US Department of Energy

Scientists have created a battery designed for the electric grid that locks in energy for months without losing much storage capacity. The development of the "freeze-thaw battery," which freezes its energy for use later, is a step toward batteries that can be used for seasonal storage: saving energy in one season, such as the spring, and spending it in another, like autumn.

A study takes a fresh look at what could become the first step toward a new generation of solar batteries. The study examines the structure of metal halide perovskites, materials promising for their ability to turn light into electric energy, known as photovoltaic conversion.

Researchers uncover new avenue for overcoming the performance decline that occurs with repeated charge-discharge cycling in the cathodes of next generation batteries.

A major challenge currently facing wave energy technology is the achievement of cost competitiveness. Because they must be designed to be robust enough to withstand large wave loads and unforgiving sea states, about 35%-50% of wave energy converter costs can be attributed to device structural costs alone. Reducing the structural cost and increasing energy capture are two paths toward reducing wave energy's levelized cost of energy, thereby increasing its attractiveness as a major renewable energy source.

Researchers may have found a way to revitalize rechargeable lithium batteries, potentially boosting the range of electric vehicles and battery life in next-gen electronic devices.

Trains have been on the sidelines of electrification efforts for a long time in theUS because they account for only 2% of transportation sector emissions, but diesel freight trains emit 35 million metric tons of carbon dioxide annually and produce air pollution that leads to $6.5 billion in health costs, resulting in an estimated 1,000 premature deaths each year.

Researchers have designed a novel polymer to bind and strengthen silica sand for binder jet additive manufacturing, a 3D-printing method used by industries for prototyping and part production.