TyroMotion GmbH (AT)

An alternative to platinum in fuel cells

Research teams have produced a cost-effective catalyst material for fuel cells using a new preparation process which they analysed in detail.

New organic photovoltaic world record efficiency of 13.2 percent

Heliatek R&D teams reached a record conversion efficiency of 13.2% for an OPV multi-junction cell, setting a new world record for the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity using organic photovoltaic cells.

IDTechEx Show! - NASA Langley & National Institute Aerospace Win Award

Energy Harvesting & Storage USA: The Best Technical Development within Energy Harvesting and Storage Award went to NASA Langley Research Center, in collaboration with the National Institute of Aerospace, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina State University for the development of their multistage force amplification piezoelectric energy harvester.

Test phase of WEpod self-driving vehicles launched

The self-driving vehicle, WEpod, is being tested on the campus of Wageningen University in the Netherlands.

Flexible film may lead to phone-sized cancer detector

A thin, stretchable film that coils light waves like a Slinky could one day lead to more precise, less expensive monitoring for cancer survivors.

Display and optics architecture in AR and VR smartglasses applications

This article looks into some of the differences in requirements in AR and VR head mounted displays.

Event report: Innovations in Large Area Electronics

IDTechEx attended the second innoLAE conference, which took place on the 1st and 2nd of February 2016 in Cambridge (UK). It was organised by the EPSRC Centre for Innovative Manufacturing in Large-Area Electronics.

Energy harvesting via smart materials

One of the biggest challenges for the development of mechanical energy harvesting via electrostrictive polymers is being able to improve their performance.

3D printing a brain to understand its folds

Now, by 3D-printing a fake gel brain and watching it grow scientists have discovered how the human brain develops its folds.

X-rays reveal details of plastic solar cell production

Plastic solar cells are light, easy to install, and readily produced using a printer. Nevertheless, the processes that take place on the molecular scale during the production of organic solar cells are not yet entirely clear.

IDTechEx interview Nuon Solar team 3.2.16

Every year, the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge sees solar cars from all over the world race right across Australia on sunshine. The Nuon Solar Team has won six times including October last year.

Dip coating to solve perovskite moisture sensitivity

Scientists from China and Australia have designed a water-resistant perovskite solar cell that can operate in a humid environment and maintain its efficiency over three weeks.

Over 300 million mild hybrid 48V vehicles in prospect

Analyst IDTechEx External Link has just completed a major study of 48V mild hybrid vehicles, releasing the brand new report Mild Hybrid 48V Vehicles 2016-2031.

First ever 3D printed object from asteroid metals

Planetary Resources, in collaboration with their partner 3D Systems, have developed the first ever direct metal print from asteroid metals.

Feeling spaces with the Proximity Hat

A portable system informs users about their surroundings by applying pressure to the head and acts as a navigation aid for the visually impaired.

Kopin Corporation

IDTechEx interviewed Hong Choi, the CTO/R&D Manager at Kopin corporation. Kopin span out of MIT over 30 years ago, and has been developing microdisplay technologies, starting with a $55m DARPA project in the early 1990s. Today, the company is focused on the wearable technology market, and particularly on near-eye computing. This profile also mentions their work on high-capacity, SiO-C anode lithium-ion batteries, developed with Hitachi Maxell.

Powercast at Energy Harvesting & Storage USA: Wireless Power

A video interview with Powercast at the Energy Harvesting & Storage USA exhibition.

You'll never be-leaf what makes up this battery

Scientists have a new recipe for batteries: Bake a leaf, and add sodium.

Healthy disagreement on 48V mild hybrids

The end game with the 48V hybrid cars that will first appear in volume production in 2017 is having no 12V battery - just a beefy 48V one.

IDTechEx Show! Berlin - What Is New For 2016

The annual IDTechEx Show! will have a focus on green technologies in Berlin on 27-28 April.