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Category: sustainability
Blue jean dye could make batteries greener
Sustainability is often described in shades of green, but the future of clean energy may also carry a hint of deep blue. Electric vehicles and energy storage systems could soon draw power from a familiar pigment found in denim.
Concordia researchers have found that indigo, the natural dye used to color fabrics for centuries, can help shape the future of safe and sustainable batteries. In a study published in Nature Communications, the team revealed that the common substance supports two essential reactions inside a solid-state battery at the same time. This behavior helps the battery hold more energy, cycle reliably and perform well even in cold conditions.
“We were excited to see that a natural molecule could guide the battery chemistry instead of disrupting it,” says Xia Li, the study’s lead author and associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering. “Indigo helps the battery work in a very steady and predictable way. That is important if we want greener materials to play a role in future energy systems.”
Global shift to sustainable pest management expected to yield long-term benefits
What would happen if farmers around the globe were to switch over to sustainable pest management? An international study headed by the University of Bonn and ETH Zurich focused on precisely this question. The study is based on assessments provided by more than 500 leading experts from around the world who work in various disciplines from ecology to economics.
‘Walking’ water discovery on 2D material could lead to better anti-icing coatings and energy materials
A surprising discovery about how water behaves on one of the world’s thinnest 2D materials could lead to major technological improvements, from better anti-icing coatings for aircraft and self-cleaning solar panels to next-generation lubricants and energy materials.
In a study published in Nature Communications, researchers from the University of Surrey and Graz University of Technology tested two ultra-thin sheet-like materials with a honeycomb structure— graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN). While graphene is electrically conductive—making it a key contender for future electronics, sensors and batteries—h-BN, often called “white graphite,” is a high-performance ceramic material and electrical insulator.
Precise catalyst design boosts hydrogen gas production efficiency and affordability
A recent advance in the science of hydrogen fuel production could enable higher output and more sustainable production of this renewable energy source, researchers with Stockholm’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology report.
The findings result from unprecedented atomic-scale observations of how catalysts perform in the slow and expensive process of water splitting, or breaking the bond of oxygen and hydrogen. Using a unique set-up, they were able to produce hydrogen gas at rates comparable to or faster than state-of-the-art conventional catalysts.
What’s more, the catalyst remained in good condition after extended operation—a positive sign for commercial viability.
Space debris poses growing threat, but new study suggests cleanup is feasible
High up in Earth’s orbit, millions of human-made objects large and small are flying at speeds of over 15,000 miles per hour. The objects, which range from inactive satellites to fragments of equipment resulting from explosions or collisions of previously launched rockets, are space debris, colloquially referred to as space junk. Sometimes the objects collide with each other, breaking into even smaller pieces.
No matter the size, all of this debris poses a problem. Flying at high speeds caused by prior launches or explosions, they create danger for operational satellites and spacecraft, which are vital for the efficacy of modern technologies like GPS, digital communication and weather forecasting. At orbital speeds, even tiny fragments can cause significant damage to operational equipment, endangering future space missions and the people who would participate in them.
“Even if a tiny, five-millimeter object hits a solar panel or a solar array of a satellite, it could break it,” says Assistant Professor Hao Chen, whose research involves space systems design. “And we have over 100 million objects smaller than one centimeter in orbit. So if you want to avoid a collision, you have to maneuver your spacecraft, which takes up fuel and is costly. Additionally, we have humans on the International Space Station who sometimes must go outside the spacecraft where the space debris can hit them too. It’s really dangerous.”
Bio-hybrid robots turn food waste into functional machines
EPFL scientists have integrated discarded crustacean shells into robotic devices, leveraging the strength and flexibility of natural materials for robotic applications.
Although many roboticists today turn to nature to inspire their designs, even bioinspired robots are usually fabricated from non-biological materials like metal, plastic and composites. But a new experimental robotic manipulator from the Computational Robot Design and Fabrication Lab (CREATE Lab) in EPFL’s School of Engineering turns this trend on its head: its main feature is a pair of langoustine abdomen exoskeletons.
Although it may look unusual, CREATE Lab head Josie Hughes explains that combining biological elements with synthetic components holds significant potential not only to enhance robotics, but also to support sustainable technology systems.
X-ray imaging reveals how silicon anodes maintain contact in all-solid-state batteries
All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs) using silicon (Si) anodes are among the most promising candidates for high-energy and long-lasting power sources, particularly for electric vehicles. Si can store more lithium than conventional graphite, but its volume expands by roughly 410% during charging. This swelling generates mechanical stress that cracks particles and weakens their contact with the solid electrolyte, disrupting the flow of ions and reducing efficiency.
To address this, a research group led by Professor Yuki Orikasa from the College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, along with Ms. Mao Matsumoto, a graduate student at the Graduate School of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University (at the time), and Dr. Akihisa Takeuchi from the Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute, used operando synchrotron X-ray tomography with nanometer resolution to observe what happens inside these batteries as they charge and discharge in real time.
Their paper is published in ACS Nano.
AI With Integrity: Leading Innovation Responsibly
• Ensuring ethical leadership at all levels.
Ethical considerations must be integrated into every phase of AI development—not added as an afterthought.
As AI transforms business, responsible leadership will unlock new possibilities. Responsible AI is not just about compliance—it is a strategic advantage that builds trust and drives sustainable growth in an era where technology should benefit every part of society. In domains such as supply chain management, local decisions can have global consequences. Ethical AI enables progress that stays true to shared values across all points of influence. Fair, transparent and accountable by design—this is how institutions can trust innovation to build smarter systems and a better world.