US Department of Energy

Hydrogen fuel cell technology for maritime applications

The U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration has announced that it is providing $500,000 to support a feasibility study for the design, construction, and operation of a high-speed passenger ferry powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology and a hydrogen refueling station.

A new material for transparent electronics

The performance of solar cells, flat panel displays, and other electronics are limited by today's materials. A new material, created by modifying a transparent insulating oxide, replacing up to 25 percent of the lanthanum ions in the host material with strontium ions, offers considerable promise.

Study explores nanoscale structure of thin films

The world's newest and brightest synchrotron light source has produced one of the first publications resulting from work done during the facility's science commissioning phase.

New solar technology pays back energy investment faster

In the solar power research community, a new class of materials called perovskites is causing quite a buzz, as scientists search for technology that has a better "energy payback time" than the silicon-based solar panels currently dominating the market.

Radically new energy harvesting in the form of magnetostriction

Energy harvesting is the creation of off-grid electricity where it is needed using ambient energy, from sunshine to vibration or temperature difference.

Report on EV Roadmap8 Portland Oregon 28-29 July

This event of a few hundred people and twenty or so exhibitors had a good range of coverage from many choices of EV test drive to sitting in on focus groups of people minded to buy an EV.

Ultra-thin hollow nanocages reduce platinum use in fuel cell electrode

A new fabrication technique that produces platinum hollow nanocages with ultra-thin walls could dramatically reduce the amount of the costly metal needed to provide catalytic activity in such applications as fuel cells.

Wave generator supplies grid power in Hawaii

Northwest Energy Innovations, LLC has developed the Azura™ wave power generation technology for converting the endless supply of ocean waves into electricity to meet the rapidly growing global demand for renewable energy.

Report on EV Roadmap 8 Portland Oregon 28-29 July Day One

Summary of the first day of the EV Roadmap 8 event taking place in Portland, Oregon

Solving mysteries of conductivity in polymers

Materials known as conjugated polymers have been seen as very promising candidates for electronics applications, including capacitors, photodiodes, sensors, organic light-emitting diodes, and thermoelectric devices.

Collaboration on wireless electric vehicle charging system

Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center, Inc. and Mojo Mobility, Inc have been awarded a funding grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Vehicle Technologies program to research and develop a system capable of fast charging an electric vehicle wirelessly.

Autonomous taxis would deliver significant benefits

Imagine a fleet of driverless taxis roaming your city, ready to pick you up and take you to your destination at a moment's notice. While this may seem fantastical, it may be only a matter of time before it becomes reality.

Could black phosphorus be the next silicon?

As scientists continue to hunt for a material that will make it possible to pack more transistors on a chip, new research adds to evidence that black phosphorus could emerge as a strong candidate.

A new way of probing electrolyte/electrode interfaces

One of the most important things to understand in battery technology is the precise physical and chemical processes that occur at the electrode/electrolyte interface.

Hematite 're-growth' smoothes rough edges for clean energy harvest

Finding an efficient solar water splitting method to mine electron-rich hydrogen for clean power has been thwarted by the poor performance of hematite.

New manufacturing approach slices lithium-ion battery cost in half

Reinventing how these batteries are made also improves their performance and recyclability.

X-ray imaging reveals secrets in battery materials

In a new study, researchers explain why one particular cathode material works well at high voltages, while most other cathodes do not.

Unlocking the energy stored in plant cell walls

By virtue of their chloroplasts, plants are superb harvesters of solar energy. They use it to build leaves, flowers, fruits, stems, and roots. We harvest a small percentage of that energy in the form of food and a smaller amount in the form of wood for heating.

Materials that mimic nature's machinery to harvest solar energy

We may be able to design materials that mimic nature's machinery to harvest solar energy, or manipulate light for telecommunications applications, or design novel catalysts for speeding up a variety of chemical reactions.

Smart clothes for personalized cooling and heating

Imagine a fabric that will keep your body at a comfortable temperature—regardless of how hot or cold it actually is.