Texas student emphasizes his education and research program on the electrical properties of polymers. …
… “He has focused on polymers used in semiconductors, among other applications. His research includes measuring electronic properties of semiconducting polymers for use in solar cells.” …
Via University of Texas at Dallas: Research Track.
Prakash Sista, UT Grad student.
Montana State University graduating chemical engineers Chandra Macauley, Kathryn Morrissey, and Nicole Schonenbach receive National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships, which provide them $30,000 a year, plus tuition and fees, to support three years of graduate education.
These students have already pursued green chemistry and sustainability challenges in their education. …
Via Montana State University: National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships.
MIT researcher Daniel Nocera discusses the results of his team’s artificial leaf at the 241st National Meeting of the American Chemical Society. The research team has created an advanced solar cell, based on bio-mimicry of the photosynthesis process used by plants.
The leaf-like cell chemically splits water into hydrogen and oxygen for storage in a fuel cell for supplying power needs. The Nocera solar leaf is constructed of inexpensive nickel and cobalt catalysts and material.
The chemical reaction does not require extreme conditions of temperature or pressure to achieve its photosynthesis efficiency. Nocera’s team will continue to seek methods to increase the solar conversion efficiency. …
… “The device bears no resemblance to Mother Nature's counterparts on oaks, maples and other green plants, which scientists have used as the model for their efforts to develop this new genre of solar cells.
About the shape of a poker card but thinner, the device is fashioned from silicon, electronics and catalysts, substances that accelerate chemical reactions that otherwise would not occur, or would run slowly.
Placed in a single gallon of water in a bright sunlight, the device could produce enough electricity to supply a house in a developing country with electricity for a day, Nocera said.
It does so by splitting water into its two components, hydrogen and oxygen.
The hydrogen and oxygen gases would be stored in a fuel cell, which uses those two materials to produce electricity, located either on top of the house or beside it.” …
Via Eureka Alert: Artificial Leaves, ACS Press Release.
American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute.
Daniel Nocera at Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Daniel Nocera research team.
California moves the market with its green initiative for the chemical industry. …
… “companies selling products in the state will be required to identify specific chemicals in those products and reduce or eliminate any that are harmful. “ …
Via Financial Times: Green Chemistry.
University of Delaware chemical engineering researcher integrates biomaterials into new applications for renewable energy. …
… “Wool's research centers on the use of soybean oil and chicken feathers in new bio-based composite materials, including computer circuit boards and hurricane-resistant roofs.
Wool is using the bio-based materials in support of several renewable energy projects, such as wind, solar, hydrogen storage and energy efficient housing, as practical solutions to global warming.” …
Via University of Delaware: ACS Green Chemistry Award.
Professor Richard Wool.
Chicken feathers power hydrogen economy.
NSF will fund research into the transport properties of liquids with renewable energy applications. …
… “Dr. Castejon and his research group study molecular transport occurrences in ionic liquids, which are important environmentally friendly solvents. The liquids are useful in a variety of industrial applications such as fuel cells, solar cells, capacitors and batteries.” …
Via Wilkes University: Research Project Funded.
Dr. Castejon at Wilkes, research programs.
Dow Chemical and BASF collaborate to develop efficient process for propylene oxide production and receive Presidential Green Chemistry Award for their efforts. The two companies are strong competitors, yet have joined forces to reduce waste and energy in the synthesis of this key chemical building block. …
… “The Dow-BASF innovation offers distinct economic and environmental benefits when compared to conventional propylene oxide (PO) process technologies.
A joint study conducted by the two companies in 2007 using BASF’s Eco-Efficiency Analysis tool revealed the new HPPO process reduces wastewater by 70 to 80 percent and energy use by approximately 35 percent, compared with existing PO technology.
HPPO technology is also more environmentally friendly because no by-products are produced besides water.
In addition, PO plants using the HPPO technology require up to 25 percent less capital to build than conventional technologies, as they have reduced infrastructure, a smaller physical footprint and simpler raw materials integration.
The two companies successfully started up the first commercial-scale HPPO production plant in 2008 at BASF’s Antwerp, Belgium, facility.
SCG-Dow Group is building a second plant based on this technology, which is scheduled to begin production in Map Ta Phut, Thailand, in 2011. ” …
Via Dow Chemical: Green Chemistry Award (Link).
Stanford Univ C3Nano team wins the MIT Clean Energy Prize for their carbon nanotechnology based solution for thin film electrodes which permits sunlight to flow through. …
… “The team of PhD chemical engineering students has developed a carbon nano-based transparent electrode that will increase the efficiency of thin film photovoltaic solar panels by allowing up to 12 percent more sunlight to penetrate the panels.
The electrode – a conductor through which electric current is passed – is also less expensive, more lightweight and flexible than electrodes made out of conventional materials. ” …
Via NStar: Electrode Design to Improve Solar Panel Performance.
In the clean energy competition, C3Nano has developed a new transparent electrode material that they believe will make photovoltaic solar panels both cheaper and more efficient.
The MIT Clean Energy competition: MIT CEP is organized and run by students enrolled in MIT’s science and engineering schools and the MIT Sloan School of Management.
C3Nano team developed proprietary transparent electrode that outperforms leading transparent electrodes and delivers efficiency of photovoltaics by 1%.
... "The catalyst requires no additional organic additives or solvents, can operate in neutral water (even if it's dirty) and works with sea water -- meaning we could literally be looking at oceans of cheap energy. " ...Via Popular Science: Cheap New Metal Catalyst
... "EPA would be instructed to create a public database containing information about each chemical and EPA actions on that chemical, and the legislation would restrict which data can be claimed by industry to be confidential. The bill also seeks to promote green chemistry by establishing a program to develop incentives for companies to make and use safer alternatives to some chemicals. " ...Via New York Times: Chemicals Reform Bill
Continue reading "Green Chemistry Strategy Aligned with Safe Chemicals Act" »
... "The higher molecular weight of the polymers, reflecting the creation of longer chains of the polymers, has a major benefit in increasing current density in plastic solar cells by as much as a factor of more than four. " ...Via Science Daily: Organic Solar Cells
... "Chempol MPS is an innovative, Sefose-based alkyd resin technology that enables formulation of paints and coatings with less than half the Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, of traditional, solvent-borne alkyd coatings. Sefose technology from P&G is prepared from natural, renewable feedstocks in a patented, solventless process. Chempol MPS alkyd resins are specially-formulated to perform like traditional, petroleum-based alkyd resins while delivering both an improved environmental profile and an enhanced consumer usage experience. " ...Via Procter & Gamble: Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award