Headline: Capturing carbon with energy-efficient sodium carbonate-nanocarbon hybrid material

■ Release Date: 2024.7.16

■ Published by: Chiba University

■ Keywords: carbon capture, sodium carbonate, nanocarbon

■ Abstract:

Carbon capture is a promising approach for mitigating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Different materials have been used to capture CO2 from industrial exhaust gases. Scientists developed hybrid CO2 capture materials containing sodium carbonate and nanocarbon prepared at different temperatures, tested their performance, and identified the optimal calcination temperature condition. They found that the hybrid material exhibits and maintains high CO2 capture capacity for multiple regeneration cycles at a lower temperature, making it cost- and energy-effective.

Headline: Local dragonflies expose mercury pollution patterns

■ Release Date: 2024.7.16

■ Published by: U.S. Geological Survey

■ Keywords: mercury, pollution, ecosystem

■ Abstract:

A new study has unveiled surprising findings about mercury pollution: where it comes from and how it moves through the environment vary significantly depending on the ecosystem. In drier regions, most mercury is deposited through rain and snow. In wetter, forested areas, gaseous mercury from the air sticks to leaves, which then fall and carry the toxin into the ground.

Headline: Soft, stretchy 'jelly batteries' inspired by electric eels

■ Release Date: 2024.7.17

■ Published by: University of Cambridge

■ Keywords: battery, electric eels, hydrogels

■ Abstract:

Researchers have developed soft, stretchable 'jelly batteries' that could be used for wearable devices or soft robotics, or even implanted in the brain to deliver drugs or treat conditions such as epilepsy.

Headline: Completely stretchy lithium-ion battery for flexible electronics

■ Release Date: 2024.7.17

■ Published by: American Chemical Society

■ Keywords: electronics, battery, lithium

■ Abstract:

When you think of a battery, you probably don't think stretchy. But batteries will need this shape-shifting quality to be incorporated into flexible electronics, which are gaining traction for wearable health monitors. Now, researchers report a lithium-ion battery with entirely stretchable components, including an electrolyte layer that can expand by 5000%, and it retains its charge storage capacity after nearly 70 charge/discharge cycles.

Headline: Bridging the 'Valley of Death' in carbon capture

■ Release Date: 2024.7.17

■ Published by: Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne

■ Keywords: carbon capture, metal, sorbent materials

■ Abstract:

PrISMa is a new platform that uses advanced simulations and machine learning to streamline carbon capture technologies, by taking into account the perspectives of diverse stakeholders early in the research process.

Headline: Novel electrode for improving flowless zinc-bromine battery

■ Release Date: 2024.7.18

■ Published by: GIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)

■ Keywords: electrolyte, zinc, battery

■ Abstract:

The flowless zinc-bromine battery (FLZBB) is a promising alternative to flammable lithium-ion batteries due to its use of non-flammable electrolytes. However, it suffers from self-discharge due to the crossover of active materials, generated at the positive graphite felt (GF) electrode, to the negative electrode, significantly affecting performance. Now, researchers have developed a novel nitrogen-doped mesoporous carbon-coated GF electrode that effectively suppresses self-discharge. This breakthrough can lead to practical applications of FLZBB in energy storage systems.

Headline: Come closer: Titanium-48's nuclear structure changes when observed at varying distances

■ Release Date: 2024.7.19

■ Published by: Osaka Metropolitan University

■ Keywords: titanium, nuclear, neutron

■ Abstract:

Researchers have found that titanium-48 changes from a shell model structure to an alpha-cluster structure depending on the distance from the center of the nucleus. The results upend the conventional understanding of nuclear structure and are expected to provide clues to the Gamow theory on the alpha-decay process that occurs in heavy nuclei, which has not been solved for nearly 100 years.

Headline: Secret' hidden structure paves new way of making more efficient and stable perovskite solar cells

■ Release Date: 2024.7.19

■ Published by: Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

■ Keywords: perovskite, solar cells, silicon

■ Abstract:

Researchers has revealed the existence of surface concavities on individual crystal grains -- which are the fundamental blocks -- of perovskite thin films, and have unraveled their significant effects on the film properties and reliability. Based on this discovery, the team pioneered a new way of making perovskite solar cells more efficient and stable via a chemo-elimination of these grain surface concavities.