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Category: energy – Page 5

Successful synthesis of neutral N₆ opens door for future energy storage

Nitrogen finally joins the elite tier of elements like carbon that can form neutral allotropes—different structural forms of a single chemical element. Researchers from Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, have synthesized neutral hexanitrogen (N6)—the first neutral allotrope of nitrogen since the discovery of naturally occurring dinitrogen (N2) in the 18th century that is cryogenically stable and can be prepared at room temperature.

This new study, published in Nature, synthesized hexanitrogen (N6) via gas-phase reaction, with the main ingredients being chlorine (Cl2) or bromine (Br2) and an extremely reactive and explosive solid silver azide (AgN3), under reduced pressure.

The researchers spread AgN3 on the , and a gaseous halogen (Cl2 or Br2) was passed through the solid under reduced pressure at room temperature. The reaction triggered by the process produced N6 alongside byproducts chloronitrene (ClN) and hydrazoic acid (HN3).

Solid electrolyte’s unique atomic structure helps next-generation batteries keep their cool

A team of UC Riverside engineers has discovered why a key solid-state battery material stays remarkably cool during operation—a breakthrough that could help make the next generation of lithium batteries safer and more powerful.

The study, published in PRX Energy, focused on a known as LLZTO—short for lithium lanthanum zirconium tantalum oxide. The substance is a promising solid electrolyte for solid-state , which could deliver higher energy density than today’s lithium-ion batteries while reducing overheating and fire risks.

The study’s title is “Origin of Intrinsically Low Thermal Conductivity in a Garnet-Type Solid Electrolyte: Linking Lattice and Ionic Dynamics with Thermal Transport.”

Hybrid metasurface modulates light at low voltages for energy-efficient optics

Metasurfaces are two-dimensional (2D), nanoengineered surfaces that interact strongly with electromagnetic waves and can control light with remarkable precision. These ultra-thin layers can be used to develop a wide range of advanced technologies, including optical photonic, sensing and communication systems.

Active metasurfaces, whose electromagnetic response can be dynamically tuned in , are particularly promising for advanced real-world applications, particularly for the development of reconfigurable antennas, highly sensitive sensors and other adaptive systems. These metasurfaces can also serve as optical modulators, devices that adjust the intensity or phase of light and thus enable the encoding of information onto light beams.

While engineers have introduced various -based optical modulators over the past few years, most devices developed so far require electrical signals to operate. This means that to noticeably change the optical response of the metasurfaces they are based on, users need to apply a strong electrical field to them.

New Mn-rich cathode could improve sustainability and stability of high-energy Li-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) remain the most widely used rechargeable batteries worldwide, powering most portable and consumer electronics. LiBs are also used to power most electric and hybrid vehicles, which are predicted to become increasingly widespread over the next decades.

Despite their good performance and large-scale adoption, LiBs still primarily rely on based on nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co). Yet the processes required to source both these metals are known to be destructive for , while also leaving a high carbon footprint and requiring significant water.

Moreover, most of the cobalt used worldwide originates from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where unsafe mining conditions and child labor are still common. Over the past decades, energy researchers have been trying to identify cathode materials that can be sourced safely and sustainably, while matching the performance of Ni and Co-based cathodes.

The quantum door mystery: Electrons that can’t find the exit

What happens when electrons leave a solid material? This seemingly simple phenomenon has, until now, eluded accurate theoretical description. In a new study, researchers have found the missing piece of the puzzle.

Imagine a frog sitting inside a box. The box has a large opening at a certain height. Can the frog escape? That depends on how much energy it has: if it can jump high enough, it could in principle make it out. But whether it actually succeeds is another question. The height of the jump alone isn’t enough—the frog also needs to jump through the opening.

A similar situation arises with inside a solid. When given a bit of extra energy—for example, by bombarding the material with additional electrons—they may be able to escape from the material.

Researchers discover spontaneous chirality in conjugated polymers

Chirality, a property where structures have a distinct left- or right-handedness, allows natural semiconductors to move charge and convert energy with high efficiency by controlling electron spin and the angular momentum of light. A new study has revealed that many conjugated polymers, long considered structurally neutral, can spontaneously twist into chiral shapes. This surprising behavior, overlooked for decades, could pave the way for development of a new class of energy-efficient electronics inspired by nature.

Webb sheds more light on composition of planetary debris around nearby white dwarf

Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have performed infrared observations of a planetary debris disk around a nearby white dwarf known as GD 362. Results of the new observations, presented October 8 on the arXiv preprint server, yield important insights into the chemical composition of this disk.

White dwarfs (WDs) are stellar cores left behind after a star has exhausted its nuclear fuel. Due to their high gravity, they are known to have atmospheres of either pure hydrogen or pure helium.

However, there exists a small fraction of WDs that shows traces of heavier elements, and they are believed to be accreting planetary material. Studies of this material around WDs, which often forms dust disks, is essential to improving our knowledge of how planets form and evolve.

Scientists Forge New “Superalloy” That Could Revolutionize Jet Engines and Power Plants

A newly developed material with exceptional high-temperature resistance shows strong promise for use in energy-efficient aircraft turbines. Metals that can endure extremely high temperatures are essential for technologies such as aircraft engines, gas turbines, and X-ray equipment. Among the most

Quantum mechanics trumps the second law of thermodynamics at the atomic scale

Two physicists at the University of Stuttgart have proven that the Carnot principle, a central law of thermodynamics, does not apply to objects on the atomic scale whose physical properties are linked (so-called correlated objects). This discovery could, for example, advance the development of tiny, energy-efficient quantum motors. The derivation has been published in the journal Science Advances.

Low-power MoS₂-based microwave transmitter could advance communications

To further advance wireless communication systems, electronics engineers have been trying to develop new electronic circuits that operate in the microwave frequency range (1–300 GHz), while also losing little energy while transmitting signals. Ideally, these circuits should also be more compact than existing solutions, as this would help to reduce the overall size of communication systems.

Most of the microwaves integrated in current communication systems are made of bulk materials, such as silicon or gallium arsenide. While these circuits have achieved good results so far, both their size and have proved to be difficult to reduce further.

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconducting materials, which are made up of a single atomic layer, could overcome the limitations of bulk materials, as they are both thinner and exhibit advantageous electrical properties. Among these materials, (MoS₂), has been found to be particularly promising for the development of circuits and other components for communication systems.

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