Energy
press releases.

Energy3 Sep 2024

Department of Energy selects Argonne to lead national energy storage hub

Today the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the creation of two new Energy Innovation Hubs. One of the national hubs, the Energy Storage Research Alliance (ESRA), is led by DOE’s Argonne National Laboratory and co-led by DOE’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). ESRA (pronounced ez-ruh) brings together nearly 50 world-class researchers from three national laboratories and 12 universities to provide the scientific ...

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Energy3 Sep 2024

Dr. Torabi to study vulnerabilities in electric vehicle charging management systems

Dr. Sadegh Torabi, Assistant Professor, Information Sciences and Technology, College of Engineering and Computing (CEC), and Research Fellow at the Center for Secure Information Systems (CSIS), is set to receive funding for the project: “Collaborative Research: CISE MSI: RPEP: OAC: Macroscopic and Microscopic Inference and Analysis of Vulnerabilities within EV Charging-Management Systems.” Via this project, Dr. Torabi and his partners will establish a collaborative ecosystem among academia, industry, and the public sector to bolster the resilience of the EV Charging Infrastructure (CI). The critical nature of EV CI has made them targets for malicious attacks, often state-sponsored, ...

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Energy3 Sep 2024

New hope for progressive supranuclear palsy with innovative trial

$75 million NIH grant could lead to the first effective drugs for a condition with few treatment options A clinical trial that will test three drugs concurrently, and could include more, represents new hope for patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), an incurable neurodegenerative disorder that usually kills within seven years after symptoms start. Researchers hope the trial, which will be led by UC San Francisco and conducted at up to 50 sites nationwide, will lead to the development of new therapies. There are currently no drugs to stall the disease’s deadly progression. The ...

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Energy2 Sep 2024

Locomotion control of cyborg insects by charge-balanced biphasic electrical stimulation

A research paper by scientists at Beijing Institute of Technology proposed a universal system for remote signal output control using infrared signals. The new research paper, published on Jul. 05 in the journal Cyborg and Bionic Systems, proposed a system that integrates high-precision digital-to-analog converters capable of generating customized waveform electrical stimulation signals within defined ranges. This enhances the accuracy of locomotion control in cyborg insects while maintaining real-time control and dynamic parameter adjustment. The proposed system is verified by experiments. The integration of electronic stimulation devices with insects in ...

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Energy28 Aug 2024

To build a thriving electric vehicle market, prioritize equity and justice

When it comes to purchasing and using electric vehicles (EVs), housing- and income-related factors significantly shape perceptions and preferences among potential buyers, finds a new study in Energy and Climate Change. This research, a collaboration between the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), is among the first to examine both EV adoption and charging infrastructure through an equity lens coupled with state-of-the-art original survey data. Understanding the barriers to widespread EV adoption ...

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Energy28 Aug 2024

Thermochromic material could make indoor temperature control more energy-efficient

HOUSTON – (Aug. 28, 2024) – Rice University researchers have developed a smart material that adjusts its transparency with changes in temperature, outperforming similar materials in terms of durability, transparency and responsiveness. The new polymer blend could significantly enhance energy efficiency for indoor space cooling, according to a new study published in Joule. Cooling off can be a matter of life or death, but air conditioning ⎯ when and if available ⎯ already accounts for 7% of the world’s energy use and 3% of carbon emissions. With temperatures hitting record ...

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Energy23 Aug 2024

Activated bamboo charcoal’s slow-release properties for enhanced anti-acne formulations containing bamboo vinegar

Bamboo vinegar is a concentrated liquid obtained from bamboo under high temperature and anaerobic conditions. It contains more than 200 organic components, including organic acids, phenols, ketones, alcohols, and esters, among which acetic acid is the main component. Although bamboo vinegar has been approved by the China Food and Drug Administration as a cosmetic raw material, commercially available bamboo vinegar often contains impurities whose efficacy is not clear, and phenolic compounds and aromatic hydrocarbons ...

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Energy23 Aug 2024

Water activation induced strong interfacial hydrogen bonding interactions for efficient oxygen reduction reaction

Exploring new energy storage and conversion technologies is crucial for sustainable human development. Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) and metal-air batteries are particularly promising due to their high energy efficiency and environmental friendliness. A key component in these technologies is the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst. Traditionally, ORR catalysts rely on expensive platinum group metals (PGM), which are cost-prohibitive for widespread use. This has spurred interest in developing non-precious metal alternatives, such as transition metal/nitrogen-doped carbon-based materials (M–N–C). Among these, Fe–N–C ...

