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Energy Technology Perspectives 2020

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IEA (2020), Energy Technology Perspectives 2020 , IEA, Paris https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-technology-perspectives-2020, Licence: CC BY 4.0

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Executive summary, achieving our energy and climate goals demands a dramatic scaling up of clean energy technologies.

To avoid the worst consequences of climate change, the global energy system must rapidly reduce its emissions.  Calls to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions are growing louder every year, but emissions remain at unsustainably high levels. International climate goals call for emissions to peak as soon as possible and then decline rapidly to reach net-zero in the second half of this century. The vast majority of global CO2 emissions come from the energy sector, making clear the need for a cleaner energy system. Global CO2 emissions are set to fall in 2020 because of the Covid-19 crisis, but without structural changes to the energy system, this decline will be only temporary.  

Achieving net-zero emissions requires a radical transformation in the way we supply, transform and use energy.  The rapid growth of wind, solar and electric cars has shown the potential of new clean energy technologies to bring down emissions. Net-zero emissions will require these technologies to be deployed on a far greater scale, in tandem with the development and massive rollout of many other clean energy solutions that are currently at an earlier stage of development, such as numerous applications of hydrogen and carbon capture. The IEA’s Sustainable Development Scenario – a roadmap for meeting international climate and energy goals – brings the global energy system to net-zero emissions by 2070, incorporating aspects of behavioural change alongside a profound transformation in energy system technology and infrastructure.  

This report analyses over 800 technology options to examine what would need to happen for the world to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.  The report focuses primarily on the Sustainable Development Scenario, but it also includes a complementary Faster Innovation Case that explores the technology implications of reaching net-zero emissions globally by 2050. The analysis seeks to assess the challenges and opportunities associated with a rapid, clean energy transition. The report covers all areas of the energy system, from fuel transformation and power generation to aviation and steel production.

Transforming the power sector alone would only get the world one-third of the way to net-zero emissions

Many governments have ambitious plans for reducing emissions from the energy sector . Some governments have even put net-zero ambitions into law or proposed legislation, while others are discussing their own net-zero strategies. Many companies have also announced carbon-neutral targets. The success of renewable power technologies gives governments and businesses some cause for optimism. But reaching these targets will require devoting far more attention to the transport, industry and buildings sectors, which today account for more than 55% of CO2 emissions from the energy system.

Spreading the use of electricity into more parts of the economy is the single largest contributor to reaching net-zero emissions. In the Sustainable Development Scenario, final electricity demand more than doubles. This growth is driven by using electricity to power cars, buses and trucks; to produce recycled metals and provide heat for industry; and to supply the energy needed for heating, cooking and other appliances in buildings.

Reaching net-zero emissions in 2050 would require a much more rapid deployment of low-carbon power generation. In the Faster Innovation Case, electricity generation would be about 2.5 times higher in 2050 than it is today, requiring a rate of growth equivalent to adding the entire US power sector every three years. Annual additions of renewable electricity capacity, meanwhile, would need to average around four times the current record, which was reached in 2019.

Electricity cannot decarbonise entire economies alone

Hydrogen extends electricity’s reach.  On top of the surging demand for electricity from across different parts of the economy, a large amount of additional generation is needed for low-carbon hydrogen. The global capacity of electrolysers, which produce hydrogen from water and electricity, expands to 3 300 GW in the Sustainable Development Scenario, from 0.2 GW today. In order to produce the low-carbon hydrogen required to reach net-zero emissions, these electrolysers would consume twice the amount of electricity the People’s Republic of China generates today. This hydrogen forms a bridge between the power sector and industries where the direct use of electricity would be challenging, such as in the production of steel from iron ore or fuelling large ships. 

Carbon capture and bioenergy play multifaceted roles.  Capturing CO2 emissions in order to use them sustainably or store them (known as CCUS) 1   is a crucial technology for reaching net-zero emissions. In the Sustainable Development Scenario, CCUS is employed in the production of synthetic lowcarbon fuels and to remove CO2 from the atmosphere. It is also vital for producing some of the low-carbon hydrogen that is needed to reach net-zero emissions, mostly in regions with low-cost natural gas resources and available CO2 storage. At the same time, the use of modern bioenergy triples from today’s levels. It is used to directly replace fossil fuels (e.g. biofuels for transport) or to offset emissions indirectly through its combined use with CCUS. 

