American chemists have developed a plasmonic photocatalyst based on rhodium and copper, enabling the extraction of hydrogen from methane at a relatively low temperature of 450 degrees Celsius. This innovation is expected to lower energy and fuel costs for hydrogen production, making the process more sustainable, as detailed in a paper published in Nature Catalysis....
READ MOREIn mid-July, metallurgist Constellium successfully cast its first aluminum plate using hydrogen combustion at its research center in Voreppe, Isère, France. This marks a significant milestone for the company as it explores sustainable production methods aimed at reducing carbon emissions. The multinational company plans to deploy the hydrogen combustion system, still in the development phase,...
READ MOREAlcoa is “very bullish” on the outlook for aluminium as the energy transition drives increased demand, including a shift away from copper, CEO William Oplinger said on Wednesday. Speaking at a conference in Sydney, Oplinger highlighted that demand growth will be largely driven by the energy transition, with aluminium increasingly substituting for copper in certain...
READ MORECopper products manufacturer Wieland Group has commissioned a solar park in Erbach, southern Germany, which will generate 29 GWh of renewable electricity annually. The company announced on Monday that it has invested nearly EUR 20 million ($21.7 million USD) in the project, which includes the installation of approximately 48,000 solar modules, 82 inverters, 14 transformer...
READ MOREResearchers at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have developed and patented a high-capacity cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, featuring enhanced stability and an efficient production method. The material, based on layered transition metal oxides with increased nickel content, is expected to extend battery life by about 10% compared to commercially available alternatives....
READ MOREResearchers have developed a solar-powered device capable of extracting lithium from brines while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, offering a potential alternative for more sustainable lithium production—an essential resource for rechargeable batteries. The floating device, created by a team led by Baoxia Mi from the University of California, Berkeley, and Jia Zhu from Nanjing University, takes...
READ MOREAurubis, a leading global provider of non-ferrous metals and one of the largest copper recyclers, and Coficab, a major player in the automotive industry’s wires and cables sector, have renewed a multi-year contract for the supply of copper wire rod. This renewed contract aims to expand sustainable volume growth in the automotive wire and cable...
READ MOREPaulo Pires, a 50-year-old shepherd, enjoys spending his time in the meadows around Covas do Barroso in northern Portugal. Accompanied by his nine-year-old son Gonçalo, Pires tends to his flock of 190 sheep while enjoying the serene landscape of pastures, forests, and the sparsely populated hills. However, this tranquil way of life is under threat,...
READ MOREThe European Union’s shift towards clean energy and digital technologies is driving a rapid increase in the demand for critical raw materials, with forecasts showing exponential growth in the coming years. As the EU moves away from fossil fuels, materials such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel — essential for batteries, renewable energy technologies, and the...
READ MOREHydro has announced the expansion and relocation of its Hydro Aluminum Technology Center (HATC) to Cassopolis, Michigan, a move that enhances the company’s research and development capabilities in aluminium products. The new facility aims to support the growing demand for low-carbon aluminium in the U.S., with a focus on key sectors such as automotive, transportation,...
READ MORE
