ESRF - The European Synchrotron’s Post

Australian researchers have identified “a new kind of carbon-based material” allowing supercapacitors to store as much energy as lead acid batteries while also performing better than conventional batteries at delivering power quickly. “This discovery could allow us to build fast-charging supercapacitors that store enough energy to replace batteries in many applications, and deliver it far more quickly,” said Mainak Majumder, who heads AM2D | ARC Research Hub for Advanced Manufacturing with 2D Materials. Dr Petar Jovanović, a research fellow at AM2D and study co-author, said that, when assembled into pouch cell devices, the Monash supercapacitors delivered “performance metrics are among the best ever reported for carbon-based supercapacitors” and with a process that is “scalable and compatible with Australian raw materials”. Dr Phillip Aitchison, CTO of Ionic Industries Ltd. and study co-author, added: “We’re working with energy storage partners to bring this breakthrough to market-led applications – where both high energy and fast power delivery are essential." The research is published in Nature Communications today. https://lnkd.in/gkFQbvKJ Monash University #energystorage #supercapacitors #manufacturing #australianmanufacturing #grapheneoxide #graphene

Brown Associate Professor Feng Lin served on the American Chemical Society's Division of Energy & Fuels Tech show panel last week, sharing his experiences with and the importance of university-industry alliances.

Researchers at University College London have made a significant advance in solar cell technology by developing perovskite-based devices capable of harnessing indoor light with an impressive conversion efficiency of 37.6 percent under 1000 lux conditions. They achieved this by introducing rubidium chloride to improve crystal uniformity and adding stabilizers to prevent halide ions from clustering, thereby enhancing both the performance and lifespan of the solar cells. The cells proved to be six times more efficient than existing indoor technologies and retained 92 percent of their efficiency over 100 days, significantly outlasting typical performance. The development has the potential to power low-energy electronic devices, reducing reliance on disposable batteries, and is being steered towards commercial viability in collaboration with industry partners. #Science #Sustainability #Research https://lnkd.in/g_HRruM9

Hydrogen fuel holds immense promise for clean energy, but there's a catch: this invisible, odourless gas can be extremely dangerous if it leaks undetected 💨   Researchers from A*STAR Institute of Materials Research and Engineering (A*STAR IMRE) and Nanyang Technological University Singapore have developed an ingenious solution using the physics of light itself. By exploiting a rare optical phenomenon called "dual-phase singularities," they've created a highly sensitive hydrogen detection system.   "In optics, a phase singularity is a point on a wave of light where its phase becomes undefined," explained Sreekanth K. V. and Jing Hua Teng, Senior Scientists at A*STAR IMRE. "This point is exceptionally sensitive to external disturbances, making it a powerful tool for precise sensing."   🔬 Their breakthrough lies in Tamm cavities—special nanostructures that they fabricated from alternating layers of silicon dioxide and antimony trisulfide. Unlike previous single-phase singularity devices that required impractically high angles, their dual-phase approach works at much lower angles while delivering five times better sensitivity.   “Our metal-free tuneable Tamm cavities have significant potential for thin film and flat optics development, especially for multispectral light modulators and filters,” explained Teng. This could pave the way for compact, low-cost hydrogen sensors that make the clean energy transition safer and more practical.   Head to the comments section for the full story ⬇️   --- #ASTAR #scicomm #science #technology #STEM #research #innovation #IMRE #hydrogen #cleanenergy #optics #nanotechnology #sensors

New breakthrough in hydrogen research? 🔬 Christine and Eva are scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich, a German research institute. Together with their colleagues, they took a closer look at the hydrogen production process – and discovered something crucial. Using high-tech analysis, they uncovered a structural change in important components. Their findings could lead to improved technology and make hydrogen production more efficient and sustainable. Read more about their research and how it will improve the future of energy in the full article. ⬇️

The International Symposium on Electrocatalysis (ECAT2026) series is a prestigious global forum that brings together scientists, engineers, and researchers dedicated to advancing the science and technology of electrocatalysis, photo electrocatalysis, and related energy conversion processes. These symposia foster dialogue between academia and industry, covering fundamental and applied topics such as fuel cells, electrochemical synthesis, CO₂ reduction, water splitting, nitrogen fixation, batteries, and environmental applications. https://lnkd.in/eSCNcnRN

