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High-quality nanomechanical resonators with built-in piezoelectricity
Energy

High-quality nanomechanical resonators with built-in piezoelectricity

Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden and at the University of Magdeburg in Germany have developed a novel type of nanomechanical resonator that combines two important features: high mechanical quality and piezoelectricity. This development could open doors to new possibilities in quantum sensing technologies. Mechanical resonators have been used for centuries for a multitude of applications. A key aspect of these devices is their ability to vibrate at specific frequencies. A well-known example is the tuning fork. When struck, the tuning fork oscillates at its resonance frequency, producing a sound wave within our hearing range. ...

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Energy

The Salton Sea — an area rich with lithium — is a hot spot for child respiratory issues

Windblown dust from the shrinking Salton Sea harms the respiratory health of children living nearby, triggering asthma, coughing, wheezing and disrupted sleep, USC research shows. The findings also indicate that children living closest to the sea, who are exposed to more dust in the air, may be the most affected. The study, published in Environmental Research, found that 24% of children in the area have asthma — which is far higher than the national rate of 8.4% for boys and 5.5% for girls. The abnormally high rate raises health experts’ concerns about the children’s health in this predominantly low-income community of color 150 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Furthermore, ...

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Improving energy production by boosting singlet fission process
Energy

Improving energy production by boosting singlet fission process

Fukuoka, Japan—In organic molecules an exciton is a particle bound pair of an electron (negative charge) and its hole (positive charge). They are held together by Coulombic attraction and can move within molecular assemblies. Singlet fission (SF) is a process where an exciton is amplified, and two triplet excitons are generated from a singlet exciton. This is caused by the absorption of a single particle of light, or photon, in molecules called chromophores (molecules that absorb specific wavelengths of light). Controlling the molecular orientation and arrangement of chromophores is crucial for achieving high SF efficiency in materials with strong potential for optical ...

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Off the clothesline, on the grid: MXene nanomaterials enable wireless charging in textiles
Energy

Off the clothesline, on the grid: MXene nanomaterials enable wireless charging in textiles

The next step for fully integrated textile-based electronics to make their way from the lab to the wardrobe is figuring out how to power the garment gizmos without unfashionably toting around a solid battery. Researchers from Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Accenture Labs in California have taken a new approach to the challenge by building a full textile energy grid that can be wirelessly charged. In their recent study, the team reported that it can power textile devices, including a warming element and environmental sensors that transmit ...

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Energy

Exploring the cost and feasibility of battery-electric ships

— By Jessica Scully Retrofitting a portion of the US shipping fleet from internal combustion engines to battery-electric systems could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and be largely cost effective by 2035, according to a new study from Berkeley Lab researchers recently published in Nature Energy. Shipping represents 3% of total US greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, making it an important target for decarbonization. But electrifying ships is more challenging than ...

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Experienced research leader tapped as CEO of Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine led by Binghamton University
Energy

Experienced research leader tapped as CEO of Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine led by Binghamton University

An engineer with decades of experience in industry and higher education will serve as the CEO of the Upstate New York Energy Storage Engine led by Binghamton University. Meera Sampath, who holds a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, previously was the associate dean of research in Binghamton’s Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science. Sampath spent the first 20 years of her career with Xerox Corp., including time as the vice president for innovation and business transformation at Xerox Services and as founding director of the Xerox Research Center India. From there, she ...

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A national indicator for a just energy transition
Energy

A national indicator for a just energy transition

The Energy Transition Vulnerability Index (ETVI) quantifies the vulnerability of nations to adverse impacts of transitioning away from fossil fuels. The COP28 agreement has called for all countries to wind down use of fossil fuels to combat climate change—but the agreement stipulates that these transitions should not disproportionately harm historically marginalized and vulnerable stakeholders. Xunpeng Shi and colleagues create a method of quantifying energy transition vulnerability for 135 countries from 2010 to 2020. The indicator focuses on exposure—which captures the magnitude of the changes required—, ...

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Energy

From Houston to Scotland: Seed grants boosting shared energy solutions and innovations

​​​​HOUSTON, Oct. 21, 2024 – The University of Houston and Scotland’s Heriot-Watt University have awarded seed grants to six innovative energy projects as part of their transatlantic research collaboration. The projects, which bring together researchers from both universities, focus on cutting-edge solutions ranging from advanced hydrogen sensing technology to converting waste into sustainable products. “This partnership is rooted in a shared commitment to advancing research that supports a just energy ...

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Enhancement of material microstructure and properties in Arc wire-based direct energy deposition: A short review
Energy

Enhancement of material microstructure and properties in Arc wire-based direct energy deposition: A short review

In recent years, additive manufacturing technology has attracted considerable attention from various stakeholders. Among the different techniques, Arc wire-based direct energy deposition (DED) has experienced a notable increase in development, offering compelling advantages such as cost-effectiveness and high forming efficiency. However, a high deposition rate results in extremely high heat input and temperature inhomogeneity, leading to a deterioration in surface quality, a reduction in material properties, an increase in residual stresses and even distortion and cracking. Consequently, the current research agenda is focused on developing methods to ensure the quality ...