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Energy22 Aug 2024

Department of Energy announces $36 million to support energy-relevant research in underrepresented regions of America

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Ensuring that scientific funding goes to states and territories that have typically received smaller fractions of federal research dollars in the past, the Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $36 million in funding for 39 research projects in 19 states via the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR). The grants connect innovative ideas from scientists at eligible institutions with leading-edge capabilities at the DOE national laboratories. Supporting scientists while building the expertise and capabilities critical for performing leading research ...

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Energy22 Aug 2024

Hydrogels can play Pong by “remembering” previous patterns of electrical simulation

Non-living hydrogels can play the video game Pong and improve their gameplay with more experience, researchers report August 23 in the Cell Press journal Cell Reports Physical Science. The researchers hooked hydrogels up to a virtual game environment and then applied a feedback loop between the hydrogel’s paddle—encoded by the distribution of charged particles within the hydrogel—and the ball’s position—encoded by electrical stimulation. With practice, the hydrogel’s accuracy improved by up to 10%, resulting in longer rallies. The researchers say that this demonstrates ...

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Energy22 Aug 2024

Fighting coastal erosion with electricity

New research from Northwestern University has systematically proven that a mild zap of electricity can strengthen a marine coastline for generations — greatly reducing the threat of erosion in the face of climate change and rising sea levels. In the new study, researchers took inspiration from clams, mussels and other shell-dwelling sea life, which use dissolved minerals in seawater to build their shells. Similarly, the researchers leveraged the same naturally occurring, dissolved minerals to form a natural cement between sea-soaked grains of sand. But, instead of using metabolic energy like mollusks ...

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Energy20 Aug 2024

Development of a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries

1. NIMS and SoftBank Corp. have jointly developed a model capable of predicting the cycle lives of high-energy-density lithium-metal batteries by applying machine learning methods to battery performance data. The model proved able to accurately estimate batteries’ longevity by analyzing their charge, discharge and voltage relaxation process data without relying on any assumption about specific battery degradation mechanisms. The technique is expected to be useful in improving the safety and reliability of devices powered by lithium-metal batteries. 2. Lithium-metal ...

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Energy19 Aug 2024

Energy companies pressure landowners into fracking, study shows

BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Energy companies use persistent and personalized pressure to get landowners to give permission for hydraulic fracturing (fracking), and even when landowners decline, companies use legalized compulsion to conduct fracking anyway, according to a new study led by researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York and UNLV. “Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial issue, but a lot of the controversy has been focused on the big-picture consequences, for the climate and the economy,” said Benjamin Farrer, lead author and former PhD student at Binghamton University. “One of our hopes for this paper is that it will encourage policymakers ...

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Energy14 Aug 2024

Department of Energy Office of Science accepting applications, offering workshops for Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) awards

Washington, D.C. - Current U.S. Ph.D. students in qualified graduate programs at accredited U.S. academic institutions who are conducting their graduate thesis research in targeted areas of importance to the DOE Office of Science are invited to apply for the Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program. Helpful application assistance workshops will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2024, 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EDT and Thursday, October 10, 2024, 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM EDT. Applications are due at 5:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) on November 6, 2024. The September 12, ...

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Energy14 Aug 2024

Fracking frenzy in India: A water crisis in the making?

India's plans to scale up fracking operations without robust regulations could spell disaster for the country's finely balanced water security, according to research from the University of Surrey. India is positioning shale gas as a key transitional energy source and has announced 56 fracking projects across six states. Despite the promise of energy independence, Surrey’s study raises alarm bells about the country's preparedness to handle the unique water risks posed by fracking. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves injecting high-pressure fluid into shale ...

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Energy13 Aug 2024

Electric scooter–related injuries are becoming more frequent and costly

August 13, 2024 — The introduction of publicly shared electric scooters (“e-scooters”) in Denver, Colorado has resulted in a steady increase in injuries and hospital admissions, according to research led by Alexander Lauder, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Denver Health Medical Center. The findings are presented in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® (CORR®), a publication of The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons®. The journal is published in the Lippincott portfolio by Wolters Kluwer. "International ...

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Energy13 Aug 2024

RPI Physicist Moussa N’Gom is using light to enhance nuclear security

Our nation’s security depends on the effective detection of nuclear materials at our borders and beyond. To address this challenge, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) physicist Moussa N’Gom, Ph.D., is leading research aimed at developing a quantum sensing probe to detect and characterize special nuclear materials precisely and without contact. Special nuclear materials are only mildly radioactive but can be used in nuclear explosives. The research is being conducted through RPI’s participation in the Consortium ...

