Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are known as forever chemicals because of their extreme persistence. These compounds have useful properties including durability and waterproofing, so they’re commonly used in consumer products like food packaging and cosmetics, as well as industrial processes. But PFAS’ potential negative impacts on human health are driving the search for potentially safer substitutes. Now, researchers publishing in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology propose alternatives for many applications.

Potential: Perovskite solar film could turn almost any surface into a green energy producer. 

Problem: It has so far proved too difficult to scale up production – primarily because it’s tough to prevent defects in such a thin material.   

Solution: Queen Mary scientists are developing in-situ optical analysis to provide fast accurate data for quality control and to continuously improve Power Roll’s manufacturing process. This will enable extremely thin, lightweight and flexible perovskite solar film to be produced at scale – taking perovskite from concept to reality.  

Innovation: Queen Mary’s Dr Stoichko Dimitrov was the first to develop portable in-situ optical analysis technology for enhancing printed photovoltaic perovskite materials. Power Roll will be the first to apply the technology in an industrial setting. 

Scientists from Finland, USA, UAE, and Thailand find AI responses to cancer-related questions not so reliable particularly in languages other than English.