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Advanced online method for battery model parameter identification: Bias-compensated forgetting factor recursive least squares
Energy

Advanced online method for battery model parameter identification: Bias-compensated forgetting factor recursive least squares

Lithium-ion power battery technology stands out as a pivotal component in advancement of new energy electric vehicles (EVs). Battery parameter identification, as one of the core technologies to achieve an efficient battery management system (BMS), is the key to predicting and managing the performance of Li-ion batteries. A recent breakthrough study presented by researchers from Hebei University of Technology proposes an online battery model parameters identification approach based on bias-compensated forgetting factor recursive least squares. This advanced method is expected to improve the accuracy of parameter identification under different noise. The ...

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Energy

UH Energy Transition Institute launches radio show and online webinars focused on addressing grand challenges in energy

HOUSTON, Oct. 18, 2024 –The University of Houston Energy Transition Institute is launching two educational series focused on exploring the unfolding energy transition and addressing the grand challenges in energy. Starting October 21, "Driving the Energy Transition," will air on Houston Public Media’s KUHF News 88.7 with new episodes launching every two weeks on Mondays. The following day, October 22, the Energy Transition Webinar series will begin, running biweekly on ...

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UTA to host discussion on Texas energy needs
Energy

UTA to host discussion on Texas energy needs

The University of Texas at Arlington will host GridNEXT DFW 2024: Meeting the Demand, an event dedicated to envisioning the future of energy infrastructure, on Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The one-day seminar will bring together industry partners, leaders, government officials and private stakeholders across the Texas energy space to discuss growing power needs and how to better support the Texas power grid. It will be held at UTA’s Rio Grande Ballroom, 300 W. First St. in Arlington. Woody Rickerson, ERCOT senior vice ...

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Energy

Effect of electric fans on body core temperature in older adults exposed to extreme indoor heat

About The Study: Electric fan use did not lower peak core temperature in older adults exposed to extreme indoor heat. Reductions in end-exposure core temperature and heart rate were observed, but they were small and of questionable clinical importance. Neither exceeded previous suggestions for clinical significance. Consistent with recent modeling, these data do not support fans as an efficacious standalone cooling intervention for older adults in hot indoor environments (>33-35 °C). Corresponding Author: To contact the corresponding author, Glen P. Kenny, PhD, email gkenny@uottawa.ca. To ...

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Energy

Energy-thirsty indoor vertical gardens ripe for improvement

Indoor vertical gardens are gaining popularity among homeowners and restaurants, allowing them to grow microgreens year-round, but new research has identified a major drawback: their demands on energy. A study by researchers from the Marche Polytechnic University and University of South Australia shows that while domestic vertical garden appliances can provide fresh, local produce under controlled conditions and with zero food miles, they do chew up energy. Artificial lighting – essential for plant growth – accounted for more than 50% of the total energy costs in growing a crop of red lettuce, which is five times higher than professional ...

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Updating offshore turbine designs to reflect storms’ complexity is key
Energy

Updating offshore turbine designs to reflect storms’ complexity is key

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2024 – The U.S. is ramping up plans for a major increase in offshore wind production, with 30 gigawatts of new installations expected by 2030 and a total of 110 gigawatts by 2050. But to be successful, the country needs to design turbines that can withstand the challenges of tropical storms. “Extreme weather impacts on offshore wind turbines are not fully understood by the industry,” author Jiali Wang said. “Manufacturers design wind turbines based on international design standards, but better models and data are needed to study the impacts of extreme weather ...

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Energy

The changing geography of “energy poverty”

A growing portion of Americans who are struggling to pay for their household energy live in the South and Southwest, reflecting a climate-driven shift away from heating needs and toward air conditioning use, an MIT study finds. The newly published research also reveals that a major U.S. federal program that provides energy subsidies to households, by assigning block grants to states, does not yet fully match these recent trends. The work evaluates the “energy burden” on households, which reflects the percentage of income needed to pay for energy necessities, from 2015 to 2020. Households with an energy burden greater ...

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Energy

Department of Energy announces $49 million for research on foundational laboratory fusion

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the Department of Energy (DOE) continues to accelerate a clean-energy future that includes fusion technology, a total of $49 million in funding for 19 projects was announced today in the Foundational Fusion Materials, Nuclear Science, and Technology programs. The purpose of the funding is to reorient the laboratory-based foundational and basic science research programs to better align and support the new FES program vision. “The Fusion Nuclear Science Foundational research program, ...

