Cleantech and Environmental News – Latest Headlines

Fungi makes meal of hard-to-recycle plastic

Polypropylene, a hard-to-recycle plastic has successfully been biodegraded by two strains of fungi in a new experiment. Polypropylene is used for a wide variety of products from packaging and toys to furnishing and fashion, it accounts for roughly 28% of the world's plastic waste, but only 1% of it is recycled.

April 17, 2023 Read more

Microwaves advance solar-cell production and recycling

A new microwave technology will improve the manufacture of solar cells and make them easier to recycle.

April 14, 2023 Read more

A rechargeable battery made from food

Scientists created a totally edible and rechargeable battery, starting from materials that are normally consumed as part of our daily diet.

April 13, 2023 Read more

Scientists create high-efficiency sustainable solar cells for IoT devices with AI-powered energy management

Researchers have created environmentally-friendly, high-efficiency photovoltaic cells that harness ambient light to power internet of Things (IoT) devices.

April 13, 2023 Read more

Sustainable batteries for the future

Batteries are indispensable for global efforts to reduce fossil fuel use. However, challenges remain: their production requires a lot of energy, the materials used are rare, and batteries are difficult to recycle.

April 13, 2023 Read more

Gentle method allows for eco-friendly recycling of solar cells

By using a new method, precious metals can be efficiently recovered from thin-film solar cells.

April 13, 2023 Read more

Bacteria-powered biobattery with 100-year shelf life

Researchers use spore-forming bacteria to create a biobattery that potentially would still work after 100 years.

April 12, 2023 Read more

Electrification push will have enormous impacts on critical metals supply chain

The demand for battery-grade lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and platinum will climb steeply as vehicle electrification speeds up and nations work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through mid-century. This surge in demand will also create a variety of economic and supply-chain problems.

April 11, 2023 Read more

Researchers devise new system for turning seawater into hydrogen fuel

A research team pulled hydrogen directly from ocean waters. Their work could help efforts to generate low-carbon fuel for electric grids, cars, boats and other infrastructure.

April 11, 2023 Read more

Fully recyclable printed electronics ditch toxic chemicals for water

First-of-its-kind demonstration suggests a more environmentally friendly future for the electronics industry is possible.

April 6, 2023 Read more

New atomic-scale understanding of catalysis could unlock massive energy savings

In an advance they consider a breakthrough in computational chemistry research, chemical engineers have developed model of how catalytic reactions work at the atomic scale.

April 6, 2023 Read more

Producing 2D nanoparticles in an environmentally friendly way

Researchers have discovered how catalysts and many other nanoplatelets can be produced in an environmentally friendly way from readily available materials and in sufficient quantities.

April 6, 2023 Read more

Team finds major storage capacity in water-based batteries

Researchers have discovered a 1,000% difference in the storage capacity of metal-free, water-based battery electrodes.

April 4, 2023 Read more

Team uses natural catalysts to develop low-cost way of producing green hydrogen

Experts have joined forces to develop a practical way to produce green hydrogen using sustainable catalysts.

April 2, 2023 Read more

Energy-efficient and customisable inorganic membranes for a cleaner future

A breakthrough in synthesis strategy enables the facile formulation of inorganic membranes that are not just energy-efficient but also highly customisable, potentially revolutionising the way many industries operate for greater sustainability.

March 30, 2023 Read more

Coconuts and lemons enable a wood that stores heat and regulates indoor temperature

A building material that combines coconuts, lemons and modified wood could one day be enough to heat and cool your home. The three renewable sources provide the key components of a wood composite thermal battery.

March 30, 2023 Read more

Recycling of batteries: 70 percent of lithium recovered

A new recycling method recovers up to 70 percent of lithium from battery waste without corrosive chemicals, high temperatures, and prior sorting of materials.

March 30, 2023 Read more

From hyperconnectivity to AI: How can we tackle the environmental impact of the new Internet era?

A new research project aims to address the environmental consequences of digitalization and technological obsolescence by devising solutions that maximize the potential of wireless networks.

March 29, 2023 Read more