Unwanted blooms of Cladophora algae throughout the Baltic and in other parts of the world are not entirely without a positive side. A group of researchers at the Ångström Laboratory at Uppsala University have discovered that the distinctive cellulose nanostructure of these algae can serve as an effective coating substrate for use in environmentally [...]]]>

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Unwanted blooms of Cladophora algae throughout the Baltic and in other parts of the world are not entirely without a positive side. A group of researchers at the Ångström Laboratory at Uppsala University have discovered that the distinctive cellulose nanostructure of these algae can serve as an effective coating substrate for use in environmentally friendly batteries. The findings have been published in an article in Nano Letters.

“These algae has a special cellulose structure characterised by a very large surface area,” says Gustav Nyström, a doctoral student in nanotechnology and the first author of the article. “By coating this structure with a thin layer of conducting polymer, we have succeeded in producing a battery that weighs almost nothing and that has set new charge-time and capacity records for polymer-cellulose-based batteries.”

Despite extensive efforts in recent years to develop new cellulose-based coating substrates for battery applications, satisfactory charging performance proved difficult to obtain. However, nobody had tried using algal cellulose. Researcher Albert Mihranyan and Professor Maria Strømme at the Nanotechnology and Functional Materials Department of Engineering Sciences at the Ångström Laboratory had been investigating pharmaceutical applications of the cellulose from Cladophora algae for a number of years. This type of cellulose has a unique nanostructure, entirely different from that of terrestrial plants, that has been shown to function well as a thickening agent for pharmaceutical preparations and as a binder in foodstuffs. The possibility of energy-storage applications was raised in view of its large surface area.

“We have long hoped to find some sort of constructive use for the material from algae blooms and have now been shown this to be possible,” says Maria Strømme, Professor in Nanotechnology and leader of the research group. “The battery research has a genuinely interdisciplinary character and was initiated in collaboration with chemist professor Leif Nyholm. Cellulose pharmaceutics experts, battery chemists and nanotechnologists have all played essential roles in developing the new material.”

The article in Nano Letters, in effect, introduces an entirely new electrode material for energy storage applications, consisting of a nanostructure of algal cellulose coated with a 50 nm layer of polypyrrole. Batteries based on this material can store up to 600 mA per cm3, with only 6 per cent loss through 100 charging cycles.

“This creates new possibilities for large-scale production of environmentally friendly, cost-effective, lightweight energy storage systems,” says Maria Strømme.

“Our success in obtaining a much higher charge capacity than was previously possible with batteries based on advanced polymers is primarily due to the extreme thinness of the polymer layer,” says Gustav Nyström.

Source: Uppsala University

StableFlow Technology Key to Maximizing Efficiency in Large Power Generators

Wallingford CT based hydrogen-technology producer Proton Energy Systems (www.protonenergy.com) said today it earned a patent for its proprietary control system for regulating the purity and pressure of the hydrogen gas used to cool large electric power generators.

Proton’s StableFlow system is a breakthrough product for electric power [...]]]>

PPS

StableFlow Technology Key to Maximizing Efficiency in Large Power Generators

Wallingford CT based hydrogen-technology producer Proton Energy Systems (www.protonenergy.com) said today it earned a patent for its proprietary control system for regulating the purity and pressure of the hydrogen gas used to cool large electric power generators.

Proton’s StableFlow system is a breakthrough product for electric power generators that actively controls purity and dew point, monitors pressure and, enables more efficient power production while also enhancing capacity and generator life.

“We are pleased that the U.S Patent office has recognized the critical importance of the StableFlow hydrogen control system, which provides utilities the opportunity to improve the operating efficiency of their plants, creating major savings in fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions,” said Rob Friedland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Proton Energy Systems.

“Our mission at Proton Energy is to apply our advanced hydrogen technology in creative and practical ways to deliver the most reliability, durability and savings for our customers. With this patent, we are committed to sharing this value with additional partners throughout the world.”

With this latest achievement, Proton Energy continues to lead the market in hydrogen innovation. Proton Energy is the world’s leading supplier of onsite hydrogen generators utilizing proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology, and combining Proton’s HOGEN generators with the StableFlow system provides a utility with full control over its hydrogen generating system – maximizing efficiency, cost and safety. Proton’s StableFlow system can save most plants an average of one megawatt per hour in windage losses per generator. A megawatt of power production is equivalent to $50-$100 an hour in electricity revenue to the average power plant and is equivalent to one ton of CO2 reduction per hour in stack emissions. StableFlow provides efficiency improvements to a plant’s power generators that effects both fuel consumption and CO2 emissions providing the plant with a very attractive return on investment.

