Energy Science

RSS Feed

March 22, 2021

News Feature

First closeups of how a lithium-metal electrode ages

Scientists have documented a process that makes these next-gen batteries lose charge – and eventually some of their capacity for storing energy – even when a device is turned off.

March 11, 2021

News Feature

Researchers gain insight into how solvent molecules impact light-driven reactions

This new understanding could aid the development of more efficient clean energy sources.

January 21, 2021

News Feature

Squeezing a rock-star material could make it stable enough for solar cells

A promising lead halide perovskite is great at converting sunlight to electricity, but it breaks down at room temperature. Now scientists have discovered how to stabilize it with pressure from a diamond anvil cell.

Illustration of a lead halide material being squeezed in a diamond anvil cell

January 13, 2021

News Feature

Yi Cui will receive E.O. Lawrence Award

A pioneer in clean energy technology at Stanford and SLAC, he is one of eight scientists and engineers honored by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Photo of Stanford and SLAC Professor Yi Cui

January 11, 2021

News Feature

Study shows tweaking one layer of atoms on a catalyst’s surface can make it work better

The surprising results offer a way to boost the activity and stability of catalysts for making hydrogen fuel from water.

Illustration showing a book with layers of atoms on its pages

January 4, 2021

News Feature

First glimpse of polarons forming in a promising next-gen energy material

These fleeting disruptions, seen for the first time in lead hybrid perovskites, may help explain why these materials are exceptionally good at turning sunlight into electrical current in solar cells.

An illustration shows polarons as bubbles of distortion in a perovskite lattice

December 4, 2020

News Feature

Shapeshifting proteins provide electrons safe passage during photosynthesis

The results of a new scientific study reveal how photosynthetic reaction centers adapt to make light-driven reactions more efficient.

November 25, 2020

News Feature

External

Yi Cui, Risa Wechsler named AAAS fellows

Cui was honored for his work on materials chemistry for energy and the environment, and Wechsler for scientific contributions and leadership of large programs in cosmology.

October 15, 2020

Press Release

A new approach boosts lithium-ion battery efficiency and puts out fires, too

Adding polymers and fireproofing to a battery’s current collectors makes it lighter, safer and about 20% more efficient.

Conceptual illustration of advantages of redesigned current collector

September 8, 2020

News Feature

Scientists probe the chemistry of a single battery electrode particle both inside and out

The results show how a particle’s surface and interior influence each other, an important thing to know when developing more robust batteries.

Closeup of an illustration showing how battery cathode material degrades

Energy Science

Pages