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Archive for the ‘energy’ category: Page 151

Feb 28, 2022

Entirely New, Inexpensive Catalyst Speeds the Production of Oxygen From Water

Posted by in categories: chemistry, energy, transportation

The material could replace rare metals and lead to more economical production of carbon-neutral fuels.

An electrochemical reaction that splits apart water molecules to produce oxygen is at the heart of multiple approaches aiming to produce alternative fuels for transportation. But this reaction has to be facilitated by a catalyst material, and today’s versions require the use of rare and expensive elements such as iridium, limiting the potential of such fuel production.

Now, researchers at MIT and elsewhere have developed an entirely new type of catalyst material, called a metal hydroxide-organic framework (MHOF), which is made of inexpensive and abundant components. The family of materials allows engineers to precisely tune the catalyst’s structure and composition to the needs of a particular chemical process, and it can then match or exceed the performance of conventional, more expensive catalysts.

Feb 28, 2022

Next-generation geothermal tech will drill deeper than ever before

Posted by in categories: energy, engineering

“Aside from vastly expanding the geographic coverage of this energy source, the sheer feat of engineering involved deserves a mention. Until now, the deepest artificial point on Earth has been the Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia. That Soviet-era project reached 12,262 metres (40,230 ft) below ground. Quaise would smash that record if achieving the full potential of 20,000 metres (65,600 ft).” https://www.futuretimeline.net/blog/2022/02/28-geothermal-en…nology.htm


A new drilling technology able to reach depths of 20 km could enable geothermal power to be accessed almost anywhere in the world.

Feb 28, 2022

New method for rapid, efficient hydrogen generation from water

Posted by in categories: energy, nanotechnology

Aluminum is a highly reactive metal that can strip oxygen from water molecules to generate hydrogen gas. Now, researchers at UC Santa Cruz have developed a new cost-effective and effective way to use aluminum’s reactivity to generate clean hydrogen fuel.

In a new study, a team of researchers shows that an easily produced composite of gallium and aluminum creates aluminum nanoparticles that react rapidly with water at room temperature to yield large amounts of hydrogen. According to researchers, the gallium was easily recovered for reuse after the reaction, which yields 90% of the hydrogen that could theoretically be produced from the reaction of all the aluminum in the composite.


Easy aluminum nanoparticles split water and generate hydrogen gas rapidly under ambient conditions.

Continue reading “New method for rapid, efficient hydrogen generation from water” »

Feb 27, 2022

AeroSHARK thin film reduces drag on airplanes

Posted by in categories: chemistry, energy, transportation

A collaboration between engineers at Lufthansa Technik and chemicals and coatings manufacturer BASF has resulted in the creation of AeroSHARK—a thin film coating that can be applied to an aircraft’s outer skin to reduce drag and thus fuel consumption and carbon emissions. Swiss International Airlines has posted a blog entry on their website describing the film and the benefits the company expects to get from it. Lufthansa Technik has also posted a blog entry detailing the development of AeroSHARK.

The thin film was developed as part of an effort kicked off by engineers at Lufthansa looking for ways to reduce the cost of fuel for their planes. To that end, they looked to nature, and more specifically, sharks—creatures who have been streamlined over millions of years of evolution. The researchers found that shark skin is covered with millions of “riblets,” which are protrusions that run the length of their bodies. The engineers then teamed up with a group at BASF to create a similar type of skin for aircraft. The result was the creation of AeroSHARK, a clear, thin skin with millions of riblets, each just 50 micrometers high. Testing showed that the material reduces drag.

Continue reading “AeroSHARK thin film reduces drag on airplanes” »

Feb 26, 2022

U.S. Bets on Faster-Charging Battery in Race to Catch Energy Rivals

Posted by in category: energy

The U.S. is pinning its hopes in the race for energy supremacy in a low-carbon world on startups like Ion Storage Systems, which is aiming to build a better battery.

Feb 25, 2022

A new, inexpensive catalyst speeds the production of oxygen from water

Posted by in categories: chemistry, energy, transportation

An electrochemical reaction that splits apart water molecules to produce oxygen is at the heart of multiple approaches aiming to produce alternative fuels for transportation. But this reaction has to be facilitated by a catalyst material, and today’s versions require the use of rare and expensive elements such as iridium, limiting the potential of such fuel production.

Now, researchers at MIT and elsewhere have developed an entirely new type of catalyst material, called a metal hydroxide-organic framework (MHOF), which is made of inexpensive and abundant components. The family of materials allows engineers to precisely tune the ’s structure and composition to the needs of a particular chemical process, and it can then match or exceed the performance of conventional, more expensive catalysts.

The findings are described today in the journal Nature Materials, in a paper by MIT postdoc Shuai Yuan, graduate student Jiayu Peng, Professor Yang Shao-Horn, Professor Yuriy Román-Leshkov, and nine others.

Feb 25, 2022

Synthesizing Triatomic Molecules Under Quantum Constraints

Posted by in categories: energy, quantum physics

Radio-Frequency Pulse Enables Association of Triatomic Molecules in Ultracold 23 Na40 K + 40 K Gas.

Three-body system is already formidable in classical physics, not to mention the quantum state three-body system. But what if scientists can synthesize triatomic molecules under quantum constraints? It could serve as an appropriate platform to study three-body potential energy surface which is important but difficult to calculate.

Recently, Prof. PAN Jianwei and Prof. ZHAO Bo from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), collaborating with Prof. BAI Chunli from Institute of Chemistry of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, found strong evidence for association of triatomic molecules after applying a radio-frequency (rf) pulse to an ultracold mixture of 23 Na40 K and 40 K near Feshbach resonance. The work was published in the journal Nature.

Feb 25, 2022

Fusion tech is set to unlock near-limitless ultra-deep geothermal energy

Posted by in category: energy

MIT spin-off Quaise says it’s going to use hijacked fusion technology to drill the deepest holes in history, unlocking clean, virtually limitless, supercritical geothermal energy that can re-power fossil-fuelled power plants all over the world.

Feb 25, 2022

AT&T begins testing and deployment of discreet 5G radios on city street lamp posts

Posted by in categories: energy, internet

These smaller 5G antenna setups are coming to more cities.


AT&T is expanding tests of small cell 5G radios that can discreetly hide on top of city street light posts without extra power or boxes. The technology was developed in partnership with Ericsson and Ubicquia.

Feb 25, 2022

CircuitMess’ Chatter Is a Build-It-Yourself Arduino-Compatible Encrypted LoRa Messaging Gadget

Posted by in categories: encryption, energy

These Arduino-compatible handheld kits transmit chat messages and GIFs over long ranges, encrypted for privacy.


The material could replace rare metals and lead to more economical production of carbon-neutral fuels.