The issuance of this recent patent adds to Proton’s growing strength in the power industry and demonstrates its commitment to remaining a key industry supplier of innovative solutions. Proton Energy’s commitment to innovation has also been recognized with several recent Department of Defense projects, developing Regenerative Fuel Cell Systems for backup power and creating advanced fueling systems capable of sustaining a military fleet of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

For more information on Proton Energy Systems, visit www.ProtonEnergy.com .

About Proton Energy Systems

Proton Energy Systems designs and manufactures proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrochemical systems to make hydrogen from water in a zero pollution process producing safe, pure, reliable onsite hydrogen to meet today’s global hydrogen requirements. Proton Energy Systems has been developing and manufacturing world-class electrolysis systems since 1996, with more than 1500 units deployed world-wide, on every continent. With a reputation for building robust, reliable, and safe systems, federal, state, and commercial partners repeatedly seek the creative solutions that Proton Energy Systems has proven it is capable of delivering.

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that up to $85 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be awarded in early 2010 to support at least 50 early career researchers for five years at U.S. [...]]]> Obama Administration Announces $85 Million in Recovery Act Funding for Early Career Scientists’ Research

WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that up to $85 million in funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will be awarded in early 2010 to support at least 50 early career researchers for five years at U.S. academic institutions and DOE national laboratories.

Secretary Chu said,

This funding highlights the Administrations continued commitment to building the nation’s scientific workforce by attracting top emerging researchers to careers in vital areas of basic research. By investing in scientific researchers in their formative years, we can provide scientists with the resources to do some of their most exciting and productive work.

To be eligible for the competition, a researcher must be an untenured, tenure-track assistant professor at a U.S. academic institution or a full-time employee at a DOE national laboratory. The applicant must also have received a Ph.D. within the past ten years.

Each university award will be at least $150,000 per year for five years to support summer salary and other research expenses. For DOE national laboratories, awards will be at least $500,000 per year for five years to support year-round salary and expenses.

Early career researchers may apply to one of six Office of Science program offices: Advanced Scientific Computing Research; Biological and Environmental Research; Basic Energy Sciences; Fusion Energy Sciences; High Energy Physics; or Nuclear Physics. Proposed research topics must fall within the programmatic priorities of DOE’s Office of Science, which are provided in the program announcements. Funding will be competitively awarded on the basis of peer review.

Letters of intent will be due on August 1, 2009, and proposals will be due on September 1, 2009.

The two partners are to pool their expertise in this [...]]]> JUSUNG, one of the world’s leading suppliers of equipment for semi-conductor and thin-film technology manufacturers, and CEA LITEN (the Laboratory for Innovation in New Energy Technologies and Nanomaterials) have signed a Joint Development agreement for a two-year project to develop high-efficiency silicon solar cells (>20% efficiency).

The two partners are to pool their expertise in this technology: JUSUNG will contribute its experience in developing equipment specially designed for thin-film technology for solar cells and large-area LCDs, while CEA LITEN will bring its expertise in photovoltaic solar cells, micro- and nanotechnology and in nanomaterials. The aim of the partnership is to speed up development in the solar energy sector thanks to high productivity and improved cost control.

 Worth a total investment of around 7 million euros, this agreement will enable CEA LITEN and JUSUNG to rapidly develop and transfer to industry a new technology based on the concept of heterojunction* for the production of solar cells boasting efficiency of over 20 %. A new facility will shortly be developed at the INES (France’s National Solar Energy Institute), in the Savoie region, where CEA LITEN has brought together all its teams involved in research and development in the area of solar energy.

Yeong Gon Lee, Executive Vice-President of JUSUNG, stressed the importance of this partnership between his company and a European technology research center such as CEA, while Didier Marsacq, Director of CEA LITEN, spoke of the advantages of joining forces with an equipment manufacturer to speed up progress in research on high-efficiency silicon solar cells.

Since 2004, LITEN has been carrying out research on improving the efficiency of silicon photovoltaic cells. Its work has mainly focused on optimizing production processes used for solar cells made with multi-crystalline silicon and, more recently, on the introduction of new concepts based on micro- and nanotechnologies. This laboratory, which develops strong links with industry, boasts cutting-edge semi-industrial production facilities to rapidly transfer the technologies and processes developed.

Thanks to this research, CEA LITEN has built up expertise in developing solar cells with efficiency of approximately 17 % to 18 %, depending on the properties of the silicon used.

*Heterojunction : the use of 2 semiconductor materials (crystalline silicon and amorphous silicon) to obtain higher conversion efficiency for photovoltaic cells. Heterojunction requires more advanced and specialized technological development than homojunction. The latter, more conventional, technique is used to produce the photovoltaic effect by combining two surfaces made of the same material.