Tag: techxplore

3D printing reshapes construction for nuclear energy In a bold step toward transforming how nuclear infrastructure is built, the Department of Energy’s Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, or MDF, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in partnership with Kairos Power and Barnard Construction, has successfully developed and validated large-scale, 3D-printed polymer composite forms for casting complex, high-precision concrete…

Bifacial thin-film solar cells harness sunlight from both sides for higher output A research team successfully implemented CuInSe2 thin-film solar cells composed of copper (Cu), indium (In), and selenium (Se) on transparent electrode substrates. Furthermore, the team developed a “bifacial solar cell technology” that receives sunlight from both the front and back sides to generate…

Co-intercalation process enables fast-charging sodium batteries Li-ion and Na-ion batteries operate through a process called intercalation, where ions are stored and exchanged between two chemically different electrodes. In contrast, co-intercalation, a process in which both ions and solvent molecules are stored simultaneously, has traditionally been considered undesirable due to its tendency to cause rapid battery…

Japan sees bright future for ultra-thin, flexible solar panels Japan is heavily investing in a new kind of ultra-thin, flexible solar panel that it hopes will help it meet renewable energy goals while challenging China’s dominance of the sector. Go to techxplore

New solar cell coating maintains high efficiency despite summer humidity As the global demand for renewable energy grows, solar cells continue to gain attention as a key clean energy source. Among them, solution-processed solar cells offer advantages such as low cost and scalability, as they can be manufactured by simply coating and drying ink-like materials…

Model predicts long-term effects of nuclear waste on underground disposal systems As countries across the world experience a resurgence in nuclear energy projects, the questions of where and how to dispose of nuclear waste remain as politically fraught as ever. The United States, for instance, has indefinitely stalled its only long-term underground nuclear waste repository.…

Railway tracks strengthened and waste reduced with recycled tire technology New research has shown that a world-first system of rubber shock absorbers made from recycled tires can significantly protect railway tracks from damage, addressing the dual challenges of high maintenance costs and national tire waste. Go to techxplore

Study shows how electricity pricing is linked to greenhouse gas emissions A new study from the University of Massachusetts Amherst establishes a link between what U.S. households pay for electricity and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from power generation. Go to techxplore

Battery sharing could cut energy costs for communities What if neighborhoods could lower their electricity bills without investing in expensive battery systems? An international study led by researchers at CWI (the national research institute for mathematics and computer science in the Netherlands) suggests exactly that: by leasing capacity from large, commercially operated batteries, communities can…

New solar panel designs could help Europe achieve fair and resilient energy goals Europe has committed to becoming climate-neutral by 2050. But how can we get there in a way that’s technically feasible, economically responsible, and fair to all member states? Researchers from Aarhus University and the Technical University of Denmark offer an answer in…

Faced with US heat waves, the Navajo push for power—and A/C Workmen plant electricity poles in the rust-orange earth of the Navajo Nation and run cables to Christine Shorty’s house—finally giving her power against the searing Arizona desert heat. Go to techxplore

New method replaces nickel and cobalt in battery for cleaner, cheaper lithium-ion batteries A team of McGill University researchers, working with colleagues in the United States and South Korea, has developed a new way to make high-performance lithium-ion battery materials that could help phase out expensive and/or difficult-to-source metals like nickel and cobalt. Go to…

Enhanced geothermal systems: An underground tech surfaces as a serious clean energy contender A once-overlooked technology that taps into the Earth’s heat to generate electricity could supply up to 20% of the electricity in the United States by 2050, according to a new Princeton analysis. Go to techxplore

Five unusual ways to make buildings greener (literally) Buildings adorned with plants are an increasingly familiar sight in cities worldwide. These “green walls” are generally created using metal frames that support plastic plates, onto which pre-grown plants are inserted. These plants are able to survive without soil because they’re sustained by nutrient-packed rolls of felt…

Collaborative research pushes perovskite minimodule performance to new heights A collaborative effort between NREL and CubicPV has yielded a perovskite minimodule that has achieved 24.0% certified efficiency. This marks the first time a U.S. effort has set a record in the perovskite minimodule category. Go to techxplore

What to know about buying electric vehicles after the federal tax incentives end The massive tax and spending cut bill that Congress passed Thursday ends federal tax incentives for electric vehicles. Go to techxplore

New book explores ‘socially sustainable’ architecture Alexandra Staub, author and professor of architecture in the College of Arts and Architecture’s Stuckeman School at Penn State, examines how architects can better serve society by changing their approach to the building process in her latest book, titled “Architecture and Social Sustainability: Understanding the New Paradigm.” Go to…