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Energy12 Aug 2024

Department of Energy announces 2024 Office of Science Distinguished Scientist Fellows and lecture series

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Four of the nation’s top scientists have each been awarded $1 million in direct funding via the Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Distinguished Scientist Fellows program. The program was established to develop, sustain, and promote scientific and academic excellence in Office of Science (SC) research through collaborations between universities and national laboratories. The awards, authorized by the America COMPETES act, are bestowed on senior national laboratory scientists. The United States has ...

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Energy12 Aug 2024

SwRI launches Electrified Vehicle and Energy Storage Evaluation-II battery consortium

SAN ANTONIO — August 12, 2024 – Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) is launching the next phase of an electric vehicle (EV) battery consortium dedicated to understanding performance of energy storage systems. The Electrified Vehicle and Energy Storage Evaluation-II (EVESE-II) consortium builds on more than a decade of SwRI-led, precompetitive research with companies across the mobility sector. “We are proud to serve the EV industry by bringing together manufacturers, suppliers and battery designers and developers with materials scientists to address a variety of challenges,” said Dr. Andre Swarts, an SwRI staff engineer ...

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Energy9 Aug 2024

Researchers discover new mechanism to cool buildings while saving energy

With temperatures rising globally, the need for more sustainable cooling options is also growing. Researchers at UCLA and their colleagues have now found an affordable and scalable process to cool buildings in the summer and heat them in the winter. Led by Aaswath Raman, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, the research team recently published a study in Cell Reports Physical Science detailing a new method to manipulate the movement ...

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Energy9 Aug 2024

Is doping of Spiro-OMeTAD a requirement for efficient and stable perovskite indoor photovoltaics?

In this work, we study the outdoor and indoor photovoltaic performance of LHP-based devices utilizing Spiro-OMeTAD as the hole-transport material with commonly used dopants such as lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (Li-TFSI) or without any dopants. We find out that, despite the expected low performance of devices employing undoped Spiro-OMeTAD layer under 1-Sun illumination (up to 7.7% efficiency), the devices achieve up to 25.6% efficiency under 1000 lux illumination, which is comparable to the doped counterpart devices achieving up to 29.7% efficiency. This is mainly due to the major improvement in fill factor when going towards low-light ...

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Energy8 Aug 2024

Department of Energy announces $4.6 million to fund public-private partnerships for fusion research

Key Takeaways -Fusion has the potential to provide abundant clean energy -One to two-year awards range from $100,000 to $500,000 In a continuing effort to forge and fund public-private partnerships to accelerate fusion research, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today awarded $4.6 million in 17 awards to U.S. businesses via the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program. The goal of INFUSE is to accelerate fusion energy development in the private sector by reducing impediments to collaboration between business ...

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Energy7 Aug 2024

Electric bandage holds promise for treating chronic wounds

Researchers have developed an inexpensive bandage that uses an electric field to promote healing in chronic wounds. In animal testing, wounds that were treated with these electric bandages healed 30% faster than wounds treated with conventional bandages. Chronic wounds are open wounds that heal slowly, if they heal at all. For example, sores that occur in some patients with diabetes are chronic wounds. These wounds are particularly problematic because they often recur after treatment and significantly increase the risk of amputation and death. One of the challenges associated ...

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Energy6 Aug 2024

Lehigh University researchers dig deeper into stability challenges of nuclear fusion—with mayonnaise

Mayonnaise continues to help researchers better understand the physics behind nuclear fusion. “We’re still working on the same problem, which is the structural integrity of fusion capsules used in inertial confinement fusion, and Hellmann’s Real Mayonnaise is still helping us in the search for solutions,” says Arindam Banerjee, the Paul B. Reinhold Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics at Lehigh University and Chair of the MEM department in the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. In simple terms, fusion reactions are what power the sun. If the process could ...

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Energy31 Jul 2024

Researchers pioneer new approach to enhance all-solid-state lithium batteries

Researchers at the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, along with collaborators from leading international institutions, have introduced an innovative cathode homogenization strategy for all-solid-state lithium batteries (ASLBs). This new approach, detailed in their recent publication in Nature Energy on July 31, significantly improves the cycle life and energy density of ASLBs, representing an important advancement in energy storage technology. Current ASLBs face challenges due to heterogeneous composite cathodes, which require ...

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