A team of scientists at Linköping University in Sweden has made a groundbreaking discovery in the production of green hydrogen, a promising renewable energy source. By developing a new triple-layer material, they have supercharged the energy yield by an impressive 800%.

Hydrogen produced from water is becoming increasingly important as the world shifts away from fossil fuels. The EU plans to ban new petrol and diesel car sales by 2035, making electric motors more common in vehicles. However, heavy trucks, ships, and aircraft require alternative energy sources, where hydrogen comes into play.

The researchers have previously shown that cubic silicon carbide (3C-SiC) has beneficial properties for facilitating the reaction where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen. Now, they’ve further developed a combined material consisting of three layers: a layer of 3C-SiC, a layer of cobalt oxide, and a catalyst material that helps to split water.

The new material, known as Ni(OH)2/Co3O4/3C-SiC, has demonstrated eight times better performance than pure cubic silicon carbide for splitting water into hydrogen. When sunlight hits the material, electric charges are generated, which are then used to split water. By combining the three layers, the researchers have improved the ability to separate positive and negative charges, making the splitting of water more effective.

The distinction between “grey” and “green” hydrogen is crucial in this context. Almost all hydrogen present on the market is “grey” hydrogen produced from fossil fuels, with significant environmental consequences. In contrast, “green” hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity as a source of energy.

Linköping University researchers aim to utilize only solar energy to drive the photochemical reaction to produce “green” hydrogen. Currently, materials under development have an efficiency of between 1 and 3 per cent, but for commercialization, the target is 10% efficiency. The research team estimates that it may take around five to ten years to develop materials that reach this coveted limit.

The study has been funded by several organizations, including the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT), the Olle Engkvists Stiftelse, the ÅForsk Foundation, the Carl Tryggers Stiftelse, and through the Swedish Government Strategic Research Area in Advanced Functional Materials (AFM) at Linköping University.

This breakthrough has the potential to significantly impact the renewable energy landscape, making green hydrogen production more efficient and cost-effective. As researchers continue to push the boundaries of this technology, we can expect even more exciting developments in the future.

As scientists continue to push the boundaries of energy efficiency, researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) have made a groundbreaking discovery that has the potential to revolutionize various industries. The team has successfully demonstrated an innovative method to control magnetism in materials using an electric field, rather than relying on traditional magnetic fields. This breakthrough has far-reaching implications for sustainable technologies, data storage, and medical devices.

The key lies in materials known as magnetoelectrics, where the electrical and magnetic properties are intricately linked. These special compounds enable researchers to control magnetism by manipulating electric fields, paving the way for super-energy-efficient memory and computing devices.

One such magnetoelectric material is copper oxyselenide (Cu2OSeO3), a crystal with unique properties. At low temperatures, the atomic spins within this material arrange themselves into complex magnetic textures, forming structures like helices and cones. These patterns are much larger than the underlying atomic lattice and can be easily manipulated using an electric field.

The researchers at PSI used the Swiss Spallation Neutron Source (SINQ) to investigate the magnetic structures within copper oxyselenide. By applying a high electric field, they were able to nudge and reorient these magnetic textures in a process known as magnetoelectric deflection. This is the first time that such large-scale magnetic textures have been continuously reoriented using an electric field.

The team found that the magnetic structures responded in three distinct ways depending on the strength of the electric field: low fields caused gentle deflections, medium fields brought about complex non-linear behavior, and high fields resulted in dramatic 90-degree flips in the direction of propagation. Each of these regimes presents unique signatures that could be integrated into sensing and storage devices.

This discovery has significant implications for various industries, including sustainable technologies, data storage, and medical devices. The magnetoelectric deflection response offers a powerful new tool to control magnetism without relying on energy-intensive magnetic fields, making it an exciting prospect for applications in green technology.

As scientists continue to explore the full potential of this breakthrough, we may see significant advancements in various fields, ultimately leading to more efficient and sustainable technologies. The possibilities are vast, and researchers at PSI are just beginning to scratch the surface of what can be achieved with magnetoelectric materials.

Ultra-compact lenses have revolutionized the field of optics, enabling the creation of smaller, more efficient, and cost-effective optical devices. These innovative lenses, known as metalenses, are flat, ultra-thin, and lightweight, making them ideal for a wide range of applications, from camera technology to next-generation microscopy tools.

The key to this breakthrough lies in the use of special metasurfaces composed of nanostructures that modify the direction of light. By harnessing the power of nonlinear optics, researchers can now convert infrared light into visible radiation, opening up new possibilities for authentication, security features, and advanced imaging techniques.

Professor Rachel Grange at ETH Zurich has developed a novel process that enables the fabrication of lithium niobate metalenses using chemical synthesis and precision nanoengineering. This innovative technique allows for mass production, cost-effectiveness, and faster fabrication than other methods, making it an exciting development in the field of optics.

The potential applications of ultra-compact lenses are vast, from counterfeit-proof banknotes to advanced microscopy tools that can reveal new details about materials and structures. The use of simple camera detectors to convert infrared light into visible radiation could revolutionize sensing technologies, while reducing equipment needs for deep-UV light patterning in electronics fabrication.

As researchers continue to explore the possibilities offered by ultra-compact lenses, it’s clear that we’ve only scratched the surface of what this technology can achieve. With its potential to transform industries and improve our understanding of the world around us, ultra-compact lenses are an exciting development that promises to unlock new possibilities for light.