(July 23, 2015) Automakers
are looking for ways to improve their fleets’ average fuel efficiency, and scientists
may have a new way to help them. In a report in the journal ACS Applied
Materials & Interfaces, one team reports the development of a material that
could convert engine heat that’s otherwise wasted into electrical energy to
help keep a car running — and reduce the need for fuels. It could also have
applications in aerospace, manufacturing and other sectors.
In 2012, the Obama administration announced fuel-efficiency
standards that would require U.S. vehicles to average 54.5 miles per gallon by
2025. Improving gas mileage could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
global dependence on fossil fuels. One approach scientists are exploring to
help address these issues involves capturing waste heat from engines and other
power systems and turning it into electricity. Many compounds can do this but
are heavy, costly, toxic or only operate at high temperatures. Ian A. Kinloch,
Robert Freer and colleagues sought new alternatives.