Nov
17
A Step Closer to Ultra Low Power Valleytronics Devices
November 17, 2015 | Leave a Comment
University of Tokyo researchers have demonstrated an electrically-controllable valley current device that may pave the way to ultra-low-power “valleytronics” devices. Professor Seigo Tarucha’s research group at the Department of Applied Physics at the Graduate School of Engineering has created an electrically controllable valley current device that converts conventional electrical current to valley current, passes it […]
Nov
12
Hydrogen Production From Bacteria Discovered
November 12, 2015 | Leave a Comment
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) scientists have discovered that Cyanothece 51142, a type of bacteria also called blue-green algae, draws on a second source of energy, using sunlight and water directly to make hydrogen. Researchers already knew that 51142 makes hydrogen by drawing upon sugars that it has stored during growth. Finding that the organism […]
Nov
11
Accidental Bubble Discovery Promises Safer Hydrogen Storage
November 11, 2015 | Leave a Comment
A New Mexico State University (NMSU) surprise discovery of a biopolymer that was capturing and storing hydrogen may speed the transformation to hydrogen as a major fuel source in the future. They call the substance Hydromer and are working on commercializing the polymer as coating material. The new material would allow for low maintenance costs […]
Nov
10
A Better Lithium Battery With a Little Hydrogen
November 10, 2015 | Leave a Comment
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientists have found that lithium ion batteries operate longer and faster when their electrodes are treated with hydrogen. Through experiments and calculations, the LLNL team discovered that hydrogen-treated graphene nanofoam electrodes in the lithium ion batteries show higher capacity and faster transport. The growing demand for energy storage emphasizes the […]
Nov
5
Progress Converting Ethanol to Petrochemical Products
November 5, 2015 | Leave a Comment
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has explained the mechanism behind a technology that converts bio-based ethanol into hydrocarbon blend-stocks for use as fossil fuel alternatives. ORNL’s Chaitanya Narula said, “Our method of direct conversion of ethanol offers a pathway to produce suitable hydrocarbon blend-stock that may be blended at a refinery to yield fuels such […]