A research team from the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) has recently achieved a significant scientific breakthrough. Researchers have successfully used mechanical stretching technology to dynamically control the emission colour of gallium nitride (GaN) material from "ultraviolet (UV) to blue light." This technological breakthrough provides a new semiconductor material control solution for future advanced power transistors, optoelectronic components, radio frequency components, and micro-LED displays.

A study published in Biochar reports a sustainable strategy for improving zinc-iodine batteries by turning biomass-derived materials into a functional coating for battery separators. The research team developed a nitrogen and phosphorus co-doped porous carbon, made from chitin and phytic acid, that helps address several major barriers facing zinc-iodine battery technology, including poor iodine utilization, polyiodide “shuttling,” slow reaction kinetics, and zinc dendrite growth.

This document evaluates the transient stability and technical impact of integrating stand-alone battery energy storage systems (BESS) into Ecuador’s National Interconnected System. A 10 MW vanadium redox flow battery is modeled and simulated through electromagnetic transient analysis developed in the DIgSILENT PowerFactory simulation software. Voltage restoration and energy recovery during temporary faults are evaluated at dispatch levels of 20% and 60%.

This winter, people in Trondheim have caught glimpses of a boat that seems to fly over the water out on the fjord. Many have also taken part in test trips. NTNU researchers have investigated what it will take for people to trust a boat that runs almost without a crew on board.  

Steel & recycled concrete composite slabs with equivalent, and in some cases superior, performances compared to traditional ones: this is the outcome of the SARCOS (Steel And Recycled COncrete Slab) project, conducted by a joint research team from the University of Cagliari and Politecnico di Milano, funded by the PRIN2022 call of the Italian Ministry of University and Research.

Arsenic contamination in water remains a serious public health challenge in many parts of the world, especially in regions where groundwater is widely used for drinking and irrigation. A study published in Biochar reports an eco-friendly adsorbent made from biochar and laterite minerals that can efficiently remove both major forms of arsenic from water while remaining regenerable and safe for disposal.

A review highlights how modified biochar can capture and break down humic acid, a key precursor of harmful disinfection byproducts in drinking water treatment