US Department of Energy

Compounds basis for devices that turn waste heat to electricity

Cage-like compounds called clathrates could be used for harvesting waste heat and turning it into electricity. Chemists just discovered a whole new class of clathrates, potentially opening new ways to make and apply these materials.

Energy-collecting windows is one step closer to reality

Researchers are bringing the dream of windows that can efficiently collect solar energy one step closer to reality thanks to high-tech silicon nanoparticles.

Stabilising energy storage

Because the sun doesn't always shine, solar utilities need a way to store extra charge for a rainy day. The same goes for wind power facilities, since the wind doesn't always blow. To take full advantage of renewable energy, electrical grids need large batteries that can store the power coming from wind and solar installations until it is needed.

ViZn Energy

ViZn Energy is a US company focusing on large-scale zinc-based redox flow batteries. They have partnered with companies like Jabil, Schneider Electric, and Princeton Power Systems.

Research pinpoints promise of polycrystalline perovskites

A team of scientists determined that surface recombination limits the performance of polycrystalline perovskite solar cells.

New thin films can self-repair following damage

Separating one chemical from another may sound incredibly dull, but it's vital to making everything from plastic dishes to cleaning drinking water.

The growing demand for low cost environmental sensors in smart cities

Last week Paris experienced its worst spike in pollution since records began. Cars were banned from the streets and public transport made free in the city and surrounding areas. Such vehicle bans have only been introduced four times in the last two decades, and never before on consecutive days.

A tiny squeeze gives a big boost in performance

A nanosize squeeze can significantly boost the performance of platinum catalysts that help generate energy in fuel cells, according to a new study.

Analyzing crystal structure improves displays

The finding could potentially be useful for a number of different applications. It could lead to a way of making large, transparent display screens, where most light would pass straight through as if through a window, but light of specific frequencies would be scattered to produce a clear image on the screen. Or, the method could be used to make private displays that would only be visible to the person directly in front of the screen.

AquaHarmonics wins wave energy prize

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy announced AquaHarmonics as the winner of the Wave Energy Prize - which comes with a $1.5 million grand prize.

Glass in batteries to increase performance and safety

Professor believes using glassy solids as the electrolytes in batteries would make for safer, more powerful batteries.

Major advance in solar cells made from cheap, easy-to-use perovskite

Solar cells made from an inexpensive and increasingly popular material called perovskite can more efficiently turn sunlight into electricity using a new technique to sandwich two types of perovskite into a single photovoltaic cell.

Unienergy Technologies

Unienergy Technologies is a rising star in the redox flow space, with MWh-scale projects around the globe and a clear ownership of the whole supply chain.

Silicon valley: doctor heal thyself

Silicon Valley in California spawns the awesome giants that hold the future in their hands but they cannot solve their traffic problem.

Researchers say 2D boron may be best for flexible electronics

Though they're touted as ideal for electronics, two-dimensional materials like graphene may be too flat and hard to stretch to serve in flexible, wearable devices. "Wavy" borophene might be better, according to scientists.