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Energy

You get your energy from your mom. A new study explains why

It’s one of the basic tenets of biology: We get our DNA from our mom and our dad. But one notable exception has perplexed scientists for decades: Most animals, including humans, inherit the DNA inside their mitochondria —the cell’s energy centers – from their mothers alone, with all traces of their father’s mitochondrial genome destroyed the moment sperm joins egg. A new University of Colorado Boulder study published Oct. 4 in the journal Science Advances sheds new light on why this happens, showing that when the process fails, and paternal mitochondria slips into a developing embryo, it can lead to lasting neurological, behavioral and reproductive ...

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An efficient way to hydrogenate nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds has been developed
Energy

An efficient way to hydrogenate nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds has been developed

Successful reduction of the chemical manufacturing industry’s environmental impact relies on finding a greener way to make the chemical building blocks for common and massively consumed compounds. It’s no secret manufacturing processes have some of the most impactful and intense effects on the environment, with the chemical manufacturing industry topping the charts for both energy consumption and emissions output. While this makes sense thanks to the grand scale in which manufactured chemicals are involved in daily life, it still leaves a lot to be desired for sustainability’s sake. By focusing on renewable energy sources and alternative methods for creating the ...

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Innovative catalyst produces methane using electricity
Energy

Innovative catalyst produces methane using electricity

Researchers at the University of Bonn and University of Montreal have developed a new type of catalyst and used it in their study to produce methane out of carbon dioxide and water in a highly efficient way using electricity. Methane can be used, for example, to heat apartments or as a starting material in the chemical industry. It is also the main component of natural gas. If it is produced using green electricity, however, it is largely climate neutral. The insights gained from the model system studied by the researchers can be transferred to large-scale technical ...

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Researchers study 3D printing tungsten parts for extreme conditions in nuclear reactors
Energy

Researchers study 3D printing tungsten parts for extreme conditions in nuclear reactors

10-2-24 Contacts: Sougata Roy, Mechanical Engineering, 515-294-5001, sroy@iastate.edu Mike Krapfl, News Service, 515-294-4917, mkrapfl@iastate.edu Researchers study 3D printing tungsten parts for extreme conditions in nuclear reactors AMES, Iowa – Sougata Roy, who doesn’t study electrons or grids or wind turbines, has found a way to contribute to a clean-energy future. “This work in advanced manufacturing, particularly in using additive manufacturing, is about making a difference,” ...

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Chiral nanocomposite for highly selective dual-mode sensing and bioimaging of hydrogen sulfide
Energy

Chiral nanocomposite for highly selective dual-mode sensing and bioimaging of hydrogen sulfide

With the continuous development of nanotechnology, more artificial chiral nanomaterials have been constructed. As one of the most representative optical properties of these chiral nanomaterials, CD is a powerful sensing technology. Compared with other analytical methods, CD signal has higher sensitivity, but it cannot achieve in-situ imaging in vivo. Scientists have managed to prepare chiral nanocomposites with more diverse biological functional properties to compensate for this shortcoming. However, some chiral nanocomposites assembled by electrostatic adsorption or other methods are easily dissociated and destroyed in complex physiological environments, resulting in performance ...

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Energy

HSE scientists have developed a new model of electric double layer

This new model accounts for a wide range of ion-electrode interactions and predicts a device's ability to store electric charge. The model's theoretical predictions align with the experimental results. Data on the behaviour of the electric double layer (EDL) can aid in the development of more efficient supercapacitors for portable electronics and electric vehicles. The study has been published in ChemPhysChem. Many devices store energy for future use, with batteries being among the most well-known examples. They can consistently release energy, maintaining steady power output regardless of existing conditions or load, until fully ...

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Using antimatter to detect nuclear radiation
Energy

Using antimatter to detect nuclear radiation

WASHINGTON, Oct. 1, 2024 – Nuclear fission reactors act as a key power source for many parts of the world and worldwide power capacity is expected to nearly double by 2050. One issue, however, is the difficulty of discerning whether a nuclear reactor is being used to also create material for nuclear weapons. Capturing and analyzing antimatter particles has shown promise for monitoring what specific reactor operations are occurring, even from hundreds of miles away. In AIP Advances, by AIP Publishing, researchers from the University of Sheffield and the University of Hawaii developed ...

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Tongan volcanic eruption triggered by explosion as big as ‘five underground nuclear bombs’
Energy

Tongan volcanic eruption triggered by explosion as big as ‘five underground nuclear bombs’

The Hunga Tonga underwater volcano was one of the largest volcanic eruptions in history, and now, two years later, new research from The Australian National University (ANU) has revealed its main trigger. Until now, the cause of the cataclysmic event has remained largely a mystery to the scientific community, yet a student-led team of ANU seismologists has been able to shed new light on the natural explosion that initiated the event. The student researchers analysed the climactic event’s noisy but valuable seismic ...

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