Little research has been done on comets and they still hold many secrets. One theory is that comets brought water (and thus possibly even life) to earth. Although space probes have been able to carry out isolated investigations, ...
Space Exploration
May 7, 2014
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A new, absorbable material from Empa wood research could be of assistance in future oil spill accidents: a chemically modified nanocellulose sponge. The light material absorbs the oil spill, remains floating on the surface ...
Materials Science
May 6, 2014
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Transparent conductive films are now an integral part of our everyday lives. Whether in smartphones, tablets, laptops, flat screens or (on a larger scale) in solar cells. Yet they are expensive and complex to manufacture. ...
Materials Science
Apr 29, 2014
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Researchers from Empa and ETH Zurich have succeeded for the first time to produce uniform antimony nanocrystals. Tested as components of laboratory batteries, these are able to store a large number of both lithium and sodium ...
Nanomaterials
Mar 18, 2014
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Researchers from Empa and ETH Zurich have succeeded in producing a prototype of a vibration-damping material that could change the world of mechanics forever. The material of the future is not only able to damp vibrations ...
Materials Science
Mar 5, 2014
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Water vapour generated by cooking, taking a shower or drying damp clothes can condense on cold walls, encouraging the growth of mildew and microbes. The company Sto AG, in collaboration with Empa, has developed a special ...
Engineering
Feb 3, 2014
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Empa has conducted an investigation to find out how much mercury energy-saving lamps contain and if this is within legal requirements. Altogether, 75 commercially available lamps were tested, with encouraging results – ...
Analytical Chemistry
Jan 31, 2014
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"Power to gas" is a key concept when it comes to storing alternative energy. This process converts short-term excess electricity from photovoltaic systems and wind turbines into hydrogen. Combined with the greenhouse gas ...
Materials Science
Jan 6, 2014
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Swiss scientists have developed a new technique for manufacturing high-efficiency, flexible, thin film solar cells from CIGS (copper indium gallium di-selenide) semiconductors. This has enabled them to achieve an efficiency ...
Energy & Green Tech
Nov 5, 2013
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The recent Empa spin-off Monolitix AG specialises in compliant mechanisms. These are frictionless and wear-free and are also lighter, more hygienic and cheaper than conventional joint mechanisms. They have an enormous range ...
Engineering
Oct 29, 2013
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