US Department of Energy

Environmental & health impact of lithium-ion batteries for EVs

Lithium-ion batteries used to power plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles show overall promise to "fuel" these vehicles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but there are areas for improvement to reduce possible environmental and public health impacts, according to a "cradle to grave" study of advanced Li-ion batteries recently completed by Abt Associates for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Boutique car manufacturer makes offer to buy Fisker

A boutique carmaker led by former General Motors Co executive Bob Lutz and China's largest auto parts supplier made an offer this month to buy cash-strapped "green" car company Fisker Automotive, reports Reuters citing unnamed sources familiar with the development.

Team observes real-time charging of a lithium-air battery

Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Laboratories have used transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging to observe, at a molecular level, what goes on during a reaction called oxygen evolution as lithium-air batteries charge; this reaction is thought to be a bottleneck limiting further improvements to these batteries.

Improved organic thermoelectrics

Thermoelectric materials can be used to turn waste heat into electricity or to provide refrigeration without any liquid coolants, and a research team from the University of Michigan has found a way to nearly double the efficiency of a particular class of them that's made with organic semiconductors.

DoE, Hyundai, Mercedes, Nissan and Toyota in fuel cell initiative

The Energy Department launched H₂USA a new public-private partnership focused on advancing hydrogen infrastructure to support more transportation energy options for U.S. consumers, including fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs).

Team observes real-time charging of a lithium-air battery

Researchers at MIT and Sandia National Laboratories have used transmission electron microscope (TEM) imaging to observe, at a molecular level, what goes on during a reaction called oxygen evolution as lithium-air batteries charge; this reaction is thought to be a bottleneck limiting further improvements to these batteries. The TEM technique could help in finding ways to make such batteries practical in the near future.

Composite organic/inorganic thermoelectric more than sum of its parts

Researchers have discovered highly conductive polymer behavior occurring at a polymer/nanocrystal interface.

Printed electronics in East Asia: change of direction

Variously called Printed, Flexible or Organic Electronics, it is one of the fastest growing technologies in the world. It is of vital interest to industries as diverse as consumer goods, healthcare, mobility, electronics, media and architecture.

Plextronics awarded SBIR grant for reducing OLED lighting costs

The SBIR program is well recognized for supporting important technological advances.

7th Annual CAFE Electric Aircraft Symposium: First day

This excellent event "7th Electric Aircraft Symposium" in Santa Rosa, USA was acclaimed as the best ever in the series. Over 150 people attended, an eclectic mix from NASA and Siemens to hobbyists, universities and technology startups were there.

In first, electric vehicle-to-grid technology sells power to PJM Power

Joined by government and industry leaders, the University of Delaware and NRG Energy are celebrating an important milestone for its eV2g project today, becoming an official resource of PJM Interconnection and proving for the first time that electric vehicle-to-grid technology can sell electricity from electric vehicles to the power grid.

Tiny injectable LEDs help neuroscientists study the brain

Researchers have developed ultrathin, flexible optoelectronic devices - including LEDs the size of individual neurons - that are lighting the way for neuroscientists in the field of optogenetics and beyond.

New technique to boost solar cell efficiency

The principle behind the barrier-busting technique has been known theoretically since the 1960s.

Hydrogen fuel production could revolutionize alternative energy market

A team of Virginia Tech researchers has discovered a way to extract large quantities of hydrogen from any plant, a breakthrough that has the potential to bring a low-cost, environmentally friendly fuel source to the world.

Record efficiency for black silicon solar cells

Scientists at Aalto University, Finland and Fraunhofer ISE, Germany report an efficiency of 18.7% for black silicon solar cells, the highest efficiency reported so far for a black silicon solar cell.

Breakthrough in race to create 'bio-batteries'

Proteins on the surface of bacteria can produce an electric current by simply touching a mineral surface.

ORNL research paves way for larger, safer lithium ion batteries

Looking toward improved batteries for charging electric cars and storing energy from renewable but intermittent solar and wind, scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed the first high-performance, nanostructured solid electrolyte for more energy-dense lithium ion batteries.

The keys to success in graphene commercialization

Graphene has received tremendous global interest because of record-breaking performance in electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and strength, among other properties.

Argonne and CalBattery strike deal for silicon-graphene anode material

The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory and California Lithium Battery, Inc. (CalBattery) have announced that they have signed a licensing agreement for an Argonne-developed, silicon-graphene composite anode material for high-energy lithium batteries.

Second agreement to advance solar window towards commercialization

Under the terms of the agreement, researchers will additionally work towards optimizing the deposition of various coatings on flexible surfaces; these layers allow for electricity to be generated on surfaces such as see-through and tinted plastics.