US Navy

Tattoo biobatteries produce power from sweat

Researchers reported that they have designed a sensor in the form of a temporary tattoo that can both monitor a person's progress during exercise and produce power from their perspiration.

Renk AG

RENK AG is a member of the Volkswagen and MAN Group. RENK AG ranks among the world's foremost manufacturers of propulsion components and test systems. In tracked vehicle transmissions, slide bearings and naval gear units, the Company is undisputed world market leader. RENK has four independent divisions: Vehicle Transmissions, Slide Bearings, Special Gear Units, and Standard Gear Units. The individual strengths and the specific product expertise of the divisions are bundled and through close cooperation put to optimum use within the Group.

FlexEl LLC

FlexEl was founded in 2008 and is based in Maryland. It works with partner companies to create, design, develop, license and/or manufacture novel flexible electronics and power management systems.

Generating electricity from humidity

Last year, MIT researchers discovered that when water droplets spontaneously jump away from superhydrophobic surfaces during condensation, they can gain electric charge in the process. Now, the same team has demonstrated that this process can generate small amounts of electricity that might be used to power electronic devices.

Organic solar cells more efficient with molecules face-to-face

New research reveals that energy is transferred more efficiently inside of complex, three-dimensional organic solar cells when the donor molecules align face-on, rather than edge-on, relative to the acceptor.

Living materials can conduct electricity

Inspired by natural materials such as bone — a matrix of minerals and other substances, including living cells — engineers have coaxed bacterial cells to produce biofilms that can incorporate nonliving materials, such as gold nanoparticles and quantum dots.

Engineers show how to optimize carbon nanotube arrays for hot spots

Experimental evidence and computer simulations suggest how to grow structures with the best trade offs between three desired characteristics: strength, flexibility and the ability to dissipate heat.

Researchers build nonflammable lithium ion battery

Developing a new generation lithium-ion battery that doesn't spontaneously combust at high temperatures.

Researchers build nonflammable lithium ion battery

Researchers have identified a surprising replacement for the only inherently flammable component of today's lithium-ion batteries: the electrolyte.

NRL launch an unmanned aerial vehicle from a submerged submarine

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory launched an all-electric, fuel cell-powered, unmanned aerial system from a submerged submarine under a project funded by SwampWorks at the Office of Naval Research and the Department of Defense Rapid Reaction Technology Office.

Study on jellyfish energy consumption to improve robotic designs

Researchers are part of a national study that has cracked how jellyfish move with the lowest cost of transport of any animal.

Tiny water droplets carry electric charge

In a completely unexpected finding, researchers have discovered that tiny water droplets that form on a superhydrophobic surface, and then "jump" away from that surface, carry an electric charge.

New materials improve oxygen catalysis

Researchers have found a new family of materials that provides the best-ever performance in a reaction called oxygen evolution, a key requirement for energy storage and delivery systems such as advanced fuel cells and lithium-air batteries.

Network of unmanned undersea platforms assist manned vessels

To maintain advantage over adversaries, U.S. naval forces need a way to project key capabilities in multiple locations at once, without the time and expense of building new vessels to deliver those capabilities.

Important milestone for autonomous PowerBuoy

Ocean Power Technologies, Inc. has announced the deployment off New Jersey of its innovative autonomous wave energy device, marking an important milestone in the roll-out of the Company's Autonomous PowerBuoy® product line.

Like water for batteries

Wettability could have an impact on how much energy can be stored within such devices that use lithium-ion batteries or super capacitors.

Not-weak knots bolster carbon fiber

Large flakes of graphene oxide are the essential ingredient in a new recipe for robust carbon fiber created at Rice University.

Device could coat smart phone screens with energy harvesting material

Nearly doubling the efficiency of a breakthrough photovoltaic cell they created last year, researchers have developed a two-layer, see-through solar film that could be placed on windows, sunroofs, smartphone displays and other surfaces to harvest energy from the sun.

Advanced wind monitoring system

The Fishermen's Wind Sentinel is a suite of environmental monitoring sensors which are installed on a buoy platform called the NOMAD.

Unzipped nanotubes unlock potential for batteries

Researchers at Rice University have come up with a new way to boost the efficiency of the ubiquitous lithium ion (LI) battery by employing ribbons of graphene that start as carbon nanotubes.