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Category: sustainability – Page 5

Scientists are racing against time to try and create revolutionary, sustainable energy sources (such as solid-state batteries) to combat climate change. However, this race is more like a marathon, as conventional approaches are trial-and-error in nature, typically focusing on testing individual materials and set pathways one by one.

To get us to the finish line faster, researchers at Tohoku University developed a data-driven AI framework that points out potential solid-state electrolyte (SSE) candidates that could be “the one” to create the ideal sustainable energy solution.

This model does not only select optimal candidates, but can also predict how the reaction will occur and why this candidate is a good choice—providing interesting insights into potential mechanisms and giving researchers a huge head start without even stepping foot into the lab.

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A collaborative research team from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has developed an innovative laminated interface microstructure that enhances the stability and photoelectric conversion efficiency of inverted perovskite solar cells. The research is published in the journal Nature Synthesis.

Perovskite solar cells have considerable potential to replace traditional silicon solar cells in various applications, including grid electricity, portable power sources, and space photovoltaics. This is due to their unique advantages, such as , low cost, and aesthetic appeal.

The basic structures of are classified into two types: standard and inverted. The inverted structure demonstrates better application prospects because the electronic materials used in each layer are more stable compared to those in the standard configuration.

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Tesla is ramping up production of its Semi trucks to 50,000 units annually by 2026, while enhancing performance, charging infrastructure, and electrification solutions to support the transition from diesel ## ## Questions to inspire discussion ## Production and Delivery.

🏭 Q: When will Tesla Semi production and deliveries begin? A: Tesla Semi customer deliveries will start in 2026, with production ramping throughout the year to reach a goal of 50,000 units/year at the Nevada plant.

🚚 Q: What are the key features of the new Tesla Semi? A: The Tesla Semi offers 500 mile long range and 300 mile standard range options, with improved mirror design, better sight lines, enhanced aerodynamics, and drop glass for easier driver interaction. Technology and Efficiency.

🔋 Q: How does the new HP battery improve the Tesla Semi? A: The new HP battery is cheaper to manufacture, maintains the same range with less battery energy, and achieves over 7% efficiency improvements, creating a positive feedback loop for cost and weight reduction.

⚡ Q: What is the e-PTO feature in the Tesla Semi? A: The electric power takeoff (EPTO) enables support for longer combinations, more trailer equipment, and helps electrify additional pieces of equipment, facilitating broader industry transition to electric solutions. Charging Infrastructure.

🔌 Q: What charging solutions is Tesla developing for the Semi? A: Tesla is building a publicly available charging network with 46 sites along truck routes and in major industrial areas, including stations at truck stops, to ensure low-cost, reliable, and available charging for every semi.

Continue reading “Full Keynote: Tesla Semi Update! Megacharger Network, New Battery, e-PTO, Production, & More” | >

Tiny pieces of plastic are an increasingly big problem. Known as microplastics, they originate from clothing, kitchen utensils, personal care products, and countless other everyday objects. Their durability makes them persistent in the environment – including in human bodies.

Not only are many people on Earth already contaminated by microplastics, but we’re also still being exposed every day, as there is minimal regulation of these insidious specks.

According to a new literature review, a significant portion of our microplastic exposure may come from drinking water, as wastewater treatment plants are still not effectively removing microplastics.

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Converting sunlight into electricity is the task of photovoltaic solar cells, but nearly half the light that reaches a flat silicon solar cell surface is lost to reflection. While traditional antireflective coatings help, they only work within a narrow range of light frequency and incidence angles. A new study may have overcome this limit.

As reported in Advanced Photonics Nexus, researchers have proposed a new type of antireflective coating using a single, ultrathin layer of polycrystalline silicon nanostructures (a.k.a. a metasurface). Achieving minimal reflection across certain wavelengths and angles, the metasurface was reportedly developed by combining forward and inverse design techniques, enhanced by (AI).

The result is a coating that sharply reduces reflection across a wide range of wavelengths and angles, setting a new benchmark for performance with minimal material complexity.

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Over the past decades, many countries worldwide have been trying to gradually transform their energy systems, with the aim of reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the adverse effects of climate change. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide (CO2) transport networks, infrastructures designed to transport hydrogen gas and captured CO2, could support the shift towards climate-neutral energy systems.

Researchers at Technical University Berlin carried out a study aimed at better understanding the extent to which hydrogen and CO2 could contribute to the future de-carbonization of the European energy system. Their paper, published in Nature Energy, suggests that both these types of networks could play a key role in establishing a sustainable and clean European energy system.

“In our view, we are envisioning a climate-friendly economy which relies as little as possible on and respects socio-economic considerations,” Fabian Hofmann, first author of the paper, told Tech Xplore.

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Aluminum alloys are well-known for their low weight and corrosion resistance, making them ideal candidates for applications in a low-carbon economy—from lightweight automobiles to tanks for storing green hydrogen. However, their widespread application is limited by a key challenge: they suffer from embrittlement leading to cracking and failure when exposed to hydrogen. Until now, alloys resistant to hydrogen embrittlement were rather soft, limiting their application in hydrogen-related technologies that require high strength.

Now, researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials (MPI-SusMat) in Germany, together with partners from China and Japan, have developed a new alloy design strategy that overcomes this dilemma. Their approach enables both exceptional strength and superior resistance to hydrogen embrittlement (HE), paving the way for safer and more efficient aluminum components in the hydrogen economy. They have published their results in the journal Nature.

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To combat climate change and achieve a climate-neutral industry, carbon emissions must be drastically reduced. A key part of this transition is replacing carbon-based energy carriers with electricity, particularly in transport and industrial applications. However, this shift heavily depends on nickel, a critical material used in batteries and stainless steel.

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