Soot particles from oil and wood heating systems as well as road traffic can pollute the air in Europe on a much larger scale than previously assumed. The evaluation of the sources during a measuring campaign in Germany showed that about half of the soot particles came from the surrounding area and the other half from long distances. This underlines the need to further reduce emissions of soot that is harmful to health and climate.
Credit: Carnegie Mellon University and Northeastern University
Batteries have come a long way since Volta first stacked copper and zinc discs together 200 years ago. While the technology has continued to evolve from lead-acid to lithium-ion, many challenges still exist like achieving higher density and suppressing dendrite growth. Experts are racing to address the growing, global need for energy-efficient and safe batteries.
The electrification of heavy-duty vehicles and aircraft requires batteries with more energy density. A team of researchers believes a paradigm shift is necessary to make a significant impact in battery technology for these industries. This shift would take advantage of the anionic reduction-oxidation mechanism in lithium-rich cathodes. Findings published in
Conventional carbon capture is limited by high transportation costs and the need for intensive purification. Membrane-based direct air capture is a promising alternative because capture and storage can be performed at the same remote sites, and low CO2 purity is acceptable for geological storage because the impurities are not hazardous. Molecular dynamics simulations of geological storage of CO2-N2-O2 mixtures from direct air capture demonstrated that this approach is both environmentally acceptable and economically viable.
New research shows that when water comes into contact with an electrode surface all its molecules do not respond in the same way. This can dramatically affect how well various substances can dissolve in water subject to an electrical field, which in turn, can determine how a chemical reaction will occur. And chemical reactions are a necessary component in how we make.everything. The implications of this new revelation could have a remarkable impact on all water-related processes from water purification to drug manufacturing.