Latest news with #carbonnanotubes
Sustainability Times
04-07-2025
- Science
- Sustainability Times
'This Defies Everything We Knew': Sun-Powered Sponge Turns Saltwater Into Freshwater Without Using a Single Watt of Electricity
IN A NUTSHELL 🌊 Researchers developed a sponge-like aerogel that transforms seawater into freshwater using only sunlight. that transforms seawater into freshwater using only sunlight. ☀️ This innovative technology provides a sustainable and low-energy solution for desalination , addressing global water scarcity. , addressing global water scarcity. 🔬 The aerogel features microscopic air pockets and is created from a paste of carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofibers. and is created from a paste of carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofibers. 🌍 The material's scalability and efficiency offer a promising path for widespread implementation, potentially benefiting millions worldwide. Our planet, though abundant in water, faces a daunting challenge: the overwhelming majority of it is too salty for human consumption. In a world where freshwater resources are becoming increasingly scarce, innovative solutions are desperately needed. Enter a groundbreaking technology developed by researchers at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This innovation, a sponge-like aerogel material, offers a promising path to low-energy, sustainable desalination by transforming seawater into drinkable freshwater using nothing more than the power of sunlight. As global water scarcity becomes an ever-pressing issue, the development of such technologies could prove vital for our future. Material with Tiny Air Pockets Our planet is abundant in water, yet most of it is too salty for human use. With the global population on the rise and freshwater resources dwindling, the need for effective desalination technology has never been more critical. Traditional desalination plants, while effective, require substantial amounts of energy, posing significant environmental challenges. This new development involves a sponge-like aerogel material with microscopic air pockets capable of converting saltwater into freshwater using only sunlight and a simple plastic cover. This innovative approach is not only energy-efficient but also environmentally responsible, providing a potential solution to global water scarcity. The material, an aerogel as opposed to a hydrogel, is more rigid, allowing for efficient movement of water vapor. Created from a paste of carbon nanotubes and cellulose nanofibers, it is 3D printed layer by layer, forming uniform vertical holes just 20 micrometers wide. This unique structure is what enables the aerogel to effectively transform salty seawater into drinkable water. 'America's First Nuclear Reactor in 50 Years': This Ultra-Compact Power Source Will Deliver Electricity Where No Grid Can Reach Shows Promise in Testing The aerogel's efficiency remains consistent regardless of its size, an important factor for scalability. Researchers tested square pieces of the material ranging from 0.4 inches to 3 inches wide, finding that the evaporation rate of water was equally efficient across all sizes. This consistency is crucial for scaling up the technology to meet larger demands. In practical testing, the aerogel was placed in a cup of seawater, covered with a curved plastic lid, and left in natural sunlight. The sun heats the material, causing water to evaporate while leaving salt behind. The resulting clean water vapor condenses on the plastic cover, eventually dripping into a container as fresh water. After six hours of sunlight exposure, this simple setup produced approximately 3 tablespoons of fresh, drinkable water. While this amount may seem small, the scalability of the technique holds promise for broader applications. According to researcher Xi Shen, the aerogel allows full-capacity desalination at any size, presenting a simple and scalable solution for energy-free desalination. 'Dirty Water, Clean Power': New Tech Breakthrough Lets Electrolyzers Produce Hydrogen Without Needing Pure Water Sources Global Implications and Future Prospects Desalination is essential for the approximately 300 million people across 150 countries who rely on it for their daily water needs. As water scarcity continues to intensify, innovations like the aerogel material are crucial. Solar-powered desalination techniques have been gaining traction in recent years, with notable advancements from institutions like MIT, which developed a system operating in sync with the sun's intensity. This new technology could play a significant role in alleviating global water shortages, providing a sustainable source of drinking water without the environmental impact of traditional methods. By harnessing the power of the sun, this aerogel material exemplifies the potential of renewable energy solutions in addressing pressing global challenges. As researchers continue to refine and scale this technology, the possibility of widespread implementation grows. The aerogel's ability to efficiently desalinate water at any size creates opportunities for diverse applications, from small-scale personal use to large-scale municipal systems. 'Carbon Transfer Achieved at Sea': Shanghai Stuns the World With First-Ever Ship-to-Ship CO2 Operation in Open Waters Challenges and the Road Ahead While the aerogel material demonstrates significant potential, challenges remain in terms of widespread adoption and integration into existing water systems. Scaling the technology for mass production and ensuring its economic viability are key hurdles that researchers must overcome. Additionally, continued research is needed to optimize the material's efficiency and durability, ensuring it can withstand prolonged exposure to sunlight and various environmental conditions. As the technology evolves, collaboration between researchers, governments, and industries will be essential to facilitate its adoption and maximize its impact. Despite these challenges, the aerogel material represents a promising step forward in the quest for sustainable water solutions. Its innovative design and reliance on renewable energy sources make it a compelling option for addressing global water shortages in an environmentally friendly manner. As we look to the future, the success of this technology could inspire further innovations in the field of water purification. How might this aerogel material transform our understanding of water resources and our ability to harness nature's power for sustainable solutions? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.6/5 (24)
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers make breakthrough that could change electric vehicles forever: 'This technology overcomes the shortcomings'
