University of Illinois

Improving lithium-ion batteries

It is now clear that progress with batteries that are candidates to replace lithium-ion batteries is so slow that they will rule the roost for the coming decade.

The future of e-mobility to be revealed in Munich

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Forum 2014, taking place on September 17 - 18 at Angelo Hotel Munich Westpark will be hosting the top speakers from leading car, bus and truck manufacturing companies, the electric power industry, regional authorities, as well as research technological institutes and universities, to answer critical questions, such as battery development, EV infrastructure development or incentives, policies and strategies.

IDTechEx: unmanned electric aircraft take agriculture by storm

The German Agricultural Society Field Days 2014, held recently showcased many new innovations in crop production for the German and other European producers present. This year's event had special emphasis on drones, notably quadcopters and other multicopters for spotting disease, underwatering and many other conditions plus some fixed wing versions.

Highlights from a printed electronics conference

IDTechEx recently attended a Printed Electronics conference in Germany. IDTechEx analysts attended talks from a wide variety of companies. Here we include very brief highlights/summaries of the important points.

Stick-on electronic patches for health monitoring

Engineers have demonstrated thin, soft stick-on patches that stretch and move with the skin and incorporate commercial, off-the-shelf chip-based electronics for sophisticated wireless health monitoring.

3-D printer creates fitted electronic glove to replace pacemakers

Using an inexpensive 3-D printer, biomedical engineers have developed a custom-fitted, implantable device with embedded sensors that could transform treatment and prediction of cardiac disorders.

Off-the-shelf materials lead to self-healing polymers

Look out, super glue and paint thinner. Thanks to new dynamic materials developed at the University of Illinois, removable paint and self-healing plastics soon could be household products.

Implant harvests heartbeat power

A flexible piezoelectric implant that harnesses energy from the body's natural motions has been developed by researchers in the US and China.

Way to make solar cells thin, efficient and flexible

Researchers may be one step closer to tapping into the full potential of solar cells.

Nanotubes can solder themselves, markedly improving device performance

Researchers have developed a way to heal gaps in wires too small for even the world's tiniest soldering iron.

Ultrathin diagnostic skin allows continuous patient monitoring

An international multidisciplinary team has developed an entirely new approach: a sophisticated "electronic skin" that adheres non-invasively to human skin, conforms well to contours, and provides a detailed temperature map of any surface of the body.

Heat-resistant materials to improve solar cell efficiency

Scientists have created a heat-resistant thermal emitter, an element used in specialized solar cells, that could significantly improve the efficiency of the cells.

Colored plastic doubles solar cell power

A thin sheet of dyed plastic could cut the cost of solar power, particularly for applications that require solar cells to be highly efficient and flexible.

Cure for crack-prone high-capacity batteries

Researchers have shown that mixing silicon microparticles with self-healing polymers helps prevent a longer-lasting battery from failing.

Forest waste to develop cheaper, greener supercapacitors

Researchers report that wood-biochar supercapacitors can produce as much power as today's activated-carbon supercapacitors at a fraction of the cost - and with environmentally friendly byproducts.

A major advance in thermophotovoltaics

Scientists have created a heat-resistant thermal emitter, an element used in specialized solar cells, that could significantly improve the efficiency of the cells.

Stanford engineers build basic computer using carbon nanotubes

Unprecedented feat points toward a new generation of energy-efficient electronics.

Self-healing solar cells channel natural processes

Creating solar cell devices with channels that mimic organic vascular systems can effectively reinvigorate solar cells whose performance deteriorates due to degradation by the sun's ultraviolet rays.

Scientists spy on lithium ions

Researchers have developed a device that allows researchers to eavesdrop on individual lithium ions—and potentially develop the next generation of batteries.

Scientists spy on lithium ions

To wring more power out of lithium ion batteries, scientists are experimenting with different materials and designs. Michigan Technological University has developed a device that allows researchers to eavesdrop on individual lithium ions - and potentially develop the next generation of batteries.