Liu and colleagues made a device from protein nanowires that generates electricity from moisture in the air.
Built / tested: Air-gen
As reported in: Liu, Gao, Ward et al. (2020). Power generation from ambient humidity using protein nanowires. Nature. doi:10.1038/s41586-020-2010-9
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Schroeder and colleagues built a soft, flexible power source from stacked hydrogels modelled on the eel's electric organ.
As reported in: Schroeder, Guha, Lamoureux et al. (2017). An electric-eel-inspired soft power source from stacked hydrogels. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature24670
Liu and colleagues paired water splitting with bacteria to turn CO2 into fuels and biomass more efficiently than plants.
Built / tested: bionic leaf
As reported in: Liu, Colón, Ziesack et al. (2016). Water splitting–biosynthetic system with CO <sub>2</sub> reduction efficiencies exceeding photosynthesis. Science. doi:10.1126/science.aaf5039
Caesium-containing triple cation perovskite solar cells with improved stability, reproducibility and efficiency.
Built / tested: solar cells
As reported in: Saliba, Matsui, Seo et al. (2016). Cesium-containing triple cation perovskite solar cells: improved stability, reproducibility and high efficiency. Energy & Environmental Science. doi:10.1039/c5ee03874j
Siria and colleagues measured very large osmotic energy conversion through a single boron nitride nanotube.
As reported in: Siria, Poncharal, Biance et al. (2013). Giant osmotic energy conversion measured in a single transmembrane boron nitride nanotube. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature11876
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Efficient hybrid solar cells based on meso-superstructured organometal halide perovskites.
Built / tested: solar cells
As reported in: Lee, Teuscher, Miyasaka et al. (2012). Efficient Hybrid Solar Cells Based on Meso-Superstructured Organometal Halide Perovskites. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1228604
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Lee and colleagues showed films of M13 phage produce electricity when pressed.
Built / tested: phage generator
As reported in: Lee, Zhang, Zueger et al. (2012). Virus-based piezoelectric energy generation. Nature Nanotechnology. doi:10.1038/nnano.2012.69
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Reece, Nocera and colleagues made a wireless silicon "artificial leaf" with cheap catalysts that splits water in sunlight.
Built / tested: artificial leaf
As reported in: Reece, Hamel, Sung et al. (2011). Wireless Solar Water Splitting Using Silicon-Based Semiconductors and Earth-Abundant Catalysts. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1209816
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Design principles for oxygen-reduction activity on perovskite oxide catalysts for fuel cells and metal-air batteries.
As reported in: Suntivich, Gasteiger, Yabuuchi et al. (2011). Design principles for oxygen-reduction activity on perovskite oxide catalysts for fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Nature Chemistry. doi:10.1038/nchem.1069
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A review of technologies to produce, process and extract biofuels and co-products from microalgae.
As reported in: Brennan, Owende (2010). Biofuels from microalgae—A review of technologies for production, processing, and extractions of biofuels and co-products. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2009.10.009
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Gutfleisch and colleagues reviewed magnetic materials, including rare-earth magnets, for efficient energy technology.
As reported in: Gutfleisch, Willard, Brück et al. (2010). Magnetic Materials and Devices for the 21st Century: Stronger, Lighter, and More Energy Efficient. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.201002180
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Weiland reviewed the state and future of biogas production from organic waste.
Built / tested: biogas plants
As reported in: Weiland (2009). Biogas production: current state and perspectives. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology. doi:10.1007/s00253-009-2246-7
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Stamenkovic and colleagues showed a Pt3Ni surface greatly improves the oxygen reaction used in fuel cells.
As reported in: Stamenkovic, Fowler, Mun et al. (2007). Improved Oxygen Reduction Activity on Pt <sub>3</sub> Ni(111) via Increased Surface Site Availability. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1135941
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Turner reviewed routes to producing hydrogen sustainably.
As reported in: Turner (2004). Sustainable Hydrogen Production. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1103197
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Schlapbach and Züttel reviewed materials for storing hydrogen in vehicles.
As reported in: Schlapbach, Züttel (2001). Hydrogen-storage materials for mobile applications. Nature. doi:10.1038/35104634
Melis and colleagues got green algae to produce hydrogen gas for days by starving them of sulfur.
Built / tested: biohydrogen
As reported in: Melis, Zhang, Forestier et al. (2000). Sustained Photobiological Hydrogen Gas Production upon Reversible Inactivation of Oxygen Evolution in the Green Alga <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> . Plant Physiology. doi:10.1104/pp.122.1.127
Khaselev and Turner built a combined solar cell and electrode that split water at record efficiency.
Built / tested: photoelectrochemical cell
As reported in: Khaselev, Turner (1998). A Monolithic Photovoltaic-Photoelectrochemical Device for Hydrogen Production via Water Splitting. Science. doi:10.1126/science.280.5362.425
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Sagawa and colleagues introduced Nd-Fe-B, now the strongest common permanent magnet.
Built / tested: permanent magnets
As reported in: Sagawa, Fujimura, Togawa et al. (1984). New material for permanent magnets on a base of Nd and Fe (invited). Journal of Applied Physics. doi:10.1063/1.333572
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Fujishima and Honda showed sunlight on a titanium dioxide electrode could split water.
As reported in: FUJISHIMA, HONDA (1972). Electrochemical Photolysis of Water at a Semiconductor Electrode. Nature. doi:10.1038/238037a0
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