University of Colorado

Tiny, soft and wearable acoustic sensor

Researchers have developed a tiny, soft and wearable acoustic sensor that measures vibrations in the human body, allowing them to monitor human heart health and recognize spoken words.

Turning brewery wastewater into battery power

Engineers have developed an innovative bio-manufacturing process that uses a biological organism cultivated in brewery wastewater to create the carbon-based materials needed to make energy storage cells.

Grant to improve the way robots interact with people in factories

A three-year, $1 million project funded by the National Science Foundation to help change the role of robots in factories and make it easier for machines to work alongside people.

Touch sensitive super stretchy skin shows promise for soft robots

A material that can emit different coloured light and sense touch - yet still stretch nearly five times its original length - has been invented by scientists in the US and Italy.

Ceramics made stronger with 3D printing

A new method for 3D printing ceramic microlattices has been developed by researchers in the US.

Solid Power

Established in 2013 as a spin-out company from the University of Colorado Boulder, Solid Power has been working on commercializing the company's next-generation all solid-state rechargeable batteries.

Sensors enable plants to text message farmers

Data is all transmitted to a user's computer, and the system can send text messages calling attention to particular crops that need water.

Green storage for green energy grows cleaner

SEAS research team removes toxins from flow battery, making it safer and cost-effective.

Alkaline flow battery charges up renewable energy storage

Scientists have developed an alkaline flow battery that they hope will help to tackle the tricky problem of storing energy from renewable power sources such as wind and solar.

A goosebump sensor reads your emotions

The thin flexible capacitive goosebump patch is able to measure the degree of human emotion quantitatively.

Improving a new breed of solar cells

Researchers have set a new record for the most efficient quantum-dot cells — a type of solar cell that is seen as especially promising because of its inherently low cost, versatility, and light weight.

Improving a new breed of solar cells

A new record has been set for the most efficient quantum-dot cells — a type of solar cell that is seen as especially promising because of its inherently low cost, versatility, and light weight.

Thin-film PV world record with 20.9% CIS cell

Solar Frontier, in joint research with the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), has achieved 20.9% conversion efficiency on a 0.5cm2 CIS cell.

New battery technology could allow EVs twice the current range

A cutting-edge battery technology developed at the University of Colorado Boulder that could allow tomorrow's electric vehicles to travel twice as far on a charge is now closer to becoming a commercial reality.

Innovative solid-state rechargeable battery

A cutting-edge battery technology could allow tomorrow's electric vehicles to travel twice as far on a charge is now closer to becoming a commercial reality.

New harvesting approach boosts energy output from bacteria

A team of scientists from University of Colorado Denver has developed a novel energy system that increases the amount of energy harvested from microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by more than 70 times.

First solar cells with quantum efficiency over 100 percent

Researchers from the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have reported the first solar cell that produces a photocurrent that has an external quantum efficiency greater than 100 percent when photoexcited with photons from the high energy region of the solar spectrum.

New solar technology could break photovoltaic limits

Photovoltaic (PV) efficiency is a significant problem for today's commercial solar panels, which can collect only a theoretical maximum of about 30 percent of available light. Now, a team that includes a University of Missouri engineer is developing a flexible solar film that can theoretically capture more than 90 percent of available light. Prototypes could be produced within the next five years.

Solar technology to capture more than 90% of light energy

A team that includes a University of Missouri engineer is developing a flexible solar film that can theoretically capture more than 90 percent of available light.

New electric aircraft engines

Gas-powered engines could be used during takeoffs, when aircraft use the most energy, while battery-powered motors could power the aircraft while it is cruising or landing.