Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

Smart transformers among top 10 emerging technologies

The smart solid-state transformers being developed by the NSF FREEDM Systems Center at North Carolina State University have been named to MIT Technology Review's 2011 list of the world's 10 most important emerging technologies.

New technique could enable fiber-based electronic and photonic devices

Researchers at MIT have succeeded in making a fine thread that could enable creation of a variety of fiber-based electronic and photonic devices.

Audi R8 e-tron: A look inside the development workshop

The first all-electric Audi will be built at the Neckarsulm site, with a small production run of the R8 e-tron sports car to hit the roads in late 2012.

Intense interest in energy harvesting for electric vehicles

Two forthcoming events in Germany reflect the intense interest in energy harvesting for electric vehicles. Energy Harvesting Europe 21-22 June covers many forms of harvesting for other applications as well and drills into the technology, investment and other aspects of harvesting in general. On the other hand Electric Vehicles Land Sea Air in Stuttgart 28-29 June is entirely vehicle oriented.

New spin on graphene

Scientists including an MIT physics professor have found a way to make wonder material graphene magnetic, opening up a new range of opportunities for the world's thinnest material in the area of spintronics.

Virus will improve solar power

Researchers at MIT have found a way to make significant improvements to the power-conversion efficiency of solar cells by enlisting the services of tiny viruses to perform detailed assembly work at the microscopic level.

Electric Vehicles - But Not As We Know Them

Today's electric family cars are useless in telling us anything about the future. The design and adoption of electric vehicles is subject to sudden change driven by surprising factors. The unique event "Electric Vehicles - Land Sea Air" in Stuttgart, Germany is alone in looking at the big picture in order to clarify what is really going on.

Turning windows into a source of power

If a new development from labs at MIT pans out as expected, someday the entire surface area of a building's windows could be used to generate electricity — without interfering with the ability to see through them.

Intense interest in energy harvesting for electric vehicles

Two forthcoming events in Germany reflect the intense interest in energy harvesting for electric vehicles.

More impressions from IDTechEx Printed Electronics Europe 2011

During the 2-day conference and exhibition, both the conference sessions and the trade show floor gave ample chances to almost 1000 attendees to learn of the new advances in the field of printed, thin film and flexible electronics, network and interact with their developers and take a close look at samples and demonstrators that prove that the sector is fast maturing, with new products being introduced and fertile new markets being seeded.

IDTechEx printed electronics Europe 2011 award winners

The annual printed electronics award winners were announced on April 5th at the IDTechEx Awards

The first practical artificial leaf

Scientists at MIT have claimed one of the milestones in the drive for sustainable energy — development of the first practical artificial leaf.

Power transmission through submarine hulls

Doctoral student Tristan Lawry at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developed and demonstrated an innovative new system that uses ultrasound to simultaneously transmit large quantities of data and power wirelessly through thick metal walls, like the hulls of ships and submarines.

Flexible electronics is the winner

There is a new form of electronics that will hit that figure in half the time because, unlike the silicon chip, it subsumes electrics such as lighting, batteries, solar cells and heaters, not just electronics. It is usually achieved by printing and its most vital characteristic is physical flexibility.

Paper electronics ready for prime time

The term paper electronics refers to electronic and electric circuits printed onto paper - increasingly both at the same time. Paper electronics has its origins in the screen printing of electrodes onto battery separators for cylindrical batteries and it has been used for conductors and sensors in such things as T-Ink toys and novelties.

E Ink Holdings announces fourth quarter and fiscal year 2010 results

Sales reach historical high of NT$9.7 billion and NT$25.2 billion respectively

Self-repairing solar cells

Researchers are creating a new type of solar cell designed to self-repair like natural photosynthetic systems in plants by using carbon nanotubes and DNA, an approach aimed at increasing service life and reducing cost.

New solar cell self-repairs like natural plant systems

Researchers are creating a new type of solar cell designed to self-repair like natural photosynthetic systems in plants by using carbon nanotubes and DNA, an approach aimed at increasing service life and reducing cost.

Graphene electrodes for organic solar cells

A promising approach for making solar cells that are inexpensive, lightweight and flexible is to use organic (that is, carbon-containing) compounds instead of expensive, highly purified silicon. But one stubborn problem has slowed the development of such cells.