Energy news, October 2016

TMOs reviewed to advantage

Review of single- or multi-layer transition metal oxides.

New spiky catalyst converts carbon dioxide directly into ethanol

A catalyst comprising copper nanoparticles embedded in carbon spikes can convert carbon dioxide directly into ethanol.

Materials Today steps into a new era

Find out how Materials Today is evolving.

Scientists join the quantum dots to novel perovskite solar cell

For the first time, scientists have created a perovskite quantum dot and shown that it can form the basis for an efficient solar cell.

Conducting MOF offers cheap, efficient supercapacitor material

For the first time, researchers have developed a supercapacitor that employs a conductive metal-organic framework rather than carbon.

Engineers drink to new energy storage material

Engineers have shown that fungi cultivated in brewery wastewater can be converted into electrodes for lithium-ion batteries.

Novel iron-based superconductor contains just the right defects

Adding defects to an iron-based superconductor can double the amount of electrical current it can carry and increase its critical temperature.

Nuclear Materials and Energy now indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index

New solvent system removes barrier to large perovskite solar panels

Scientists have developed a solvent system with reduced toxicity that can be used in the manufacture of perovskite solar cells.

Concrete answers to crystal composition

Scientists have determined how each of five distinct types of belite crystal contribute to concrete's ease of manufacture and ultimate strength.

Materials Today – flagship journal now open for original research article submissions

The Editors now welcome comprehensive articles and short communications reporting breakthrough discoveries and major technical achievements.

Researchers open up way to reduce membrane bottleneck

Researchers have discovered that the vast majority of the pores in zeolite-based desalination membranes are closed, greatly reducing their efficiency.

Observing atomic interactions offers insight

Observing atomic interactions could improve superconductors

Quantum effects in 1D wires

Squeezing electrons onto one-dimensional wires shows quantum effects