electricity

A team of scientists from Northwestern University have found a crystal form of the chemical compound tin selenide to be the best material to use to covert waste heat to useful electricity.  Tin selenide poorly conducts heat making it the most effective thermoelectric material to date.

A group of Chinese scientists created electricity with a drop of saltwater being drug across a layer of graphene. When saltwater contacts graphene, an equal charge is created on both sides.

University of California Berkeley researchers have demonstrated that the flow of cells into formations can be controlled by an electrical current. The researchers were able to direct the cells into the shape of the University’s mascot, a bear.

Testing has begun on solar cells that contain a layer of carbon nanotubes in hopes to increase the efficiency of solar cells by capturing more of the sun’s rays that usually go to waste.