US Department of Energy

Deep Learning for Mechanical Property Evaluation

A standard method for testing some of the mechanical properties of materials is to poke them with a sharp point. This "indentation technique" can provide detailed measurements of how the material responds to the point's force, as a function of its penetration depth.

LG Chem

LG Chem have been expanding their Li-ion business aggressively.

Research Boosts Stability of Perovskites, Helps Silicon Solar Cells

A change in chemical composition enabled scientists to boost the longevity and efficiency of a perovskite solar cell. The new formula enabled the solar cell to resist a stability problem that has so far thwarted the commercialization of perovskites. The problem is known as light-induced phase-segregation, which occurs when the alloys that make up the solar cells break down under exposure to continuous light.

Thin-Film Solar Cells Generate as Much Energy as Traditional Ones

Scientists have become the first to achieve an energy efficiency of 25 percent with a thin-film solar cell. This means that this wafer-thin solar cell generates as much energy as a traditional silicon solar cell.

Quadrupling Turbines, US Can Meet 2030 Wind Energy Goals

The United States could generate 20% of its electricity in a breezy way within 10 years according to new research.

Growth in Robotic Farming

EarthSense first robot—TerraSentia—improves the quantity, accuracy, cost and speed of in-field plant trait data collection, especially for under-canopy traits that cannot be obtained by other technologies.

Safer Lead-Based Perovskite Solar Cell

Researchers are reporting a potential breakthrough in the development of hybrid perovskite solar cells. Considered rising stars in the field of solar energy, perovskite solar cells convert light into electricity. They're potentially cheaper and simpler to produce than traditional silicon-based solar cells and, on a small scale in laboratory settings at least, have demonstrated comparable efficiency levels. But key challenges remain before they can become a competitive commercial technology.

KULR Technology

KULR have extensive experience in battery safety for aerospace and defence applications, more recently they have been taking this knowledge and aplying it to the electric vehicle market.

Graphene Forms Under Microscope's Eye

You don't need a big laser to make laser-induced graphene. Scientists are using a very small visible beam to burn the foamy form of carbon into microscopic patterns.

Eliminating Cobalt Metal in Lithium-Ion Batteries

Energy storage startup SPARKZ Inc has exclusively licensed five battery technologies from the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory designed to eliminate cobalt metal in lithium-ion batteries. The advancement is aimed at accelerating the production of electric vehicles and energy storage solutions for the power grid.

American Semiconductor Inc

American Semiconductor is a company based in Idaho, USA that has developed a process for thinning silicon chips and packaging them within a polymer. This enables flexible, durable silicon ICs, offering processing capability with a flexible form factor.

Turbocharging Hydrogen Fuel Cells with Novel Ion-Conducting Copolymer

Renewed investments in hydrogen fuel cell technologies and infrastructure by companies like Amazon; nations like China; and automakers like Toyota, Honda, and Hyundai, are sparking sales and fresh interest in the vast possibilities of polymer-electrolyte fuel cells. The fresh interest could revolutionize transportation and fill streets with vehicles whose only effluent is water vapor.

Thinfilm to Energize Innovation in the Wearables and Sensor Markets

Thin Film Electronics ASA announced its updated corporate strategy focused on the design, development, and production of innovative battery solutions targeting existing market demand with differentiated solutions to power wearable devices and connected sensors.

Engineers Examine Lithium Battery Defects

Solid-state lithium batteries are the Holy Grail of energy storage. With potential impacts on everything from personal mobile devices to industrial renewable energy, the difficulties are worth overcoming. The goal: Build a safe and long lived lithium battery. The challenge: Use a solid-state electrolyte and stop short circuiting from the formation and growth of lithium dendrites.

For Cheaper Solar Cells, Thinner Really is Better

Costs of solar panels have plummeted over the last several years, leading to rates of solar installations far greater than most analysts had expected. But with most of the potential areas for cost savings already pushed to the extreme, further cost reductions are becoming more challenging to find.

Airspeq

At CES 2020 IDTechEx met with Tania Sole from Airspeq. The company has developed a MEMS based sensor to detect airborne particulate matter. The technology is based on patent pending MEMS thin-film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) technology.

Neutron Diffraction Used for the First Time to Improve Batteries

The first battery innovation project in Europe using hi-tech neutron diffraction techniques has been launched in Spain under the Consortium for Battery Innovation's new technical program.

Finalists Announced for 2019 R&D 100 Awards

Finalists for the venerable R&D 100 Awards have been announced by R&D World magazine and its new parent company, WTWH Media, LLC.

Polluted Wastewater in the Forecast? Try a Solar Umbrella

Researchers have demonstrated a way to double the rate of evaporation by using solar energy and taking advantage of water's inherent properties.

Tests Measure Solar Panel Performance Beyond Established Standards

Photovoltaics used in solar panels are sensitive to environmental factors and often suffer degradation over time. International Electrotechnical Commission standards for accelerated degradation do not include field tests. While some testing facilities have made data available, much of the data needed to make business decisions for PV is not available publicly.