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MIT researchers propose mechanism for overcoming bottleneck in electroreduction of CO2

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Researchers at MIT have identified , quantified, and modeled a major reason for the poor performance of electroreduction processes to convert CO 2 to fuel or other useful chemicals. The findings could spur progress on developing a variety of materials and designs for electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion systems. —Soto et al.

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MIT researchers develop optimized sulfidation separation process for rare earth and other key metals

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New processing methods developed by MIT researchers could help ease looming shortages of the essential metals that power everything from phones to automotive batteries by making it easier to separate these rare metals from mining ores and recycled materials. —Antoine Allanore. Cite this article Stinn, C., Allanore, A.

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Researchers from MIT and Sun Catalytix develop an artificial leaf for solar water splitting to produce hydrogen and oxygen

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Researchers led by MIT professor Daniel Nocera have produced an “artificial leaf”—a solar water-splitting cell producing hydrogen and oxygen that operates in near-neutral pH conditions, both with and without connecting wires. (B) MS signal and SFE values for a wireless configuration. Reece et al. Click to enlarge.

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MIT Researchers Identify New Low-Cost Water-Splitting Catalyst

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Daniel Nocera and his associates have found another formulation, based on inexpensive and widely available materials, that can efficiently catalyze the splitting of water molecules using electricity. Earlier post.). Earlier post.). Materials for the new catalyst are even more abundant and inexpensive than those required for the first.

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MIT Researchers Engineer Viruses as Scaffolds for Photocatalytic Water Oxidation

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A team of MIT researchers, led by Dr. Angela Belcher, has engineered a common bacteriophage virus (M13) to function as a scaffold to mediate the co-assembly of zinc porphyrins (photosensitizer) and iridium oxide hydrosol clusters (catalyst) for visible light-driven water oxidation. Source: Nam et al., Supplementary materials.

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MIT Energy Initiative announces 2014 seed grant awards

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The MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI) announced its latest round of seed grants to support early-stage innovative energy projects. Past themes have included topics as diverse as the role of big data and the energy-water nexus. A total of more than $1.6 million was awarded to 11 projects, each lasting up to two years.

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MIT researchers develop oxygen permeable membrane that converts CO2 to CO

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MIT researchers have developed a new system that could potentially be used for converting power plant emissions of carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide, and thence into useful fuels for cars, trucks, and planes, as well as into chemical feedstocks for a wide variety of products. Ghoniem’s lab is exploring some of these options.

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