Discovery could lead to 'optical battery' (United Press International)- April 19, 2011
U.S. researchers say an unexpected magnetic effect of light could lead to solar power without traditional semiconductor-based solar cells. The finding could lead to a way to make an "optical battery," University of Michigan researcher Stephen Rand said. The findings fly in the face of long-held tenets in physics about the properties of light, a university release said Tuesday... More...
On the way to hydrogen storage? (PhysOrg)- April 19, 2011
The car of the future could be propelled by a fuel cell powered with hydrogen. But what will the fuel tank look like? Hydrogen gas is not only explosive but also very space-consuming. Storage in the form of very dense solid metal hydrides is a particularly safe alternative that accommodates the gas in a manageable volume. As the storage tank should also not be too heavy and expensive, solid-state chemists worldwide focus on... More...
Scientists finely control methane combustion to get different products (PhysOrg)- April 14, 2011
Scientists have discovered a method to control the gas-phase selective catalytic combustion of methane, so finely that if done at room temperature the reaction produces ethylene, while at lower temperatures it yields formaldehyde. The process involves using gold dimer cations as catalysts — that is, positively charged diatomic gold clusters. Being able to catalyze these reactions, at or below room temperature, may lead to significant cost savings in... More...
Cold asteroids may have a soft heart (PhysOrg)- April 8, 2011
A new analysis of one of the most well-known meteorites on Earth provides strong evidence that the prevailing view of many asteroids is wrong. Rather than randomly mixed blobs of rock and dust stuck together, it appears that the asteroid that was the source of the Allende meteorite was large enough to have had a molten core, even though its surface remained cold and solid... More...
Nanoparticles Improve Solar Collection Efficiency (ScienceDaily)- April 5, 2011
Using minute graphite particles 1000 times smaller than the width of a human hair, mechanical engineers at Arizona State University hope to boost the efficiency -- and profitability -- of solar power plants. Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels are popping up more and more on rooftops, but they're not necessarily the best solar power solution... More...
Pinnacle Engines Introduces Its Ultra-Efficient Combustion Engine (The Street)- March 31, 2011
Pinnacle Engines today unveiled plans to commercialize a breakthrough ultra-efficient engine by 2013. The new engine design enables significant reductions in fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions without increasing vehicle cost. Pinnacle also announced it has raised $13.5 million in venture funding from NEA, Bessemer Venture Partners and Infield Capital. While electrification of the worldwide vehicle fleet presents a promising long-term solution... More...
Scientists discover recycling method to advance fuel cell practicality (PhysOrg)- March 21, 2011
The use of hydrogen as a practical, widespread alternative fuel to gasoline took another step today as researchers from Los Alamos National Laboratory and The University of Alabama announce a method for recycling a hydrogen fuel source. The scientists demonstrate that a lightweight material, ammonia borane, can be a feasible material for storing hydrogen on vehicles... More...
Breakthrough in Nanocomposite for High-Capacity Hydrogen Storage (ScienceDaily)- March 14, 2011
Since the 1970s, hydrogen has been touted as a promising alternative to fossil fuels due to its clean combustion -- unlike hydrocarbon-based fuels, which spew greenhouse gases and harmful pollutants, hydrogen's only combustion by-product is water. Compared to gasoline, hydrogen is lightweight, can provide a higher energy density and is readily available. But there's a reason we're not already living in a hydrogen economy... More...
Tough crystal nut cracked: Correct prediction of all three known crystal structures of a sulfonimide (Physorg.com)- March 10, 2011
Small differences in the production conditions, such as variations in pressure or temperature, can be enough to cause fine chemicals, such as pharmaceuticals, pigments, explosives, or agrochemicals, to crystallize in a different form. This can lead to problems with the production process or to undesirable product properties. It is correspondingly important to know which crystal structures are possible. Scientists use computational chemistry methods to obtain information about molecular structure... More...
University of Illinois Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering Founder B.T. Chao Dies At Age 92 (University of Illinois)- March 7, 2011
Bei Tse Chao, among a handful of individuals who were instrumental in developing the nuclear engineering program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign over 50 years ago, died Wednesday, March 2, 2011. He was 92. More...