Observing the ultrafast electrical charging of liquids

Results extend applicability to diverse systems, from biological membranes to next-generation energy storage devices

29-Apr-2025 - Charged surfaces in contact with liquids – such as biological cell walls or battery electrodes – attract oppositely charged ions from the liquid. This creates two distinct charged regions: the surface itself and a counter-charged region in the liquid: The so-called electrical double layer. While ...

Revolution in lithium mining?

New membrane discovery makes possible cleaner lithium extraction

18-Mar-2025 - Researchers have developed a new process for sustainable lithium extraction, which could help to address the growing global demand for the metals used in electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage. Current ways of getting lithium are bad for the environment and more sustainable ...

Green hydrogen economy: Evonik is building a plant for anion exchange membranes

Pilot plant for production of anion exchange membranes in Marl to start operation at the end of 2025

28-Feb-2025 - Evonik is building a pilot plant in Marl, Germany, for the production of its innovative and high-performance anion exchange membrane (AEM). Developed by Evonik the membrane is marketed under the name DURAION®. A central element in AEM water electrolysis, DURAION® membranes enable the cost ...

Fraunhofer ISE Demonstrates Ultrafine Transport Layers for Electrolyzers

27-Feb-2025 - Proton exchange membranes (PEM) are one of the most promising technologies for the production of green hydrogen by electrolysis. To reduce the material and manufacturing costs for PEM electrolyzers, the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE is researching scalable production ...

Sustainable chemistry: Researchers develop method to reduce carbon footprint of chemical industry

An efficient way to hydrogenate nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds

09-Oct-2024 - Successful reduction of the chemical manufacturing industry’s environmental impact relies on finding a greener way to make the chemical building blocks for common and massively consumed compounds. It’s no secret manufacturing processes have some of the most impactful and intense effects on the ...

Filtering with mussel power

Nanomembrane allows efficient sieving of ions from liquids

27-Sep-2024 - Filters play an important role in many areas of life - from coffee filters to the purification of liquids. Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have now produced a filter made of a novel, mussel-like material. The filter, which is only around 20 millionths of a millimeter ...

Environmentally friendly and cost-effective electrolysers thanks to new MEA

Up to 95 percent less iridium, no PFAS: Spin-off elementarhy achieves first successes

11-Jul-2024 - A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) developed at the Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) in Greifswald, Germany can save up to 95 percent of the rare metal iridium in electrolysers. The technology also eliminates the use of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFAS), making ...

New carbon nitride membrane revolutionizes lithium extraction from salt lakes

Innovative design with bio-inspired enhancements significantly outperforms traditional polymer membranes

19-Jun-2024 - In a major breakthrough for lithium recovery technologies, researchers from the Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, together with collaborators, have developed a crystalline carbon nitride membrane that could transform the lithium ...

PFAS-free polymer membranes for semiconductor processing

Membrane production with REACH-compliant solvents

04-Jun-2024 - Due to their stability and resistance to water and grease, PFAS chemicals (short for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are used in a wide range industries, but they are harmful to health and the environment. Membranes containing PFAS are used in many semiconductor manufacturing processes, for ...

Longer-lasting and more sustainable green hydrogen production

The findings impact the ability to achieve a lasting and sustainable hydrogen-based energy economy

30-Apr-2024 - Researchers led by Ryuhei Nakamura at the RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science (CSRS) in Japan have improved on their green and sustainable method of extracting hydrogen from water by using a custom-made catalyst for the chemical reaction. Published in Nature Catalysis, the study details ...