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    Category Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Improved Water Splitting advances Renewable Energy Conversion

    October 25, 2016, Categories  Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Improved water splitting advances renewable energy conversion

    Gas bubbles form as researchers use a unique catalyst to convert water to hydrogen and oxygen. The inset image shows the catalytic materials at the nanoscale. Credit: Washington State University

     
    WSU researchers have found a way to more efficiently create hydrogen from water – an important key in making renewable energy production and storage viable. The researchers, led by professors Yuehe Lin and Scott Beckman in the School of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, have developed a catalyst from #low #cost materials. It performs as well as or better than catalysts made from precious metals that are used for the process. Energy conversion is a key to the clean energy economy...
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    The Quantum Sniffer Dog

    October 24, 2016, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    compact sensor providing room-temperature operation of monolithic surface-active lasers and detectors integrated on the same chip. The differentiation between emitter and detector is eliminated, which enables mutual commutation. Proof-of-principle gas measurements with a limit of detection below 400 ppm are demonstrated. This concept enables a crucial miniaturization of sensing devices.

    Compact sensor providing room-temperature operation of monolithic surface-active lasers and detectors integrated on the same chip. The differentiation between emitter and detector is eliminated, which enables mutual commutation. Proof-of-principle gas measurements with a limit of detection below 400 ppm are demonstrated. This concept enables a crucial miniaturization of sensing devices.

    In technological gas detection there are a whole host of methods available including infrared lasers, passing a laser beam through the gas to an adjacent separate detector, which measures the degree of light attenuation it causes...

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    From Ancient Fossils to Future Cars

    October 22, 2016, Categories  Physics, Technology/Electronics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    Electron microscopy showing one of the unique geometries observed in the nano-silicon power derived from diatomaceous earth. Credit: Image courtesy of University of California - Riverside

    Electron microscopy showing one of the unique geometries observed in the nano-silicon power derived from diatomaceous earth. Credit: Image courtesy of University of California – Riverside

    Engineers have developed an inexpensive, energy-efficient way to create silicon-based anodes for lithium-ion batteries from the fossilized remains of single-celled algae called diatoms. The research could lead to the development of ultra-high capacity lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and portable electronics.

    Lithium-ion batteries, the most popular rechargeable batteries in electric vehicles and personal electronics, have several major components including an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte made of lithium salt dissolved in an organic solvent...

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    Liquid-Repellant Tape Adheres to Any Surface

    October 21, 2016, Categories  Physics, Chemistry/Nanotechnology

    superomniphobictape

    Free-standing, flexible, superomniphobic films can readily attach them to virtually any surface. They have applications in enhanced chemical resistance and enhanced weight bearing.

    Assistant Prof. Arun Kota, CSU, has made a superomniphobic tape that, when adhered to any surface, gives the surface liquid-repelling properties. Superomniphobic surfaces are extremely repellent to all liquids, made possible by an air cushion that lies between a liquid and a solid surface. With more than 10 years of research in this area, Kota has made many breakthroughs in super-repellent coatings. This latest product is similar in flexibility to Scotch Tape, but has the additional functionality of being extremely liquid-repellant.

    Kota, doctoral student Hamed Vahabi, and postdoctoral fellow Wei Wang, developed...

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