Discovering new, powerful electrolytes is one of the major bottlenecks in designing next-generation batteries for electric vehicles, phones, laptops and grid-scale energy storage.
The most stable electrolytes are not always the most conductive. The most efficient batteries are not always the most stable. And so on.
“The electrodes have to satisfy very different properties at the same time. They always conflict with each other,” said Ritesh Kumar, an Eric and Wendy Schimdt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow working in the Amanchukwu Lab at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME).
Thin film solar cells can be integrated into unexpected surfaces, such as building facades, windows, or the growing floating solar market. Thin film’s flexibility opens doors to new applications and helps overcome some of the barriers that have long limited the adoption of solar energy.
A lot of the interest in thin film solar technologies is coming from one company, based right in the heart of the UK: Power Roll. The County Durham-based firm has spent years exploring how to make thin, flexible solar cells that can be applied almost anywhere and has recently been hitting major milestones in commercialising the technology in an effort to get it out across the world.
Solar Power Portal sat down with Power Roll CEO Neil Spann to explore how thin film solar could deliver the government’s promised “rooftop revolution” and how Power Roll’s unique manufacturing process can make solar power a cheap reality worldwide.
Solar cells based on perovskites, materials with a characteristic crystal structure first unveiled in the mineral calcium titanate (CaTiO3), have emerged as a promising alternative to conventional silicon-based photovoltaics. A key advantage of these materials is that they could yield high power conversion efficiencies (PCEs), yet their production costs could be lower.
Perovskite films can exist in different structural forms, also referred to as phases. One is the so-called α-phase (i.e., a photoactive black phase), which is the most desirable phase for the efficient absorption of light and the transport of charge carriers. The δ-phase, on the other hand, is an intermediate phase characterized by a different atom arrangement and reduced photoactivity.
Researchers at the University of Toledo, Northwestern University, Cornell University and other institutes recently introduced a new strategy to control the crystallization process in perovskite-based solar cells, stabilizing the δ-phase while facilitating their transition to the α-phase. Their proposed approach, outlined in a paper in Nature Energy, enables the formation of Lewis bases on perovskites on demand to optimize crystallization, which can enhance the efficiency and stability of solar cells.
Increasingly stricter regulations on emissions from lean-burn engines, such as the Euro 7 standard, are approaching. This requires the development of catalytic materials that can reduce the toxic nitrogen oxides efficiently at low temperatures. Researchers at the Department of Physics at Chalmers University of Technology, together with industrial partner Umicore, now present a study showing how machine learning could help engines run cleaner.
Catalytic converters reduce the amount of toxic pollutants emitted into the air from a vehicle’s exhaust system. Stricter regulations on emissions standards within the coming years, such as the European Union’s proposed Euro 7, aim at further reducing air pollution from vehicles. Therefore, improved catalysts are needed to limit the emissions of harmful pollutants.
The main technology of selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides uses ammonia as a reducing agent. Thus, the catalytic material should promote the formation of a nitrogen–nitrogen bond between nitrogen oxides and ammonia in an oxygen-rich environment and prevent unwanted reactions, which include the oxidation of ammonia to even more nitrogen oxides or nitrous oxide.
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.
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 high efficiency, low cost, and aesthetic appeal.
The basic structures of perovskite solar cells 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.
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.
