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Yearly Archives: 2009
Better Solar Panels With Newly Discovered Nanometric Butterfly Wings
Researchers at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM) and the State University of Pennsylvania (USA) have created a method to replicate biological structures, such as butterfly wings, on a nanometric scale. The resulting biomaterial could be used to make optically active structures, such as optical diffusers for solar panels.
XX55: Military Designed Methanol Fuel Cell Lasting for Weeks
The company that produced the XX25 methanol fuel cell we talked about last year, Ultracell, came up with an improved version of it, the XX55. This fuel cell outputs 55watts at 4 amps (10-30 volts), and can last for days or even weeks on a single methane cartridge.
MU Scientists Discover Nuclear Battery That Might Just Be Safe
The scientists from the University of Missouri may have found a way to develop a nuclear energy source that is smaller, lighter and more efficient.
Researchers Make One More Step Towards Metallic Hydrogen as Superconductor
A team of scientists from Cornell University and the State University of New York at Stony Brook announced this week in a specialized publication that they discovered, at least theoretically, how to turn hydrogen into a metal at significantly lower pressures than ever thought and make a superconductor out of it.
IAV to Release On-the-fly Charging System for Electric Cars in 3 Years
A German supplier of electronics and powertrain design to most of the major automakers for the last 25 years gives a solution to both the battery and the car manufacturers. The company is called IAV (Ingenieurgesellschaft Auto und Verkehr), and their solution is to charge the electric cars on-the-go through electromagnetic induction.
New Nickel-Lithium Batteries: Chance for 800 Miles Electric Car Autonomy
The electric cars' problem of a low mileage may have found its solution. Recently discovered Nickel-Lithium batteries have 3.5 times more energy than the standard Lithium-Ion batteries and besides this, they are much safer to use.
Dow Chemical to Develop Energy Efficient Solar Shingles
A company named Dow Chemical revealed a new line of solar roof shingles that convert sunlight into electric energy, being able to generate $5 billion in revenue for the company by 2015.
France to Make Net Improvements on Electric Car Infrastructure by 2015
The French government announced that it plans to spend €1.5 billion (about $2.2 billion) in the development of an infrastructure that will encourage the development of clean vehicle technology and battery manufacturing.
The Sea Snake: Scotland's 750kW Wave Powered Project
Scotland built a 180 m tube they call "The Sea Snake", that will capture the waves' movements and energy and transmit it via subshore cables to the land.
The Napa Winery Making Hydrogen from Grape Wastewater
Napa Wine Company in Oakville found an interesting way of producing hydrogen by using the winery's own wastewater, using naturally-occurring bacteria and a small amount of electricity to extract hydrogen the organic material they usually throw away,with a generator the size of a refrigerator.
