Cleantech and Environmental News – Latest Headlines

Insulating with microscopic bubbles

A new type of brick filled with aerogel could make thin and highly insulating walls possible in the future - without any additional insulation layer.

January 16, 2018 Read more

Magnetic liquids improve energy efficiency of buildings

Materials researchers introduce prototypes of a window that changes its light permeability at the touch of a button, and, at the same time, can be used for solar-thermal energy harvesting.

January 16, 2018 Read more

Harnessing the power of algae: new, greener fuel cells move step closer to reality

A new design of algae-powered fuel cells that is five times more efficient than existing plant and algal models, as well as being potentially more cost-effective to produce and practical to use.

January 10, 2018 Read more

Bio-based compound offers a greener carbon fiber alternative

Researchers report the results of experimental and computational investigations on the conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into a bio-based chemical called acrylonitrile, the key precursor to manufacturing carbon fiber.

January 9, 2018 Read more

The salt water battery

Water could form the basis for future particularly inexpensive rechargeable batteries. Researchers have succeeded in doubling the electrochemical stability of water with a special saline solution. This takes us one step closer to using the technology commercially.

January 9, 2018 Read more

A biological solution to carbon capture and recycling?

Scientists have discovered that E. coli bacteria could hold the key to an efficient method of capturing and storing or recycling carbon dioxide.

January 8, 2018 Read more

Researchers pioneer water-based, eco-friendly and energy-saving air-conditioner

All-weather friendly cooling technology works without mechanical compressors or chemical refrigerants, and generates drinking water.

January 8, 2018 Read more

New desalination method offers low energy alternative to purify salty water

Providing safer drinking water to those in need may be a little easier. According to researchers, a new desalination technique is able to remove salt from water using less energy than previous methods.

January 3, 2018 Read more

Standardizing perovskite aging measurements

Scientists have produced a data-driven proposal for standardizing the measurements of perovskite solar cell stability and degradation. The work aims to create consensus in the field and overcome one of the major hurdles on the way to commercializing perovskite photovoltaics.

January 2, 2018 Read more

New technique allows rapid screening for new types of solar cells

Approach could bypass the time-consuming steps currently needed to test new photovoltaic materials.

December 20, 2017 Read more

Paving the way for a non-electric battery to store solar energy

Scientists say a polymer chain organized like a string of Christmas lights assists energy storage.

December 19, 2017 Read more

New technique could make captured carbon more valuable

Scientists developed an efficient process for turning captured carbon dioxide into syngas, a mixture of H2 and CO that can be used to make fuels and chemicals.

December 15, 2017 Read more

New catalyst meets challenge of cleaning exhaust from modern engines

Innovation also uses less platinum, expensive component of catalytic converters.

December 14, 2017 Read more

Hydrogen production: protein environment makes catalyst efficient

The interaction of protein shell and active centre in hydrogen-producing enzymes is crucial for the efficiency of biocatalysts.

December 14, 2017 Read more

Clean energy: experts outline how governments can successfully invest before it's too late

Researchers distil twenty years of lessons from clean energy funding into six ?guiding principles?. They argue that governments must eschew constant reinventions and grant scientists greater influence before our window of opportunity to avert climate change closes.

December 7, 2017 Read more

Consumption is the bottleneck for sustainable development

From ending poverty to improving wellbeing, gender equality, cities' resilience or climate action - while synergies among most of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) foster progress in sustainable development, there are some key conflicts or bottlenecks that could hamper achieving the SDG objectives for 2030.

December 1, 2017 Read more

In growing algae for biofuels, it matters who used the water last

Algae require tremendous volumes of water to grow, and reusing that water makes production cheaper. However, researchers have disagreed on how recycled water affects algae.

December 1, 2017 Read more

Recycling air pollution to make art

Startup's system captures particle matter from diesel exhaust and turns it into inks and paints.

November 27, 2017 Read more