Better batteries for cold weather
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2024-04-22
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A breakthrough in electrolyte design has enabled battery charging at very low temperatures and at unprecedented speed.A new electrolyte designed by Zhejiang University researchers enables lithium-ion batteries to be charged at temperatures between –70 °C to 60 °C, and reach up to 80% capacity within 10 minutes at room temperature. Their findings were published in Nature1 in February. Lithium-ion pouch battery in researchLithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles and most of...
Magic cubes: reconfigurable underwater robotics
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2024-04-14
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At the first sight of several square, gelatinous “cubes,” you might find it hard to visualize them as a new type of underwater robot. Professor ZHOU Jing and her colleagues from College of Electrical Engineering, Zhejiang University ingeniously designed a set of neatly shaped and functionally diverse cubes. They can be quickly and flexibly assembled underwater to create an array of robot shapes and types, enabling efficient and effortless underwater operations. An article titled “Cu...
ZJU scientists propose a novel approach to reducing uncertainty in regional precipitation projections
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2024-03-14
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Precipitation plays a pivotal role in shaping global climate patterns and ecosystems. Yet, amidst the complexities of climate models, uncertainties loom over the projected changes in the hydrological cycle under global warming. These uncertainties pose formidable challenges to disaster-related risk management and policy formulation. DAI Panxi, an associate professor from the School of Earth Sciences at Zhejiang University, teamed up with other researchers to conduct a groundbreaking study in thi...
Scientists reveal impact of temperature variability on tree growth phenology
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2024-03-05
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Given warming-induced decoupling between growth timing and annual woody growth, the subtle responses of wood formation (e.g., xylem phenology) to multiple facets of global warming should be quantified to improve our understanding of forest growth dynamics; however, this task remains challenging. One of the largest uncertainties in the responses of wood formation to global warming is the inferences derived solely from mean annual temperatures.Given the immediate threats posed by worldwide increas...
Integrating blue energy and food security: A path forward in climate policy
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2024-01-24
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On January 9, the research team led by Prof. YE Guanqiong at the Ocean College of Zhejiang University made a significant contribution to the field of climate policy through their publication in the journal Nature. Their article, titled “Climate policy must integrate blue energy with food security” proposes that to address climate change, ensure food security, and enhance the well-being of mankind, stakeholders should take into consideration the integration of blue energy and food security...
The thorny problem of solving fertilizer pollution while also feeding the world
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2023-12-06
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Nitrogen-based fertilizers have hugely increased agricultural output, but rain washes them into rivers and oceans with dire consequences. Zhejiang University researchers are searching for a middle ground.Every summer, vast quantities of algae and zooplankton flourish in coastal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. These algal blooms gobble up oxygen, leaving a ‘dead zone’ in the ocean that covers around 10,000 square kilometres, and is largely devoid of life. The oxygen-zapping algae and zooplankton ...
ZJU scientists discover a lignin-derived material to improve plant growth
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2023-10-05
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Lignin, Earth’s most abundant natural aromatic polymer, constitutes nearly one-third of the carbon reserves in the natural world and serves as one of the major components of plant cell walls. In the biomass refinery sector, lignin is commonly discharged as a waste product in the biorefining system. On the other hand, micronutrient deficiencies in staple crops contribute to widespread micronutrient malnutrition, known as hidden hunger, affecting approximately one third of the global population. ...
Retrace the ancient Silk Road
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2023-09-27
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During their summer vacation, the “ZJU Campus Experience Officers” and the research team from the School of Earth Sciences retraced an epic journey. They crossed the Hexi Corridor, an essential segment of the ancient Silk Road, traversed the Qilian Mountains, and ventured deep into the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Following the footsteps of time, they endeavored to decode the intricate climate changes spanning the last 30 millennia.Why did the once-flourishing ancient civilizations that graced this ...
Innovative green methanol: lighting the way for the 19th Asian Games in Hangzhou
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2023-09-27
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On the evening of September 23, the 19th Asian Games commenced in Hangzhou with a captivating opening ceremony.The remarkable moment saw a “digital torchbearer” and swimming Olympic champion WANG Shun jointly lighting the cauldron, a moment that held the global audience spellbound.This unprecedented digital cauldron-lighting ceremony began with a Transformer-like digital figure – made up of over 100 million virtual sparks, each representing a participant of the online torch relay. Notably, thi...
ZJU scientists develop approach to transforming polyurethane forms into high-value 3D printing resins
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2023-09-14
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In a world where used seats, mattresses, and insulated boxes are often discarded, the question arises: where will they eventually end up? Will they contribute to the growing problem of garbage disposal or find a way to be efficiently recycled? Polyurethane foams, a material widely used in many aspects of our lives, have long posed a challenge when it comes to their destination after being discarded.In response to this long-standing challenge, Professor XIE Tao’s team from the College of Chemica...