Energy, Power

Rice University theorists have calculated flexoelectric effects in double-walled carbon nanotubes. The electrical potential (P) of atoms on either side of a graphene sheet (top) are identical, but not when the sheet is curved into a nanotube. Double-walled nanotubes (bottom) show unique effects as band gaps in inner and outer tubes are staggered. Courtesy: Yakobson Research Group/Rice University

Energy, Power March 31, 2020

Double-walled nanotubes have electro-optical advantages

Rice University calculations show double-walled nanotubes could be highly useful for solar panels and other nanoelectronics applications such as photovoltaics.

By Mike Williams

Power Quality March 26, 2020

Understanding power quality, improving manufacturing system reliability

Voltage sags and interruptions can have a detrimental effect on manufacturing processes. Understanding how and why they happen is crucial.

By Mark Stephens and Alden Wright

RPI researchers have created a battery that uses potassium rather than lithium, which is cheaper and more abundant and more energy-efficient and could change how batteries are made. Courtesy: Chris Vavra, CFE Media and Technology

Energy, Power March 3, 2020

Metal battery using Potassium could be alternative to Lithium-ion

Researchers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have created a metal battery that relies on potassium instead of Lithium-ion, which could create more energy efficient batteries for consumers.

By Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)

Safety February 6, 2020

Wearable health tech gets efficiency upgrade

North Carolina State University engineers have demonstrated a flexible device designed to harvest the heat energy from the human body to monitor health.

By Mick Kulikowski

Researchers at Purdue University have created a technology to address the thickness issue for wearable power generation. Courtesy: Purdue University

Power February 5, 2020

Wearable power generator for IoT devices developed

Researchers at Purdue University have created technology designed to address the thickness issue for wearable power generation for Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

By Chris Adam

New research by engineers at MIT and elsewhere could lead to batteries that can pack more power per pound and last longer. Courtesy: MIT News

Energy, Power February 4, 2020

Electrode design may lead to more powerful batteries

An MIT research team has devised a lithium metal anode that could improve the longevity and energy density of future batteries.

By David L. Chandler

Courtesy: Chris Vavra, CFE Media and Technology

Power Quality January 31, 2020

Wearable electronics powered by flexible batteries

Stanford University researchers have developed an experimental device designed to provide a comfortable power source for technologies that bends and flexes with the human body.

By Tom Abate

Dr. Matt Pharr is an assistant professor in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. Courtesy: Justin Baetge/Texas A&M Engineering Communications

Energy, Power January 24, 2020

Research into next-generation rechargeable batteries supported

The National Science Foundation is supporting Texas A&M researcher Dr. Matt Pharr in his work on developing improved rechargeable batteries.

By Steve Kuhlmann

At left, a 3D model by Rice University materials scientists shows a phase boundary as a delithiating lithium iron phosphate cathode undergoes rapid discharge. At right, a cross-section shows the “fingerlike” boundary between iron phosphate (blue) and lithium (red). Rice engineers found that too many intentional defects intended to make batteries better can in fact degrade their performance and endurance. Courtesy: Mesoscale Materials Science Group/Rice University

Energy, Power January 21, 2020

The dangers of pushing batteries too hard

Simulations by Rice University researchers shows too much stress in widely used lithium iron phosphate cathodes can open cracks and quickly degrade batteries.

By Mike Williams

The standard way to test new battery designs is time-consuming and expensive. A new research method from Stanford University, MIT, and the Toyota Research Institute aims to change that. Image courtesy: Chris Vavra, CFE Media

Energy, Power January 12, 2020

Researchers receive grant to enhance solar technology

Texas A&M researchers received $4.4 million to develop and demonstrate a cyber-resilient operation for power distribution systems with massively photovoltaic (PV) generation, such as rooftop solar panels.

By Deana Totzke