Category Chemistry/Nanotechnology

Various clean energy technologies have been developed to meet the rapidly intensifying energy demand and dwindling fossil fuel reserves. However, many of these technologies are hindered by low efficiency and high costs.

Hydrovoltaic (HV) mechanisms, in which electricity is generated by the direct interaction of nanostructured materials and water molecules, have recently emerged as promising, cost-efficient alternatives. HV systems show particular promise for powering electrical sensors, including fire sensors.

Traditional fire sensors rely on batteries to operate during power outages, but these batteries can explode during fires...

Xenon gas inhalation reduced neurodegeneration and boosted protection in preclinical models of Alzheimer’s disease. Most treatments being pursued today to protect against Alzheimer’s disease focus on amyloid plaques and tau tangles that accumulate in the brain, but new research from Mass General Brigham and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis points to a novel — and noble — approach: using Xenon gas...

Molecular clues about the neurotoxic effects of PFAS. A new study has identified 11 genes that may hold the key to understanding the brain’s response to these pervasive chemicals commonly found in everyday items.

Per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) earn their “forever chemical” moniker by persisting in water, soil and even the human brain.

This unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and accumulate in brain tissue makes PFAS particularly concerning, but t...

A research team from DGIST’s (President Kunwoo Lee) Division of Energy & Environmental Technology, led by Principal Researcher Kim Jae-hyun, has developed a lithium metal battery using a “triple-layer solid polymer electrolyte” that offers greatly enhanced fire safety and an extended lifespan. This research holds promise for diverse applications, including in electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems.

Conventional solid polymer electrolyte batteries perform poorly due to structural limitations which hinder an optimal electrode contact.

This could not eliminate the issue of “dendrites” either, where lithium grows in tree-like structures during repeated charging and discharging cycles.

Dendrites are a critical issue, as an irregular lithium growth can disrupt bat...