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.