydrogen storage single-walled carbon nanotubes

Researchers develop high-pressure hydrogen storage using nanocontainers made of single-walled carbon nanotubes with ice valves sealing the ends.

Filed Under: Carbon, Energy research, Nano, Research Tagged With: Energy technology, Hydrogen storage, single-walled nanotubes

Link to the original paper on Wiley Online Library

Graphene heterostructures demonstrate exciting electronic properties

May 30, 2013 By MaterialsViews staff Leave a Comment

Combining graphene with other one-atom thick materials could create the next generation of solar cells and optoelectronic devices, scientists have revealed.