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Oleophobic hydrophobic magnetic sponge selectively soaks up oil, sparing water and wildlife

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A Northwestern Engineering-led team has developed a highly porous smart sponge that selectively soaks up oil in water. Oil spill clean-up is an expensive and complicated process that often harms marine life and further damages the environment. Skimmers don’t work in rough waters or with thin layers of oil. —Vikas Nandwana.

Water 243
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Researchers split seawater without pre-treatment to produce green hydrogen

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The use of vast amounts of high-purity water for hydrogen production may aggravate the shortage of freshwater resources. This is achieved by introducing a Lewis acid layer (for example, Cr 2 O 3 ) on transition metal oxide catalysts to dynamically split water molecules and capture hydroxyl anions. Resources Guo, J., Zheng, Y.,

Hydrogen 345
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ICL researchers develop new membrane-based system for cheap, efficiently made biofuels

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In contrast to water, the extractant does not form a heterogeneous azeotrope with n-butanol, and the overall energy consumption of for n-butanol production is 3.9 This is achieved by combining a spray-coated thin-film composite membrane with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol as an extractant. MJ kg -1 , substantially less than other recovery processes (17.0–29.4

Cheap 321
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Sunfire, Fraunhofer, partners launch project to scale alkaline AEM electrolysis

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Technologies such as pressurized alkaline or high-temperature electrolysis are already being installed in industrial environments. In addition, AEM technology is characterized by its cheap and non-critical materials—similar to AEL technology. Another approach that shows promise is the anion exchange membrane (AEM) technology.

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An abundant and inexpensive water-splitting photocatalyst with low toxicity active in visible light

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Researchers at Japan’s National Institute for Materials Science (NIMS) have discovered a new photocatalyst, Sn 3 O 4 , which facilitates the production of hydrogen fuel from water, using sunlight as an energy source. Sn 3 O 4 has great potential as an abundant, cheap, and environmentally benign solar-energy conversion catalyst.

Water 170
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BNL Researchers develop low-cost, efficient, non-noble metal electrocatalyst to produce hydrogen from water

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James Muckerman at the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) have developed a new class of high-activity, low-cost, non-noble metal electrocatalyst that generates hydrogen gas from water. The result becomes this well-balanced Goldilocks compound—just right. —James Muckerman.

Low Cost 281
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KU Leuven team creates solar panel that produces hydrogen from moisture in air

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If that electric power is used to split the water into hydrogen gas and oxygen, you lose a lot of energy. —Grey hydrogen gas, in other words—not a big win for the climate or the environment. We’re using cheap raw materials and don't need precious metals or other expensive components. —Johan Martens.

Solar 321