Office of Naval Research (ONR)

Crumpled graphene could provide an unconventional energy storage

Researchers have now found that crumpling a piece of graphene "paper" — a material formed by bonding together layers of the two-dimensional form of carbon — can actually yield new properties that could be useful for creating extremely stretchable supercapacitors to store energy for flexible electronic devices.

New technology may lead to prolonged power in mobile devices

Researchers have created technology that could be the first step toward wearable computers with self-contained power sources or, more immediately, a smartphone that doesn't die after a few hours of heavy use.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Progress with autonomous robotic jellyfish

Virginia Tech College of Engineering researchers are working on a multi-university, nationwide project for the U.S. Navy that one day will put life-like autonomous robot jellyfish in waters around the world.

How 'transparent' is graphene?

The amazing electrical, optical and strength properties of graphene, a single-atom-thick layer of carbon, have been extensively researched over the last decade.