A secure and sustainable energy system with net-zero emissions results in a new generation of major fuels.  The security of today’s global energy system is underpinned in large part by mature global markets in three key fuels – coal, oil and natural gas – which together account for about 70% of global final energy demand. Electricity, hydrogen, synthetic fuels and bioenergy end up accounting for a similar share of demand in the Sustainable Development Scenario as fossil fuels do today.

The clean energy technologies we will need tomorrow hinge on innovation today

Quicker progress towards net-zero emissions will depend on faster innovation in electrification, hydrogen, bioenergy and CCUS. Just over one‑third of the cumulative emissions reductions in the Sustainable Development Scenario stem from technologies that are not commercially available today. In the Faster Innovation Case, this share rises to half. Thirty-five percent of the additional decarbonisation efforts in the Faster Innovation Case come from increased electrification, with around 25% coming from CCUS, around 20% from bioenergy, and around 5% from hydrogen.

Long-distance transport and heavy industry are home to the hardest emissions to reduce. Energy efficiency, material efficiency and avoided transportation demand (e.g. substituting personal car travel with walking or cycling) all play an important role in reducing emissions in long-distance transport and heavy industries. But nearly 60% of cumulative emissions reductions for these sectors in the Sustainable Development Scenario come from technologies that are only at demonstration and prototype stages today. Hydrogen and CCUS account for around half of cumulative emissions reductions in the steel, cement and chemicals sectors. In the trucking, shipping and aviation sectors, the use of alternative fuels – hydrogen, synthetic fuels and biofuels – ranges between 55% and 80%. Highly competitive global markets, the long lifetime of existing assets, and rapidly increasing demand in certain areas further complicate efforts to reduce emissions in these challenging sectors. Fortunately, the engineering skills and knowledge these sectors possess today are an excellent starting point for commercialising the technologies required for tackling these challenges.

Emissions from existing assets are a pivotal challenge

Power and heavy industry together account for about 60% of emissions today from existing energy infrastructure, climbing to nearly 100% in 2050 if no action is taken. Reaching net-zero will depend on how we manage the emissions challenge presented by these sectors’ long-lasting assets, many of which were recently built in Asian economies and could operate for decades to come. The situation underscores the need for hydrogen and CCUS technologies. Ensuring that new clean energy technologies are available in time for key investment decisions will be critical. In heavy industries, for example, strategically timed investments could help avoid around 40% of cumulative emissions from existing infrastructure in these sectors. 

Governments will need to play the decisive role

While markets are vital for mobilising capital and catalysing innovation, they will not deliver net-zero emissions on their own . Governments have an outsized role to play in supporting transitions towards net-zero emissions. Long-term visions need to be backed up by detailed clean energy strategies involving measures that are tailored to local infrastructure and technology needs. Effective policy toolkits must address five core areas:

• Tackle emissions from existing assets
• Strengthen markets for technologies at an early stage of adoption
• Develop and upgrade infrastructure that enables technology deployment
• Boost support for research, development and demonstration
• Expand international technology collaboration.

Economic stimulus measures in response to the Covid-19 crisis offer a key opportunity to take urgent action that could boost the economy while supporting clean energy and climate goals, including in the five areas above.

Our forthcoming ETP Special Report on CCUS provides our most in-depth look yet at this critical technology family and its role in reaching net-zero emissions.

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Energy and Power Technology Research Paper Topics

This list of energy and power technology research paper topics provides the list of 19 potential topics for research papers and an overview article on the history of energy and power technologies.

1. Biomass Power Generation

Biomass, or biofuels, are essentially clean fuels in that they contain no sulfur and the burning of them does not increase the long-term carbon dioxide (CO2) levels in the atmosphere, since they are the product of recent photosynthesis (note that peat is not a biofuel in this sense). This is by no means an unimportant attribute when seen in the context of the growing awareness across the globe of the pollution and environmental problems caused by current energy production methods, and the demand for renewable energy technologies.

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Biomass can be used to provide heat, make fuels, and generate electricity. The major sources of biomass include:

• Standing forests
• Wood-bark and logging residues
• Crop residues
• Short rotation coppice timber or plants
• Wood-bark mill residues
• Manures from confined livestock
• Agricultural process residues
• Freshwater weed

A few facts and figures might help to put the land-based biomass sources in perspective. The first three of the above list produce in the U.S. approximately the equivalent of 4 million barrels of oil per day in usable form. If all crop residues were collected and utilized to the full, almost 10 percent of the total U.S. energy consumption could be provided for. Although the other land-based sources of biomass are perhaps not on the same scale as this, the combined resource represents a huge untapped reservoir of potential energy. An interesting point to note is that current practices in forestry and food crop farming are aimed directly at optimizing the production of specific parts of a plant. Since biomass used for energy would make use of the whole plant, some significant advantage might be gained by growing specifically adapted crops designed to maximize the energy yield rate. It is from this origin that the energy farm concept is born.