Breakthrough technology overcomes "the biggest barrier" to commercializing lithium-metal batteries for EVs... Researchers from the Frontier Research Laboratory, a joint project between the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and LG Energy Solution, have developed a technology that "dramatically" increases the performance of lithium-metal batteries. "While conventional lithium-ion batteries are limited to a maximum range of 600 km, the new battery can achieve a range of 800 km on a single charge, a lifespan of over 300,000 km, and a super-fast charging time of just 12 minutes." The researchers achieved this by solving the long-standing dendrite issue that has limited fast charging and battery lifespan in lithium-metal batteries. They found that dendrites (tiny, tree-like lithium crystals that can pierce the battery's layers, causing short-circuits) form due to "non-uniform interfacial cohesion" on the surface of the lithium metal. To suppress them, the team developed a "cohesion-inhibiting new liquid electrolyte," allowing the battery to maintain high energy density and deliver long driving ranges with stable operation even during fast charging. Researchers mentioned (not extensive): Dr. Hyeokjin Kwon, Professor Hee Tak Kim, Seong Su Kim, Seongyeong Kim, Jonghyun Hyun, Hongsin Kim #innovation #technology #electricvehicles #lithiumionbatteries #sustainability https://lnkd.in/gPFeYG8V

🔁 From Science to Systems: Materials Innovation Driving National Impact Day Two of the Henry Royce Institute Conference yesterday brought the focus firmly on how #MaterialsScience is transforming our world and how it must now deliver real-world impact across sectors and systems. Ian Kinloch opened the day celebrating science then Paul Monks asked the provocative question "What have materials ever done for us?” The answer? Everything. 🏗️ From transport and buildings to power and industry, materials innovation is central to achieving #NetZero. We need: ➡️ New sorbents, membranes and catalysts ➡️ Hydrogen and carbon capture materials ➡️ Critical minerals and energy storage solutions ➡️ Circular economy models and responsible sourcing. 🧩 This is a systems challenge—and materials are the enablers. The UK government is backing this with £86m in #RandD funding to ensure translational activities drive innovation into delivery. Mission-led government is focused on growth, and the #MaterialsInnovationStrategy is now a platform for national impact. ⚛️ #Fission, through SMRs, offers a paradigm shift in energy production—creating 10,000 jobs per year while demanding new materials and skills. Carl H. Naylor reminded us that 2D materials and deposition techniques are powering the future of #electronics, with scaling challenges that require constant innovation. At #FISC, we’re proud to be part of this mission—where materials innovation meets systems thinking, where science becomes strategy, and strategy becomes impact. #MaterialsMatter #FISC #RoyceConference #NetZero #IndustrialStrategy #SystemsThinking #AdvancedManufacturing #CriticalMinerals #EnergyInnovation #SMRs #CircularEconomy #DigitalMaterials #UKGrowth #MissionLedInnovation

We are excited to share our new comprehensive review article published in the prestigious journal 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 (𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝟒𝟎+), highlighting the rapid advancements in all-perovskite tandem solar cells.. “Recent progress in all-perovskite tandem solar cells and modules: redefining limits”. This review explores recent advancements in materials, device architectures (2T and 4T), performance optimization strategies, and large-area fabrication, while highlighting future directions to boost efficiency, stability, and scalability. We hope this work serves as a valuable resource for researchers and academics striving to innovate in all perovskite tandem solar cells toward commercialization. A special thanks goes to Prashant Kumar, Gyanendra Shankar, Anshu kumar and Dr. Adel Najar for their tremendous efforts. https://lnkd.in/dHnAAiqx #SolarEnergy #Perovskite #Photovoltaics #CleanTech #MaterialsScience #Sustainability #EnergyTransition #Research #Innovation #RenewableEnergy #FutureOfSolar

All-perovskite tandem solar cells have been at the forefront of perovskite research, offering transformative potential for the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry. Our latest review paper, “Recent Progress in All-Perovskite Tandem Solar Cells: Redefining Limits,” published in Progress in Materials Science, provides a comprehensive overview of the most recent breakthroughs and emerging trends in this rapidly advancing field. I extend my sincere thanks to all co-authors for their valuable contributions in making this work possible.