electrcitiy
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Silicon nanowire could convert light into electrical energy
Nanoelectonic devices have to have juice too, and thanks to a team at Harvard University, extraordinarily minuscule gizmos of the future could be powered via a "silicon nanowire that can convert light into electrical energy." The device itself is said to look much like a typical coaxial cable, but it's around 100,000 times smaller and shuns metal in favor of "silicon with three different types of conductivity arranged as layered shells." Reportedly, a single strand can output "up to 200-picowatts," which won't move much, but it could be just enough to run ultralow power electronics that could be worn on, or even inside, the body. Hopefully they'll have this all ironed out by the time we need a pacemaker.[Image courtesy of Harvard]
Altair Nanotechnologies, AES collaborate on energy storage products
After sinking $3 million into a company, what better to do than utilize the synergies and compliments between the two and crank out new products to better our lives? AES is apparently digging said mantra and looking to profit on its strategic investment in Altair Nanotechnologies by announcing a "joint development and equipment purchase agreement." Essentially, the two will reportedly work together to jointly "develop a suite of energy storage solutions," some of which are expected to deliver over 1MW of power and 500KWh of energy. Unsurprisingly, Altairnano is supposedly working with AES to apply these products and systems at "strategic points within the electrical grid to more efficiently deal with congestion, peak energy consumption, and real-time fluctuations in electricity demand." Interestingly, little is being said thus far about the actual design of the unit, but a prototype is slated to be completed by the year's end.[Via CNET]
SolCool showcases new solar-powered air conditioners
Not exactly fitting the "startup" criteria any longer, SolCool is apparently freshening up its product lines by offering a snazzy new solar-powered air conditioner. Aimed at cooling smaller areas than its two-ton hybrid chiller, the 24- x 24- x 48-inch V4 actually touts cooling and heating abilities, runs on a 24-volt system, and can supposedly kick out comfortable air for "up to 24 hours" once fully charged by the sun. Additionally, the device will be equipped with two DC compressors capable of producing up to 18,000 BTUs, a ducted ventilation blower, lightweight / rugged skin, condensate management tank, remote control thermostat, and it can even be configured for use in the US or UK. Unfortunately, details specifications and pricing information hasn't been divulged to the general public just yet, but considering that Spring has now sprung, you should probably expect a bit more promotional information to surface relatively soon.[Via Gadgets-Weblog]
Modded flashlight doubles as cellphone charger
Although most modern phones can go quite a few hours sans an AC outlet, we understand the need for juice in unexpected emergencies, and while the solar-powered charger does a fair job at high noon, you'll probably need a different approach come nightfall. Tackling two issues in one fell swoop is the cellphone-charging flashlight mod, which not only provides a beacon of light for those dim excursions, but also offers up hand crank recharging abilities for your fading mobile. Of course, hacking your flashlight to pull double duty as a manually powered charger is a bit more complex than just picking up a hamster or bicycle-powered option, but you've got to admit, crafting a makeshift charger with spliced cables and a soldering iron is totally MacGyver-approved. So if you're interested in giving yourself (and your handset) a bit longer life when robotic overlords eventually invade our domiciles, be sure to hit the read link for a video demonstration, and do mind the managerial cat on duty.[Thanks, Kipkay]
