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BRIEFS
A new electrode design for lithium-ion batteries could potentially reduce the charging time from hours to minutes by replacing the
conventional graphite electrode with a network of tin-oxide nanoparticles. Researchers at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.,
performed experiments with a “porous interconnected” tin-oxide based anode, which has nearly twice the theoretical charging
capacity of graphite. The experimental anode can be charged in 30 minutes and still have a capacity of 430 milliamp hours per gram
(mAh g−1), which is greater than the theoretical maximum capacity for graphite when charged slowly over 10 hours. .
Cansawdust
run yourcar?
Researchers at the University of
Leuven’s Centre for Surface Chemistry
and Catalysis, Belgium, successfully con-
verted sawdust into building blocks for
gasoline. Using a new chemical process,
cellulose in sawdust was converted into
hydrocarbon chains. These hydrocar-
bons can be used as an additive in gaso-
line or as a component in plastics.
“At the molecular level, cellulose
contains strong carbon chains. We
sought to conserve these chains, but
drop the oxygen bonded to them, which
is undesirable in high-grade gasoline.
Our researcher Beau Op de Beeck de-
veloped a new method to derive these
hydrocarbon chains from cellulose,” ex-
plains professor Bert Sels. The result is an
intermediary product that requires one
last simple step to become fully distilled
gasoline, says Sels. “Our product offers
an intermediate solution for as long as
our automobiles run on liquid gasoline.
It can be used as a green additive—a re-
placement for a portion of traditionally
refined gasoline.” For more information:
Bert Sels, ,
Heat-reflectivebuilding
materialsavesenergy
Stanford University, Calif., engi-
neers invented a material designed to
help cool buildings. The heart of the
invention is an ultrathin, multilayered
material that handles light, both invis-
ible and visible, in a new way. The nov-
el material, in addition to dealing with
infrared light, is also a highly efficient
mirror that reflects virtually all of the
incoming sunlight that strikes it. The re-
sult is referred to as photonic radiative
cooling—a one-two punch that offloads
infrared heat from within a building
while reflecting the sunlight that would
otherwise warm it up.
The coating radiates heat-bear-
ing infrared light directly into space
and sends it away from buildings at the
precise frequency that allows it to pass
through the atmosphere without warm-
ing the air. Together, the radiation and
reflection make the photonic radiative
cooler material nearly 9°F lower in tem-
perature than the surrounding air. The
material is just 1.8 µm thick and is made
of seven layers of silicon dioxide and haf-
niumoxide on top of a thin layer of silver.
For more information: Professor Shanhui
Fan, 650.724.4759,
.
A new chemical process converts cellulose in sawdust into hydrocarbon chains.
Courtesy of Shutterstock.
ENERGY TRENDS
A newmaterial reflects incoming sunlight
while dispersing heat from inside the
building directly into space as infrared
radiation (represented by reddish rays).
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