Virtually all electronics today rely on silicon computer chips, but this darling of the tech industry has drawbacks. Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory may have found a pathway to a cheaper, lighter and more efficient replacement. Today, silicon computer chips are produced through a complicated, multi-step process that utilizes extremely harsh chemicals to etch… Keep reading →
Photovoltaic (PV) energy, the conversion of sunlight to electricity, was discovered in the late 1830s, followed by usable PV cells developed in the early 1950s. Despite its history, only recently has the U.S. solar market really started to take off. Driven by the volatility of energy prices from traditional sources such as coal, gas and… Keep reading →
Late last year, Dr. Lon Bell retired as chief technology officer of Amerigon, but the only energy he seems unable to save is his own. He has recently started as strategic and technical advisor to thermoelectrics startup Alphabet Energy.
An industry pioneer, Bell founded Amerigon in 1991, and the company developed and commercialized the world’s first thermoelectric-based cooled and heated seat. Keep reading →
