US Department of Energy

Lithium-ion batteries can't catch fire because they harden on impact

Lithium-ion batteries commonly used in consumer electronics are notorious for bursting into flame when damaged or improperly packaged. Inspired by the weird behavior of some liquids that solidify on impact, researchers have developed a practical and inexpensive way to help prevent these fires.

Front Edge Technology

Front Edge Technology (FET) develops a LiPON-based NanoEnergy product for micro power applications.

Ionic Materials

Ionic Materials (IM) is a US-based start-up developing a solid polymer electrolyte for Li-ion batteries. Founded in 2011 by Mike Zimmerman, serial entrepreneur and professor at Tufts University, in 2018 the company raised $65M in a Series C funding round that included Hyundai, Renault-Nissan, A123 Systems, Total, and Hitachi Chemical, among other investors.

Improved way to make III-V solar cells

For an example of extremely high-efficient solar cells at work, look no further than Mars. The rovers NASA sent to the red planet in 2003 relied on solar panels the size of a kitchen table and capable of converting about 27% of sunlight into electricity. To put that same technology to work on Earth, where the average rooftop solar panel is 15% efficient, the cost would be, well, astronomical.

Volta Energy Technologies announces investment in Conamix

Volta Energy Technologies is investing in Conamix, a technology startup based in Ithaca, New York. Conamix has developed a breakthrough material and process for creating low-cost, high-energy, and cobalt-free electrode materials for lithium-based batteries.

Uber urges drivers to go electric

Studies have found that when shared and electric mobility are properly combined, along with automation, we can shrink the number of vehicles on the road and reduce transportation's climate footprint. That's why Uber has launched the EV Champions Initiative, a pilot program for driver-partners to deliver at least 5 million EV rides over the next year.

Heliotrope Technologies

Heliotrope Technologies is a smart glass technology start-up. This company is commercialising an exciting third generation electrochromic technology, which holds high promise.

Now you can 3D print clay, cookie dough - or solid rocket fuel

It's now possible to 3D print extremely viscous materials, with the consistency of clay or cookie dough with fine precision. This development may soon allow the creation of customized ceramics, solid rockets, pharmaceuticals, biomedical implants, foodstuffs, and more.

New machine learning approach could accelerate bioengineering

Scientists have developed a way to use machine learning to dramatically accelerate the design of microbes that produce biofuel.

Finalist for Renewable Energy Project of the Year

Highview Power announced that its Liquid Air Energy Storage system at the Pilsworth Landfill Facility outside of Manchester, UK is a finalist for the BusinessGreen Renewable Energy Project of the Year.

Hawaii off grid dream home

Successful entrepreneur Graham Hill has built an off-grid home in Hawaii.

SolarWindow Technologies

Originally the company, based out of Maryland, was developing nano-silicon solar cells, but now is focused on organic PV (OPV), which has many advantages over conventional silicon-based PV technologies.

Hydrogen-fueled vehicle produces magic number for emissions: zero

The design and construction of a clean, hydrogen-powered UPS delivery van is near completion. Promising greater commercial viability, performance that is equal to traditional gasoline-fueled engines and, most importantly, producing no harmful emissions.

US solar funding

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office announced $105.5 million in funding for projects that span the office's research portfolio and address the affordability, flexibility, and performance of solar technologies on the grid.

Ilika Technologies

Ilika is a public company that focuses on innovative approaches for technology accelerated innovation. They are affiliated to the University of Southampton in the UK and have worked in the development of solid state batteries. They have collaborated with Toyota in SSB material developments.

New design produces true lithium-air battery

Researchers have designed a new lithium-air battery that works in a natural air environment and still functioned after a record-breaking 750 charge/discharge cycles.

World's first medium/large-scale 3D thermoset printer

Magnum Venus Products, in partnership with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, installed the first commercially available medium/large-scale thermoset 3D printer at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Manufacturing Demonstration Facility in Tennessee.

BASF Battery Materials

BASF is arguably the world's largest chemical company. After a successful stint with NiMH batteries, the company is trying to replicate that success with new cathode materials for Li-ion batteries.

Non Toxic Flexible Solar Reaps Rewards

NREL, Solliance, EPFL and IDTechEx speak on the various new forms of flexible photovoltaics at the conference "Off Grid Energy Independence" at the large "IDTechEx Show!" Berlin April 11-12 where exhibitors and other conference streams cover manufacturing technologies for flexible solar and more.