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Professor Michael De Volder tells us how a Friday afternoon experiment led to research on a new low-cost battery design that can be charged directly by light without a separate solar cell or power converter.“One area we have made clear progress in is improving the stability of the batteries as they are charged and discharged, bringing it closer to …

COP26 - the United Nations climate conference - starts in Glasgow in just a few days. The Office of External Affairs and Communications spoke with some of the University's researchers and asked them what they want to see at COP26, what some of the biggest challenges are in getting to zero carbon, and what gives them hope.Dr Emily Shuckburgh, Direct…

Researchers have identified a key mechanism responsible for the lower efficiencies of organic solar cells and shown a way that this hurdle might be overcome.The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge, identified a loss pathway in organic solar cells which makes them less efficient than silicon-based cells at converting sunlight into electr…

Four researchers from the University of Cambridge are among the leading figures in engineering and technology elected as Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering.Professors Holger Babinsky, Andrea Ferrari, Rob Miller and Rachel Oliver have been elected in this year’s intake, which consists of 60 Fellows, four International Fellows and five Honor…

A study this month suggests that human activity and land use in areas surrounding lakes drive significant microplastic pollution in lake water.Researchers, led by Dr Andrew Tanentzap in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Plant Sciences, found that the concentration of microparticles - plastics and fibres - in lake water quadrupled in areas…

Researchers have made a tiny camera, held together with ‘molecular glue’ that allows them to observe chemical reactions in real time.The device, made by a team from the University of Cambridge, combines tiny semiconductor nanocrystals called quantum dots and gold nanoparticles using molecular glue called cucurbituril (CB). When added to water with …

Four University of Cambridge researchers – Professors Shankar Balasubramanian, David Klenerman, Suchitra Sebastian and Jack Thorne – have been recognised by the Breakthrough Prize Foundation for their outstanding scientific achievements.Prof Suchitra Sebastian (Cavendish Laboratory) and Prof Jack Thorne (Dept of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical St…

Against a global backdrop of rising energy demands and finite resources, Rihab Khalid set out to understand how buildings can become more energy efficient. As a result, she now advocates for building and energy policies that consider cultural differences and address the needs of women.When I was first introduced to energy-efficient architecture I f…

University announces launch of Aviation Impact Accelerator (AIA) – a team of experts in aerospace, economics, policy, and climate science, who are building an interactive simulator to help achieve net zero flight.The simulator will capture the whole aviation sector, from the sources of renewable electricity and raw materials to the production and t…

A new paper by leading UK scientists sets out key solutions and policy actions that should be implemented now, as well as priority research areas for the next decade, if the UK is to reach its net zero target by 2050.Achieving this target will require a mix of technological, societal and nature-based solutions working together to enable systemic ch…

The Centre for Sustainable Road Freight – a collaboration between the University of Cambridge, Heriot-Watt and Westminster Universities and a consortium of industry partners – is part of a team that has been awarded government funding to design a large-scale electric road freight system demonstrator.The feasibility study is part of £20 million fund…

Energy Transitions IRC has awarded small grants to six collaborative, multi-disciplinary projects each of value up to £2k, involving researchers working in different disciplines, on the theme of energy transitions. Financial support has been gratefully provided by the Isaac Newton Trust and Energy Policy Research Group (EPRG).The projects supported…

Researchers have developed a simple lab-based technique that allows them to look inside lithium-ion batteries and follow lithium ions moving in real time as the batteries charge and discharge, something which has not been possible until now.Using the low-cost technique, the University of Cambridge researchers identified the speed-limiting processes…

The Körber European Science Prize 2021, worth one million euros, is to be awarded to University of Cambridge chemist Professor Clare Grey, one of the UK’s leading battery researchers.Professor Clare Grey,Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, has been recognised by the Körber European Science for her work in battery storage. The Körber Foundation ha…

The achievements and contributions of individuals from the University of Cambridge and its Colleges have been recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list.Dr Shaun Fitzgerald, Director at the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge, and Fellow of Girton College, has received an OBE for services to the COVID-19 Response.Sir John Aston, Har…