Stanford University Archives – The Green Optimistic

Wireless Charging Breakthrough May Revolutionize the Electric Vehicle Industry

Guest Contributor — Wed, 06 Sep 2017 11:42:43 +0000

The time necessary to charge the batteries of electric vehicles, and the speed at which they discharge make them impractical for anything more than short commutes (except for Teslas, of course). If we are to add the scarcity of refueling stations, it becomes apparent why so few individuals have decided to use them. While the […]

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The Secret Behind Biogenic Methane Discovered at Stanford

Satya Sivani — Sun, 31 May 2015 04:24:07 +0000

Stanford University researchers have taken a quantum leap in discovering how methanogens acquire electrons from solid surfaces, how hydrogen producing enzymes are important in Methanogenesis, how certain enzymes take up electrons and many other interesting facts. Methane, the main component (87%) of natural gas, a fossil fuel, which can be found both underground and under […]

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Flexible and Safe Aluminum-Graphite Battery Charges in One Minute

Mila Luleva — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 13:40:11 +0000

Scientists from Stanford University, California, announced the development of cheap, flexible, safe and super fast-charging batteries made of aluminum and graphite, that can give lithium-ion energy storage a run for its money. The new technology can reach from 0 to 100% charge in less than a minute. It is seen as the technology that will […]

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New Renewable Hydrogen Fuel Generation Catalyst Developed at Stanford

Benji Jerew — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 17:23:55 +0000

We like the idea of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles which, in themselves, generate water vapor as their only emission. Hydrogen fuel, however, could prove to be a sticking point. Considering that second point, hydrogen fuel cell vehicle opponents have pointed to hydrogen fuel generation’s fossil-fuel roots as a clear indication that they aren’t viable emissions-free […]

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Nanotechnology Could Make Pure Lithium Battery Possible

Benji Jerew — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 14:08:40 +0000

Currently, most portable devices use lithium-ion battery technology, in spite of the fact that a pure lithium battery could offer much more capacity. The problem is with longevity, as a pure lithium battery may have 300% the capacity of a lithium-ion battery, but it can only be cycled between 50 and 100 times before it […]

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Nobel Prize in Chemistry Given to Research That Could Improve Fuel Economy

Benji Jerew — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 18:47:04 +0000

With vehicle emissions standards becoming more and more stringent, automakers are focusing on improving the fuel economy of their fleets. The internal combustion engine has remained relatively unchanged in principle, but researching fuel economy improvements is ongoing, such as turbocharging smaller-displacement engines, hybrid electric systems, or dispensing with engine altogether. There is still plenty of […]

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How Thermophotovoltaic Solar Cells Could be 80% Efficient

Benji Jerew — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 20:08:20 +0000

Theoretically, single-junction photovoltaic solar cells can only achieve 34% efficiency, a theoretical maximum, since that’s pretty much all the spectrum they can absorb and convert to electricity. Currently, the most-efficient commercially-available solar cells are just % efficient, and some theoretical stacked solar cells up to 45% efficient. This is where thermophotovoltaic solar cells come in, […]

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Thinnest Light Absorber Ever Created by Stanford Scientists

Leigh Hutchens — Sat, 20 Jul 2013 04:34:44 +0000

Scientists at Stanford University have succeeded in building light-absorbers that are thousands of times thinner than a sheet of paper. The nanosize structures are capable of absorbing close to 100 % of visible light emanating from specific wavelengths. Researchers believe the material could be used to make cheaper, more efficient solar cells. An ideal solar […]

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Thin Film Solar Cells to Get Printed on Water: New Technology

Benji Jerew — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 11:20:37 +0000

With the ability to put solar power anywhere just like a bumper sticker, the possibilities for solar power just expanded. Thin-film solar power, it was thought, were as thin as could be, but a combination of processes developed jointly between Stanford University and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory [NREL] is bringing thin-ness to a whole […]

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World’s First All-Carbon Solar Cell Comes from Stanford University

Benji Jerew — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 19:11:49 +0000

Solar power generation has only a couple of detractors, cost and efficiency. Research companies have been working hard on increasing efficiency while reducing costs, and it hasn’t been an easy accomplishment. Scientists at Stanford University have produced a prototype that could address the cost problem that silicon-based solar cells experience. Unlike the rigid glass and […]

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PETE: The New Solar Cell Manufacturing Process Gives Increased Efficiency

Mike Sandru — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:27:40 +0000

"This is really a conceptual breakthrough, a new energy conversion process, not just a new material or a slightly different tweak.It is actually something fundamentally different about how you can harvest energy," said Nick Melosh, an assistant professor of materials science and engineering, who led the research group.

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Photovoltaic Retinal Implants Powered by Onboard Solar Cells

Mike Sandru — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 20:02:32 +0000

Scientists at Stanford University have developed photovoltaic retinal implants for people that suffer from degradation in their photoreceptor cells, causing partial vision.

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E85 Ethanol Increases Pollution and Risk of Human Diseases

Cristi — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:03:43 +0000

Researches from Stanford University have recently published a study on ethanol fuel and its influence over human health. Compared to pure gasoline usage, ethanol increases health problems because of cancer-chemical formation.

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