Brookhaven National Laboratory

Quantum dots enhance light-to-current conversion

Harnessing the power of the sun and creating light-harvesting or light-sensing devices requires a material that both absorbs light efficiently and converts the energy to highly mobile electrical current.

Graphene leans on glass to advance electronics

Despite being heralded as a breakthrough "wonder material," graphene has been slow to leap into commercial and industrial products and processes.

New chip fabrication approach

Researchers report the first chip-fabrication technique that enables significantly different materials to be deposited in the same layer.

Study explores nanoscale structure of thin films

The world's newest and brightest synchrotron light source has produced one of the first publications resulting from work done during the facility's science commissioning phase.

Solving mysteries of conductivity in polymers

Materials known as conjugated polymers have been seen as very promising candidates for electronics applications, including capacitors, photodiodes, sensors, organic light-emitting diodes, and thermoelectric devices.

Engineering phase changes in nanoparticle arrays

Scientists have just taken a big step toward the goal of engineering dynamic nanomaterials whose structure and associated properties can be switched on demand.

Better battery imaging paves way for renewable energy future

In a move that could improve the energy storage of everything from portable electronics to electric microgrids, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Brookhaven National Laboratory researchers have developed a novel X-ray imaging technique to visualize and study the electrochemical reactions in lithium-ion rechargeable batteries containing a new type of material, iron fluoride.

New material could boost batteries' power, help power plants

A team of researchers has developed a material that acts as a superhighway for ions. The material could make batteries more powerful, change how gaseous fuel is turned into liquid fuel and help power plants burn coal and natural gas more efficiently.

Battery bounce test often bounces off target

Researchers conclude that the bounces increase because the zinc oxide forms tiny bridges within the zinc material, which decreases the mechanical damping of the battery.

Copper atoms bring a potential new battery material to life

A team of researchers has studied one member of a class of materials, called transition metal fluorides, that are potential cathodes for future lithium ion batteries.

Clocking energy-transfer rates in quantum dots

Energy transfer in light-sensitive materials such as quantum dots is of interest for better solar cells, LEDs, and other devices.

Compact batteries enhanced by spontaneous silver matrix formations

In a promising lithium-based battery, the formation of a highly conductive silver matrix transforms a material otherwise plagued by low conductivity.

Nanoscale details of electrochemical reactions in EV battery materials

Using a new method to track the electrochemical reactions in a common electric vehicle battery material under operating conditions, scientists have revealed new insight into why fast charging inhibits this material's performance.

Creeping nanocrystals behind lithium-ion battery degradation

Batteries do not age gracefully. The lithium ions that power portable electronics cause lingering structural damage with each cycle of charge and discharge, making devices from smartphones to tablets tick toward zero faster and faster over time.

Getting more electricity out of solar cells

When sunlight shines on today's solar cells, much of the incoming energy is given off as waste heat rather than electrical current. In a few materials, however, extra energy produces extra electrons — behavior that could significantly increase solar-cell efficiency.

Smart Window material may make better batteries

High-tech "smart windows," which darken to filter out sunlight in response to electric current, function much like batteries. Now, X-ray studies provide a crystal-clear view into how the color-changing material in these windows behaves in a working battery - information that could benefit next-generation rechargeable batteries.

Study reveals new surface chemistry in electric vehicle batteries

While nobody has killed it, the electric car certainly has its challenges - namely safety, performance and cost.

Disordered materials hold promise for better batteries

Researchers have found a whole new avenue for research: the use of disordered materials, which had generally been considered unsuitable for batteries.

Pressure cooking to improve electric car batteries

By creating nanoparticles with a controlled shape, researchers believe smaller, more powerful and energy efficient batteries can be built.

Nanocrystal catalyst transforms impure hydrogen into electricity

Brookhaven Lab scientists use simple, 'green' process to create novel core-shell catalyst that tolerates carbon monoxide in fuel cells and opens new, inexpensive pathways for zero-emission vehicles.