2. Early Fusion Nuclear Reactors

The production of nuclear energy through the fusion of two light chemical elements is better known as a controlled thermonuclear reaction (CTR). In the 1950s, explosive or uncontrolled thermonuclear reaction was achieved with the manufacture of hydrogen bombs, but CTR was never successfully accomplished.

In order to reach the fusion point, a gaseous mixture containing deuterium and tritium should be heated to 100,000,000C and hold that temperature for enough time to activate a self-sustaining reaction. At elevated temperatures, a gaseous mixture becomes plasma, a state in which electrons and ions are no longer physically bonded. (The term plasma was first used in 1922 by the American physical chemist Irving Langmuir because the properties of a super-heated gas reminded him of blood plasma.)

Heating and confinement of plasma are the two main features of any fusion reactor. Plasma must avoid any contact with the walls of the vessel containing it in order to avoid the loss of temperature and subsequent instability that makes a controlled thermonuclear reaction impossible to achieve. Early designs of fusion reactors focused on confinement of plasma using magnetic fields.

3. Electrical Power Distribution

While the first commercial power station in San Francisco in 1879 was used for arc lighting (using a spark jumping a gap as the source of light) for street lamps, these had limited application. Edison’s carbon filament lamp was the stimulus for the spread of electric lighting. A few of Edison’s buildings and some private residences had their own generators, but Edison also recognized there was a need for a generating and distribution system. Edison’s distribution system was first demonstrated in London, with a temporary installation running cables under the Holburn Viaduct in early 1882 that provided power for the surrounding district. The first permanent central electric generating station was Edison’s Pearl Street Station in New York that went into operation in September 1882 and provided electricity (with a meter) to 85 customers in a 1 square mile (2.6 square kilometers) area. The Pearl Street Station used direct current (DC). In DC systems, the current flows in one direction, with a constant voltage. The dissipation of energy limits the size of DC systems and requires the source of electric generation to be close to the customer. Alternating current (AC) systems, in which the current changes direction (in today’s public electricity supply, 50 or 60 times per second), overcame this limitation.

4. Electricity Generation and the Environment

Fossil fuel thermal generating technologies were a mainstay of both twentieth century electricity generation and environmental attention. While concern with declining urban air quality, initially at the center of this attention, dated back to the nineteenth century, it was the substantial post- World War II rise in electricity consumption that resulted in the later prominence of these concerns. The impacts of fossil fuel extraction and transportation were also a source of significant twentieth century environmental attention, but concern over atmospheric emissions dominated. Although initial concern focused on particulate emissions, attention shifted to acidic emissions from the 1970s onward, and the final decade of the century was dominated by concern with the impact of fossil fuel emissions on climate. This later concern with fossil fuel greenhouse gas emissions, primarily thermally produced carbon dioxide (CO2) but also fugitive emissions (i.e., not caught by a capture system) such as methane from coal seams and from gas extraction and distribution systems, reinforced an increasing emphasis on alternative generating technologies. Some of these, notably macro-hydro and nuclear fission, were significant twentieth century technologies in their own right, and their environmental impacts are briefly discussed below. However, as the twentieth century closed this emphasis was increasingly turning to renewable energy technologies and the potential for significant further efficiencies in both electricity generation and consumption, including the drive to ‘‘decarbonize’’ electricity generation by turning away from fossil fuel technologies.

5. Fast Breeders Nuclear Reactors

The idea of a fast breeder reactor (FBR) was first conceived in 1946 by the Canadian physicist Walter H. Zinn at the Argonne National Laboratory in the U.S. On the basis of wartime developments in nuclear reactor research, Zinn thought a combination of two options within reactor technologies was feasible: fast neutron nuclear fission and the breeding principle. Fast reactors produce nuclear fission with fast neutrons rather than thermal neutrons. Fast neutrons prompt critical reactions with a large energy release in a short time and without a moderator operating in the core. Breeder reactors have a core of fissile material (i.e., uranium-235 or plutonium-239) produced in nuclear reactors or through chemical separation, and a blanket of fertile material (i.e., uranium-238), the treated radioactive mineral. Once in operation, breeder reactors incinerate the fissile material in the core and emit neutrons as fission products. Thus the blanket is neutron bombarded, the fertile material is irradiated, and afterward transformed into fissile material (i.e., plutonium-239) by neutron capture and following decay. In optimal operation conditions, the fissile material produced through breeding equals the fissile material incinerated in the core, so that the reactor perpetuates indefinitely the production of its fuel.

