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Fuel from the Sun: Insight into Electrode Performance

The mechanisms limiting the performance of hematite electrodes—potentially key components in producing fuel from the sun—have been clarified in interface-specific studies under realistic operating conditions, bringing us a step closer to storing solar energy in chemical fuels. Read more »PPT-icon-35 PDF-icon-35

A Path to a Game-Changing Battery Electrode

If you add more lithium to the positive electrode of a lithium-ion battery, it can store much more charge in the same amount of space, theoretically powering an electric car 30 to 50 percent farther between charges. But these lithium-rich cathodes quickly lose voltage, and years of research have not been able to pin down why—until now. Read more »PPT-icon-35

Ingredients for Life Revealed in Meteorites That Fell to Earth

Two wayward space rocks, which separately crashed to Earth in 1998 after circulating in our solar system’s asteroid belt for billions of years, share something else in common: the ingredients for life. They are the first meteorites found to contain both liquid water and a mix of complex organic compounds such as hydrocarbons and amino acids. Read more »

Enhancing the Efficiency of Organic Photovoltaics by a Photoactive Molecular Mediator

In the search for high-efficiency organic solar cells, additives often play an important role in improving the film morphology. Liquid additives, while often effective, evaporate or migrate over time. Herein, Liu et al. report a solid photoactive molecular mediator that could be employed to replace the liquid additives to tune the morphology of bulk heterojunction films for improved device performance. Read more »

Ferromagnetism Emerges to Alleviate Polar Mismatch

A polar mismatch between nonferromagnetic materials drives an electronic reconstruction in which interfacial ferromagnetism is induced. The emergence of such functionality at interfaces could enable new types of electronics for a range of applications, including logic, memory, sensing, and more. Read more »PPT-icon-35

X-Rays Provide Key Insights on Path to Lithium-Rich Battery Electrode

If you add more lithium to the positive electrode of a lithium-ion battery, it can store much more charge in the same amount of space, theoretically powering an electric car 30 to 50 percent farther between charges. But these lithium-rich cathodes quickly lose voltage, and years of research have not been able to pin down why—until now. Read more »

User Forum Series on the ALS Upgrade

On December 6, the second in a series of online ALS user forums was held on the Advanced Light Source Upgrade (ALS-U) project. Presentations included an overview of the project and its current status, progress on designs for concept beamlines and optics, and ideas for the future of earth and environmental sciences research at the ALS. The next forum will be held Monday, January 22 at 10 a.m. PT. Read more »

Studying Gas Mask Filters So People Can Breathe Easier

Scientists have put the x-ray spotlight on composite materials in respirators used by the military, police, and first responders. The results provide reassuring news about the effectiveness of current filters and provide fundamental information that could lead to more advanced gas masks as well as protective gear for civilian applications. Read more »

Former ALS Operations Deputy “Banda” Receives Berkeley Lab Citation

Banda, ALS senior advisor and former ALS operations deputy, was presented the Berkeley Lab Citation at the 2017 Director’s Awards for Exceptional Achievement ceremony. The Citation recognizes extraordinary achievements in broad categories of science and operations, with special focus on service to the Lab and/or the DOE national lab complex. Read more »