University of Wisconsin-Madison

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2016

Lithium battery component found to harm key soil microorganism

The material at the heart of the lithium ion batteries that power electric vehicles, laptop computers and smartphones has been shown to impair a key soil bacterium, according to research.

Footsteps for charging devices

When you're on the go and your smartphone battery is low, in the not-so-distant future you could charge it simply by plugging it into your shoe.

2015

Exotic new sources of free electricity: $50 billion market

High Power Energy Harvesting (HPEH) is a term beginning to be used for creation of electricity where it is needed using ambient "free" energy. That zero-pollution, high-energy conversion typically captures light (photovoltaics), heat difference (thermoelectrics and heat pumps) and movement (electrodynamics).

Energy independent vehicles emulate static off-grid experience

Off-grid electricity production on land has lessons for energy independent electric vehicles (EIVs) that come later. These generate all their own electricity from wind, waves, sun and other forms of ambient energy - free and clean.

Solar textile collaboration weaves chemistry and design

Researchers are experimenting with different ways to create solar textiles.

Ultra-thin hollow nanocages reduce platinum use in fuel cell electrode

A new fabrication technique that produces platinum hollow nanocages with ultra-thin walls could dramatically reduce the amount of the costly metal needed to provide catalytic activity in such applications as fuel cells.

New nanogenerator harvests power from rolling tires

Researchers have developed a nanogenerator that harvests energy from a car's rolling tire friction.

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.

Discovery could yield more efficient portable electronics, solar cells

By figuring out how to precisely order the molecules that make up what scientists call organic glass, chemists have set the stage for more efficient and sturdier portable electronic devices and possibly a new generation of solar cells based on organic materials.

Breakthrough could help extend life of batteries

Scientists are reporting a breakthrough in using very small technology to extend the battery life of some electronic devices.

Advanced 3D printer sparks unique collaborations

Unlike the consumer-level, desktop 3D printers that have received lots of media attention, the Polymer Engineering Centre's industrial SLS machine is a high-end, precision instrument—and about the size of a compact car.

Internet of Things Lab focuses on tech-savvy inventions

The Internet of Things Lab is a campus hub designed to bring teams together around projects.

Hands on: crafting ultrathin color coatings

A technique that coats a metallic object with an extremely thin layer of semiconductor, just a few nanometers thick. Although the semiconductor is a steely gray color, the object ends up shining in vibrant hues.

2014

Save power, make power

Trisha Andrew wants to save billions of watt hours by revolutionizing, well, just about every electronic device in existence. She suggests this be done by controlling the spin on electrons, and then shutting down devices if the proper spin is absent.

Play Hockey with Team Canada Printed Electronics at PE USA

Time for some fun - and there's plenty to be had at the world's largest event on printed electronics, which will be hosted by IDTechEx in Santa Clara, CA in just a few days' time on Nov 19-20 (www.PrintedElectronicsUSA.com External Link).

Electric bacteria - it's not what it seems

For the past 10 years, scientists have been fascinated by a type of "electric bacteria" that shoots out long tendrils like electric wires, using them to power themselves and transfer electricity to a variety of solid surfaces. A team led by scientists at USC has now turned the study of these bacterial nanowires on its head, discovering that the key features in question are not pili, as previously believed.

Components to advance battery technology

Johnson Controls and Fraunhofer Gesellschaft have signed a collaboration agreement to develop the next generation of more energy efficient, cost effective cooling systems for vehicle batteries.

Vibration energy the secret to self powered electronics

ncorporated directly into a cell phone housing, the team's nanogenerator could harvest and convert vibration energy from a surface, such as the passenger seat of a moving vehicle, into power for the phone.

2013

Energy researcher develops dye-based solar cells

Researchers are developing next-generation solar cells using chromophores or, in lay terms, dyes.

Solar cell structure stores and supplies energy simultaneously

In a quest for a smaller, more self-sustaining solar power source, an electrical engineer has proposed a design for solar panels that can simultaneously generate power from sunlight and store power reserves for later, all within a single device.