The introduction next year of the Euro 6 exhaust-gas standard means that catalytic converters will become more expensive, above all for diesel vehicles. Empa is working on a catalytic substrate made of ceramic ...

Chemistry - Materials Science

Apr 25, 2013 4.8 / 5 (4) 2

Nanotechnology is continually increasing in terms of research, economic and social significance. However, working with synthetic nanomaterials also conceals risks. Empa has produced a study for the Federal ...

Nanotechnology - Bio & Medicine

Feb 25, 2013 3 / 5 (2) 0

In a remarkable feat, scientists at Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, have developed thin film solar cells on flexible polymer foils with a new record efficiency of ...

Technology - Energy & Green Tech

Jan 17, 2013 4.9 / 5 (50) 50 |

To convert waste heat from solid oxide fuel cells into electricity is the goal of the "HITTEC" project. Researchers from Empa, in a strategic partnership with Hexis AG, are developing a thermoelectric converter ...

Technology - Energy & Green Tech

Dec 10, 2012 5 / 5 (6) 0

Hydrogen production by solar water splitting in photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) has long been considered the holy grail of sustainable energy research. Iron oxide is a promising electrode material. An international ...

Space & Earth - Astronomy

Oct 29, 2012 5 / 5 (3) 1 |

(Phys.org)—Swiss cell biologists at Empa want to "tune" implants such that they can better carry out their tasks in the human body. The surface of the implant is the key to success. Together with the Fraunhofer ...

Chemistry - Materials Science

Oct 04, 2012 not rated yet 0

(Phys.org)—First tops, then flops. That is one way of summing up the history of biofuels so far. A new study led by Empa gives an up-to-date picture of the ecobalance of various biofuels and their production ...

Technology - Energy & Green Tech

Sep 24, 2012 5 / 5 (11) 38 |

Windows are a high-tech venture. Empa researcher Matthias Koebel's "Winsmart" project has garnered the attention of EU experts, recently being recognized as the best in its class and receiving about €3.8 ...

Technology - Engineering

Sep 03, 2012 5 / 5 (3) 0

(Phys.org) -- Old buildings are beautiful – and hard to insulate. Empa and the Swiss render manufacturer Fixit AG together developed a new Aerogel-based plaster that provides twice the insulation of ...

Technology - Engineering

Aug 21, 2012 5 / 5 (3) 2

Since June 2012, it is official: The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified diesel soot as a lung carcinogen. Artur Braun, a physicist at Empa and an X-ray spectroscopy expert, has made crucial contributions ...

Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry

Aug 06, 2012 not rated yet 0

(Phys.org) -- A study conducted by researchers from the ETH and Empa has come to the conclusion that large sized wind turbines produce "greener" electric power than small ones. Environmental benefits have ...

Technology - Energy & Green Tech

Jul 12, 2012 5 / 5 (3) 0

(Phys.org) -- In order to test the new "smart" protective vest, an experimenter wearing one has jogged several kilometers on the treadmill in a climate-controlled chamber at Empa. During the jog he lost 544 ...

Technology - Engineering

May 14, 2012 5 / 5 (2) 0 |