Volume 2 Issue 6, June 2017

Smart technologies in the energy sector could benefit from social science research — and vice versa.

Technological innovation, often induced by national and subnational policies, can be a key driver of global climate and energy policy ambition and action. A better understanding of the technology–politics feedback link can help to further increase ambitions.

The presence of polysulfides in Li–S batteries significantly affects battery operation, but their presence and reaction mechanisms are not well understood. Now, an operando X-ray diffraction approach is used to directly observe these polysulfides, offering insights on their formation and evolution.

The environmental impact of electric vehicles depends on the kind of energy used to charge them. They are typically charged at peak times, when extra fossil fuels are needed to meet energy demands. A study shows that e-mails targeting electric vehicle charging for new owners can be effective for promoting greener charging behaviours.

As storage technology progresses it offers a range of solutions and services to users and the electricity industry. A new study explores whether or not this will eventually lead to self-sufficient consumers and spell the end of the networks as we know them.

Methane is an abundant energy source that is used for power generation in thermal power plants via combustion, but direct conversion to electricity in fuel cells remains challenging. Now, a microbial fuel cell is demonstrated to efficiently convert methane directly to current by careful selection of a consortium of microorganisms.

Nanostructured black silicon can be used as a photoelectrode for solar-driven water splitting, but its high surface area can increase charge recombination and accelerate corrosion. Here the authors show that a thin, conformal film of TiO₂ can increase both the photocurrent and the stability of black silicon.

High shares of variable energy sources will require different operational modes for dispatchable generation. Schill et al. explore the impact of increased wind and solar power on the German electricity system and find that the number of start-ups grows by 81% while its cost increases by 119% by 2030.

The conversion efficiency of organic solar cells suffers from their low open-circuit voltages. Here, the authors expose a link between electron-vibrations coupling and non-radiative recombinations, derive a new limit for the efficiency of organic solar cells, and redefine their optimal optical gap.

The presence of polysulfides in Li–S batteries is highly relevant to the battery performance, but their formation and evolution during battery operation are not well understood. Here the authors design an operando X-ray diffraction experiment to reveal their reaction mechanisms.

Development of electrocatalysts with high stability and activity is a critical challenge. Here, the authors combine simulations with in situ experiments to identify principles underlying simultaneously enhanced stability and activity of ultrathin (hydroxy)oxide films on transition metal substrates.

Electric vehicles are only as green as the electricity used to charge them, but owners tend to charge vehicles at times of peak use. This study shows that tailored emails increase engagement with information about time-of-use tariffs, with maximal effects within the first three months of ownership.