6. Fossil Fuel Power Stations

Until the last third of the twentieth century, fossil fuels—coal, oil, natural gas—were the primary source of energy in the industrialized world. Large thermal power stations supplied from fossil fuel resources have capacities ranging up to 4000 to 5000 megawatts. Gas-fired combined-cycle power stations tend to be somewhat smaller, perhaps no larger than 1000 to 1500 megawatts in capacity.

Concerns in the 1970s over degradation of urban air quality due to particulate emissions and acid rain from sulfur dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power stations were joined from the 1990s by an awareness of the potential global warming effect of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2), produced from the combustion of fossil fuels (see Electricity Generation and the Environment). However, despite a move towards carbon-free electricity generation, for example from nuclear power stations and wind and solar plants, fossil fuels remain the most significant source of electrical energy generation.

7. Fuel Cells

The principle of the fuel cell (FC) is similar to that of the electrical storage battery. However, whereas the battery has a fixed stock of chemical reactants and can ‘‘run down,’’ the fuel cell is continuously supplied (from a separate tank) with a stream of oxidizer and fuel from which it generates electricity. Electrolysis—in which passage of an electrical current through water decomposes it into its constituents, H2 and O2—was still novel in 1839 when a young Welsh lawyer–scientist, William Grove, demonstrated that it could be made to run in reverse. That is, if the H2 and O2 were not driven off but rather allowed to recombine in the presence of the electrodes, the result was water— and electrical current.

Over the 20th century FCs moved from laboratory curiosity to practical application in limited roles and quantities. It is very possible that the twenty-first century will see them assume a major or even dominant position as power sources in a broad array of applications. Obstacles are largely economic and the outcome will be influenced by success in development of competing systems as well as FCs themselves.

8. Gas Turbines

During the 20th century, the gas turbine was developed to fit many applications on land, sea and in the air. From early beginnings, the gas turbine came alongside, competed with, and often replaced the existing technologies of steam, water, and reciprocating internal combustion engines. Initial problems stemmed from a lack of knowledge and the techniques; the fundamentals were well enough understood, but what were lacking were the design techniques. Materials also held up developments; but after extensive experimentation, successful turbine designs were being constructed in the first ten years of the 20th century.

The gas turbine has the advantage over traditional engines in that its combustion process is continuous and thus the equipment is less subject to cyclic heat stresses and its power is less limited— power is limited by combustion knock in spark ignition engines, but in diesel engines it is only limited by structural strength and maximum working pressures in the fuel injection systems. It also has fewer moving parts, so wear and tear is lessened. Despite these differences, the gas turbine still has the basic four functions of the four-stroke cycle but operates continuously: air is admitted, compressed, heated by burning fuel so that it expands and does work, and then the spent gases are expelled. However, unlike an ordinary engine, each of these processes takes place in a separate part of the engine and happens continuously; the oil engine has all processes within the cylinder and they follow on from each other.

9. Gas Turbines in Land Vehicles

The gas turbine has found widespread use in the aviation, marine, and stationary power areas. However, the gas turbine has only seen limited use in land transportation.

As various companies began to experiment with gas turbines in the 1920s and 1930s some gave thought to using the turbine as a source of motive power for land vehicles. The turbine promised much higher power-to-weight ratios than conventional reciprocating engines and also had the capability of using cheaper fuels such as industrial heating oil, diesel fuel, and even powered coal. As with gas turbines in aviation, most development has occurred since World War II.

10. Hydroelectric Power Generation

It is estimated that about 50 percent of the economically exploitable hydroelectric resources, not including tidal resources, of North America and Western Europe have already been developed. Worldwide, however, the proportion is less than 15 percent.

The size of hydroelectric power plants covers an extremely wide range, from small plants of a few megawatts to large schemes such as Kariba in Zimbabwe, which comprises eight 125 megawatt generating sets. More recently, power stations such as Itaipu on the Parana River between Brazil and Paraguay in South America were built with a capacity of 12,600 megawatts, comprising eighteen generating sets each having a rated discharge of approximately 700 cubic meters per second.

Hydroelectric power has traditionally been regarded as an attractive option for power generation since fuel costs are zero; operating and maintenance costs are low; and plants have a long life—an economic life of 30 to 50 years for mechanical and electrical plant and 60 to 100 years for civil works is not unusual.