A team of researchers has developed a high-performance supercapacitor that overcomes the traditional limitations of energy density through the use of carbon nanotubes and conductive polymers. Supercapacitors have the ability to charge and deliver large amounts of energy quickly, and they are resilient enough to survive millions of charge and discharge cycles without much degradation. However, they have less energy density than conventional batteries, which means they're not useful over long periods of time without recharging. This has limited their use in practical applications, such as electric vehicles and drones, according to the National Research Council of Science and Technology in a report shared by TechXplore. Scott Donne, a supercapacitor and battery material researcher at the University of Newcastle in Australia, clarified where supercapacitors stand in comparison to other technologies. "You've got capacitors with high power but low energy; fuel cells with high energy but low power; and batteries sitting in the middle — which is why they are the most popular of the three," Donne told Chemistry World. Now, researchers led by Dr. Bon-Cheol Ku and Dr. Seo Gyun Kim of the Carbon Composite Materials Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology and Professor Yuanzhe Piao of Seoul National University have discovered a way to improve the energy density and power delivery of supercapacitors through the use of new materials. The combination of highly conductive single-walled carbon nanotubes and polyaniline polymer created a sophisticated fiber structure that lets their new supercapacitor store more energy while being able to release it at a faster rate, the report explained. "This technology overcomes the shortcomings of supercapacitors by using single-walled carbon nanotubes and conductive polymers," said Dr. Bon-Cheol Ku. Tests have shown that it maintains stable performance, even after 100,000 charge and discharge cycles, and that it's durable enough to function in high-voltage applications. This opens up the possibility for use in electric vehicles, where it could replace or complement existing lithium-ion batteries. The technology provides efficient power delivery along with fast charging capabilities that could improve overall EV range and performance. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. With a boost in efficiency and performance, these new supercapacitors could increase the appeal of EVs and help shift the tide away from gas-guzzling alternatives that burn dirty fuels. These composite fiber structures of the CNT-PANI design also provide high mechanical flexibility, which means they could be rolled and folded, according to the report. In the study, published in the journal Composites Part B: Engineering and shared by ScienceDirect, data showed that the cells maintained 100% retention, even after being folded 180 degrees. This resilience has helped the researchers create thin film-like structures, which could further expand supercapacitor use in next-generation electronics, such as wearables. The addition of low-cost polymers has also helped them lower production costs and create a plan for mass production across a variety of applications, paving the way for commercialization. "We will continue to develop and industrialize ultra-high-performance carbon fibers based on carbon nanotubes," said Dr. Bon-Cheol Ku. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
15-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Researchers make breakthrough that could change electric vehicles forever: 'This technology overcomes the shortcomings'
A team of researchers has developed a high-performance supercapacitor that overcomes the traditional limitations of energy density through the use of carbon nanotubes and conductive polymers. Supercapacitors have the ability to charge and deliver large amounts of energy quickly, and they are resilient enough to survive millions of charge and discharge cycles without much degradation. However, they have less energy density than conventional batteries, which means they're not useful over long periods of time without recharging. This has limited their use in practical applications, such as electric vehicles and drones, according to the National Research Council of Science and Technology in a report shared by TechXplore. Scott Donne, a supercapacitor and battery material researcher at the University of Newcastle in Australia, clarified where supercapacitors stand in comparison to other technologies. "You've got capacitors with high power but low energy; fuel cells with high energy but low power; and batteries sitting in the middle — which is why they are the most popular of the three," Donne told Chemistry World. Now, researchers led by Dr. Bon-Cheol Ku and Dr. Seo Gyun Kim of the Carbon Composite Materials Research Center at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology and Professor Yuanzhe Piao of Seoul National University have discovered a way to improve the energy density and power delivery of supercapacitors through the use of new materials. The combination of highly conductive single-walled carbon nanotubes and polyaniline polymer created a sophisticated fiber structure that lets their new supercapacitor store more energy while being able to release it at a faster rate, the report explained. "This technology overcomes the shortcomings of supercapacitors by using single-walled carbon nanotubes and conductive polymers," said Dr. Bon-Cheol Ku. Tests have shown that it maintains stable performance, even after 100,000 charge and discharge cycles, and that it's durable enough to function in high-voltage applications. This opens up the possibility for use in electric vehicles, where it could replace or complement existing lithium-ion batteries. The technology provides efficient power delivery along with fast charging capabilities that could improve overall EV range and performance. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. With a boost in efficiency and performance, these new supercapacitors could increase the appeal of EVs and help shift the tide away from gas-guzzling alternatives that burn dirty fuels. These composite fiber structures of the CNT-PANI design also provide high mechanical flexibility, which means they could be rolled and folded, according to the report. In the study, published in the journal Composites Part B: Engineering and shared by ScienceDirect, data showed that the cells maintained 100% retention, even after being folded 180 degrees. This resilience has helped the researchers create thin film-like structures, which could further expand supercapacitor use in next-generation electronics, such as wearables. The addition of low-cost polymers has also helped them lower production costs and create a plan for mass production across a variety of applications, paving the way for commercialization. "We will continue to develop and industrialize ultra-high-performance carbon fibers based on carbon nanotubes," said Dr. Bon-Cheol Ku. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
