High-efficiency silicon solar cells go on a roll
Lightweight and flexible, these solar cells could power airships and drones, or be easily integrated into electric vehicles and building facades
Jun 2023 1
Prachi Patel
Prachi Patel is a Pittsburgh-based freelance journalist who writes about energy, materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and computing. Writes for Scientific American, IEEE Spectrum, Chemical & Engineering News, and MRS Bulletin. Find her at www.lekh.org.
May 2023 25
Artificial leaves can now directly make liquid fuels
The latest evolution of the artificial leaf converts carbon dioxide and water into high-energy ethanol that can be directly used in car engines
May 2023 18
Engineered bacteria could decarbonize the chemical industry
“All you need to add is sugar and the cells do the rest” . . . enabling low-emissions manufacture of drugs and fuels
May 2023 11
Massive turbine blades make for massive waste streams. Chemists have found a way to break them down for reuse.
Whereas previous recycling techniques have focused on material redesign, this new technique works on today’s turbine blade materials
May 2023 4
Stronger paper bags could be the answer to throwaway plastic
A simple technique to make paper bags stronger, even when wet, would make them more reusable—and they can still be used for biofuel at the end
Apr 2023 27
The surprising appliance that could make solar panels easier to produce and recycle
Microwaves could process silicon solar cells using less time and energy than high-temperature furnaces, while also making panels easier to disassemble and recycle
Apr 2023 20
Engineers print recyclable electronics using nothing but water
The printing technique, which uses no harsh chemicals and only mild temperatures, paves the way for sustainable electronics of the future
Apr 2023 13
Two studies make a strong case for nuclear power: less pollution, smaller footprint.
One team showed how nuclear plant shutdowns could cause 1000s of pollution-related deaths; another found nuclear has the least environmental impact among low-carbon energy sources.
Apr 2023 6
Coconuts and lemons are novel ingredients for energy-efficient buildings
Infusing engineered wood with citrus peel and coconut oil extracts gives a sustainable material that stores heat during the day and releases it at night
Mar 2023 30
Chemists use bacteria to convert CO2 in the air into bioplastic
A new simple hybrid setup allows bacteria to capture CO2 and produce biodegradable plastic for days, boosting output by 100x previous efforts.
