US Department of Energy

Microscopy system delivers real-time view of battery electrochemistry

Using a new microscopy method, researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory can image and measure electrochemical processes in batteries in real time and at nanoscale resolution.

Battery with liquid electrodes can be recharged or refilled

A new kind of battery stores energy in what researchers are calling "rechargeable fuel"—electrodes in liquid form. The result can be either recharged like a conventional battery or replaced by pumping in new fuel like gasoline.

New solar technology captures high-energy photons more efficiently

Scientists have developed a new, inexpensive material that has the potential to capture and convert solar energy — particularly from the bluer part of the spectrum — much more efficiently than ever before.

Researchers build nonflammable lithium ion battery

Developing a new generation lithium-ion battery that doesn't spontaneously combust at high temperatures.

Putting the power in power-dressing

Scientists in the UK developing wearable electronics have knitted a flexible fabric that delivers twice the power output of current energy harvesting textiles.

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.

ASU engineers to help develop next generation of power electronics

Arizona State University electrical engineers Srabanti Chowdhury and Raja Ayyanar will lead research for the university's role in a new national consortium formed to develop the next generation of power electronics for electric vehicles and electronic devices.

EV Battery and Supercapacitor

Lessons from PE USA Supercapacitor Conference and Visits End 2013

Getting a charge from changes in humidity

A new type of electrical generator uses bacterial spores to harness the untapped power of evaporating water, according to research.

Samsung Electronics

The first successful ultra high transparency barrier material, which was commercialized by Vitex, was originally developed by GE in a process designed to be used for capacitor fabrication. This process is called the Polymer Multi-Layer (PML) process. It was developed in the late 1970's and early 1980's at GE's capacitor division in Hudson Falls, NY for the fabrication of multilayer, polymer/aluminum capacitors. By2011, most of the company's IP had been acquired by Samsung

Toyota launches fuel cell car in the US

The supercapacitor industry closed last year (2013) with a continued double-digit growth. According to Maxwell Technologies' executives, China has been the main source of growth. New announcements confirm what IDTechEx has stated in recent years: the supercapacitor and the battery industry are the same.

Engineers create light-activated 'curtains'

Forget remote-controlled curtains. A new development by researchers could lead to curtains and other materials that move in response to light, no batteries needed.

$24.9 million to put more zero-emission buses into service

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Transit Administration (FTA) has announced the availability of $24.9 million through its brand new Low or No Emission Vehicle Deployment Program (LoNo) that will put a new generation of advanced, non-polluting transit buses on the road in communities nationwide.

Highly sensitive tactile sensors for robotics and other applications

Researchers have created tactile sensors from composite films of carbon nanotubes and silver nanoparticles similar to the highly sensitive whiskers of cats and rats.

Organic mega flow battery promises breakthrough for renewable energy

A team of scientists and engineers has demonstrated a new type of battery that could fundamentally transform the way electricity is stored on the grid, making power from renewable energy sources such as wind and solar far more economical and reliable.

How to tap the sun's energy through heat as well as light

A new approach to harvesting solar energy could improve efficiency by using sunlight to heat a high-temperature material whose infrared radiation would then be collected by a conventional photovoltaic cell.

NCSU to lead new institute for next generation power electronics

North Carolina State University has been selected by the Obama Administration to lead a public-private manufacturing innovation institute for next generation power electronics.

'Inverse opal' structure improves thin-film solar cells

Researchers have shown how to increase the efficiency of thin-film solar cells, a technology that could bring low-cost solar energy.

Scientists cook up new electronic material

Scientists grew sheets of an exotic material in a single atomic layer and measured its electronic structure for the first time.