A novel electrolyte technology that overcomes the persistent limitations of aqueous batteries has been developed by a Korean research team. The team, led by Professor Hoseok Park of the Department of Chemical Engineering, has succeeded in dramatically improving the cycle life and capacity of aqueous batteries simply by adding a small amount of a special material to the electrolyte. The findings were published in Nano-Micro Letters.

As global warming intensifies, window technologies that can automatically regulate indoor light and humidity in response to environmental changes could help reduce building energy consumption and support the development of low-carbon cities.

Even though retired lithium-ion batteries often retain up to 80% of their capacity, significant economic value and climate benefits are currently being lost. A new article in Nature Reviews Clean Technology, involving researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, shows that the lack of reliable battery data is the main barrier to efficient battery reuse and recycling.

Vertical farming could free up thousands of hectares of UK farmland, but the environmental benefits depend on how that land is reused, according to new research led by the University of Surrey.

Can pure water store electrical energy? A research team led by Dr. Vasily Artemov within the Cluster of Excellence "BlueMat—Water-Driven Materials" at Hamburg University of Technology has now shown that it can. By confining water within nanometer-sized channels in clay minerals, the researchers created a supercapacitor capable of efficiently storing and transporting electrical charge.

The critical minerals that power lithium-ion batteries are in high demand and short supply, especially for the U.S., which must rely on importing resources such as nickel and cobalt to manufacture the technology.

Consumers often assume that choosing more environmentally friendly products helps reduce environmental harm. New research suggests that reality may be more complicated. The findings are published in the journal Marketing Science.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which use microorganisms to generate electricity from organic waste, are emerging as a tool in the transition to cleaner energy systems and for the treatment of wastewater, according to a review of recent research published in the International Journal of Environment and Waste Management.