Latest news with #DalianInstituteofChemicalPhysics
NDTV
6 days ago
- Science
- NDTV
Chinese Scientists Turn CO2 Into Food In Major Scientific Breakthrough
In a remarkable scientific breakthrough, Chinese researchers have developed a method to convert methanol into white sugar, bypassing the need to grow sugar cane or sugar beets. Using a biotransformation system, the team claims that captured carbon dioxide can be converted into food. The team at the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology has developed an in vitro biotransformation (ivBT) system that synthesises sucrose from methanol, a low-carbon chemical that is derived from industrial waste or carbon dioxide. By utilising enzymes to convert methanol, researchers have presented a sustainable alternative to traditional agriculture. "Artificial conversion of CO2 into food and chemicals offers a promising strategy to address both environmental and population-related challenges while contributing to carbon neutrality," the study published in the Science Bulletin highlighted. The Tianjin researchers built on the work of scientists at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, who developed a low-temperature method to convert carbon dioxide into methanol in 2021. The team managed to achieve an impressive conversion rate of 86 per cent, which marks a significant milestone in the field of biomanufacturing, according to a report in the South China Morning Post. The system not only synthesises sucrose but also produces starch, using less energy than traditional methods. "In vitro biotransformation (ivBT) has emerged as a highly promising platform for sustainable biomanufacturing. In this work, we successfully designed and implemented an [ivBT] system for sucrose synthesis from low-carbon molecules," the researchers said. Based on the initial success, the researchers adapted the ivBT system to convert a variety of compounds, including fructose, amylose, amylopectin, cellobiose and cellooligosaccharides. Excessive CO2 emissions have caused a global surface temperature increase of at least 1.1 degrees Celsius. With the global population expected to grow to 10 billion by the end of the century, the demand for food is expected to double. However, the chemical reduction of carbon dioxide has opened up the possibility of using the captured greenhouse gas as a raw material for the sustainable biosynthesis of various chemicals.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists take major step forward on quest to create next-gen solar panels — here's how it could revolutionize the energy industry
Solar energy technology continues to advance, with researchers constantly discovering new and improved ways to harness the power of the sun. One of the most promising solar solutions recently discovered involves a bifacial linker, which is a compound designed to better hold two materials together. As TechXplore reported, researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences published their study findings in the journal Advanced Materials. They introduced potassium benzyl(trifluoro)borate (BnBF3K) as a bifacial linker to improve the adhesion between solar cell surfaces. This compound enhances adhesion at the SnO2-perovskite interface to address a common issue with solar cells. Because of their high power density, perovskite solar cells have demonstrated great potential for powering portable electronics. However, the materials they're made of aren't flexible enough to warrant their commercial use. A primary cause of this mechanical inflexibility is poor adhesion between the perovskite absorber layer and the flexible substrate parts of solar cells. Therefore, scientists have been searching for better ways to boost adhesion between these parts. The researchers discovered that BnBF3K improves perovskite devices' mechanical stability while also optimizing energy level alignment and reducing surface defects. They achieved high and even record levels of efficiency in their testing of the new technology for flexible perovskite solar modules and cells. "The flexible modules exhibit outstanding mechanical flexibility, retaining 96.6% of their initial efficiency after 6,000 bending cycles, demonstrating their suitability for various practical applications," the researchers wrote. This research is significant because it furthers the work of scientists advancing solar technology worldwide. Because of these researchers' work, the issues that once limited perovskite solar cells could become a thing of the past. Installing solar panels on your home or joining a community solar program is among the most effective ways to save money on personal energy costs and curb our planet's steady overheating. If you were going to buy an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Good driving range Low sticker price High-tech features Cheap maintenance Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Each published study sharing solar technology advancements is a step toward achieving a cleaner, greener Earth with less dirty energy pollution. Other encouraging scientific breakthroughs include solar panel systems that can increase energy production and panels that boost efficiency compared to past models. Concentrator photovoltaics are returning to the solar energy spotlight, and perovskite solar cells are more affordable than traditional silicon cells. Combined, these efforts are helping us produce lower-cost, higher-efficiency solar energy to power our devices, homes, businesses, and infrastructure. With a growing body of research available to inspire innovative tech companies and investors, there is hope that clean solar energy production will become the sustainable standard of the future. 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
29-01-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
China's lithium-air battery breakthrough achieves 960-hour life, 95.8% efficiency
Lithium-air batteries, known for their potential to store far more energy than conventional lithium-ion batteries, have struggled with practical challenges like short lifespans and theoretical performance limits.A breakthrough by a Chinese research team introduces a soluble catalyst to the battery's electrolyte, serving as a redox mediator to enhance charge transport and prevent electrode Lithium-air (LiO2) batteries achieve a very low voltage of 0.52 V and exceptional cycling stability lasting over 960 hours. Additionally, a Li2O2 yield of up to 95.8 percent confirms the efficient and reversible formation and breakdown of Li2O2, with no side to a team at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), the innovation could pave the way for more viable, high-capacity energy storage solutions. Li-O2 batteries offer a different approach to energy storage compared to lithium-ion batteries. Instead of shuttling lithium ions between two electrodes, Li-O2 batteries use a metallic lithium ions disperse from the anode during discharge and go to the porous cathode, where they react with ambient oxygen to generate lithium peroxide (Li2O2). The process is reversed when charged: lithium ions return to the anode as metallic lithium and oxygen is liberated. Although this design has the potential to store a lot more energy, real-world obstacles have limited its is a significant problem since it slows down the essential reactions that produce and break down Li2O2. This compound's low conductivity and sluggish formation and breakdown lead to inefficiencies. Performance is further hampered by the cathode's pores, which frequently become clogged with reaction products. Moreover, the high voltages needed to generate oxygen can degrade the electrolyte and trigger unwanted side reactions. These problems result in significant performance loss, limiting the battery's lifespan to just a few charge/discharge these challenges is critical to realizing the promise of Li-O2 batteries as a superior energy storage solution, with ongoing research focusing on improving efficiency and durability. The research team has introduced a novel imidazole iodide salt, 1,3-dimethyl imidazolium iodide (DMII), as a catalyst and redox mediator to improve the performance and lifespan of lithium-air the discharge and charge operations, the salt's iodide ions (I−) can readily transition to I3− and back, exchanging electrons. This redox process lowers the cathode's overpotential, speeds up reactions, improves charge transport, and expands the battery's discharge ions, which have a special ring shape of three carbon and two nitrogen atoms that permit freely movable electrons, are also present in the DMII salt. By effectively "capturing" lithium ions during discharge and transferring them to oxygen at the cathode, these ions increase the efficiency of the by avoiding direct contact between the electrolyte and the lithium surface, DMI+ ions form a thin but incredibly stable interface film on the anode, protecting it. According to researchers, the electrochemical test cells showed remarkable results, including a very low overpotential of 0.52 V, outstanding cycle stability exceeding 960 hours, and the highly reversible formation and breakdown of lithium peroxide (Li2O2) with no undesired side reactions. The breakthrough, according to the team, represents a significant step toward long-lasting, high-capacity Li-O2 batteries. This stabilizes the anode and extends the battery's life by reducing electrolyte breakdown and adverse reactions. The details of the team's research were published in Wiley Online Journal.
