Political Ecology

Battery-powered electric cars (BEVs) play a key role in future mobility scenarios. However, little is known about the environmental impacts of the production, use and disposal of the lithium ion (Li-ion) battery. This makes it difficult to compare the environmental impacts of BEVs with those of internal combustion engine cars (ICEVs). Consequently, a detailed lifecycle [...]

The team, led by Ifor Samuel at the University of St Andrews in the UK, synthesised tree-like organic semiconducting dendrimer molecules with a cationic cyanine-based core associated with an iodide anion. The organic semiconductor and iodide are blended together into a layer between two contacts.Dendrimer molecule and photobattery deviceThe team used dendrimer molecules with a [...]

To demonstrate, the researchers created a series of batteries out of slices of boiled Desiree potatoes about the size of a standard mobile phone, though they say the type and size of potato slice do not determine its power.The device had the same basic components as conventional batteries, consisting of two electrodes separated by an [...]

The catalyst consists of nanoparticles of a gold and platinum alloy; in testing it was able to return 77 percent of the energy used to charge the battery as electricity when discharged. That’s up from the previously published record of about 70 percent, the researchers say. The work, which was reported online this week in [...]

The technology is centered on a simple premise — using giant wind turbines to compress and pump air into huge undersea Energy Bags™ anchored to the seabed — or geological formations where deep water is not available. The high pressure air would be expanded in special turbo-generator sets to provide electricity as required — not [...]

To solve this “last mile” problem without building additional power lines to every home, EEG-energy’s plan is to have the people come to the power. A customer pays $27 for a one-year subscription, and 40 cents when swapping a used lead-acid battery for a charged one. Upon subscription, the company wires the customer’s home for [...]

Whitacre’s sodium-ion cells are similar in some ways to lithium-ion cells–the type used in portable electronics and in some electric vehicles. In both types of cell, ions are shuttled between the battery’s positive and negative electrodes during charging and discharging, with an electrolyte serving as the medium for moving those ions. But because sodium is [...]