11. Large Scale Electrical Energy Generation and Supply

Public supply of electricity at the close of the nineteenth century was typically confined to the larger towns and cities where either a local entrepreneur, or a far-sighted municipality, established relatively small generating stations to supply local lighting loads. Many of these local power stations employed reciprocating engines to drive direct current (DC) dynamos. Overhead circuits generally carried the power no more than a kilometer or two to local businesses or the larger households in the district. Sometimes, where water-powered mills had existed previously, hydroelectric generators were established to supply the electricity consumers. As more and more people began to appreciate the convenience of electrical power and, moreover, could afford to pay for it, demand on local supplies increased and larger power stations began to be established. The invention of the electrical transformer to step-up the voltage at the generating station and step it down again to a safe level for use by the consumers, meant that higher speed alternators, often driven by steam turbines, could be employed to produce the power. High-voltage distribution reduced the losses in the circuits between the generating stations and the loads.

12. Later Fusion Nuclear Reactors

In the early 1950s, the Soviet physicists Andrei Sakharov and Igor Tamm proposed a reactor that generated both internal plasma and external toroidal magnetic fields. This concept was adopted by their colleague Lev Artsimovich in his T-3 reactor, the first ‘‘tokamak’’ (the Russian acronym for toroidal chamber and magnetic coil), unveiled in 1968. The tokamak magnetic field is thus the combination of two magnetic fields: the stronger horizontal, toroidal field interacts with the weaker vertical, poloidal plasma field to produce a helical magnetic field. In confining its plasma for 0.01 to 0.02 seconds and heating it to 10,000,000C, the T- 3 produced results that suggested fusion energy was feasible.

The tokamak reactor subsequently became the standard tool for fusion research. The energy crisis of the 1970s resulted in state support for major projects in a number of industrialized countries including France, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S. The largest and most notable were the American Tokamak Fusion Test Reactor (TFTR), approved by the Atomic Energy Commission in 1974 and completed in 1982 at Princeton University, and the British–European Joint European Torus (JET), which began operations in 1983 in Culham, Oxfordshire, U.K. Other important tokamaks include Japan’s JT-60 and General Atomics’ DIII-D.

13. Power Generation and Recycling

Recovering energy from wastes from municipal or industrial sources can turn the problem of waste disposal into an opportunity for generating income from heat and power sales. The safe and cost-effective disposal of these wastes is becoming increasingly important worldwide, especially with the demand for higher environmental standards of waste disposal and the pressure on municipalities to minimize the quantities of waste generated that must be disposed.

14. Primary and Secondary Batteries

The battery is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy and generally consists of two or more connected cells. A cell consists of two electrodes, one positive and one negative, and an electrolyte that works chemically on the electrodes by functioning as a conductor transferring electrons between the electrodes.

Primary cells, most often ‘‘dry cells,’’ are exhausted (i.e., one or both of the electrodes are consumed) when they convert the chemical energy into electrical energy. These battery types are widely used in flashlights and similar devices. They generally contain carbon and zinc electrodes and an electrolyte solution of ammonium chloride and zinc chloride. Another form of primary cell, often called the mercury battery, has zinc and mercuric oxide electrodes and an electrolyte of potassium hydroxide. The mercury battery is suitable for use in electronic wristwatches and similar devices.

Secondary cells convert chemical energy into electrical energy through a chemical reaction that is essentially reversible. In ‘‘charging,’’ the cell is forced to operate in reverse of its discharging operation by pushing a current through in the opposite direction of the one normal in discharge. Energy is thus ‘‘stored’’ in these cells as chemical, not electrical, energy. They may be ‘‘recharged’’ by an electrical current passing through them in the opposite direction of their discharge. Secondary, or storage, cells are generally wet cells, which use a liquid electrolyte.

15. Solar Power Generation

The emergence of solar power generation is part of the overall movement toward renewable energy production. Interest in this type of energy production grew in the early 1970s with an increased public awareness of the negative impact of technological developments on the environment. The use of solar power, of course, was not new. Heat produced by the sun was used for all sorts of purposes from the early history of humankind. In the search for renewable energy sources, the direct use of the sun’s heat has continued in the use of solar panels. In these panels, heat from the sun is absorbed by water flowing in pipes, and the hot water can then be used for heating purposes. In the twentieth century, two types of thermal solar energy systems developed: (1) active systems that used pumps or fans to transport the heat; and (2) passive systems that use natural heat transfer processes. In 1948 a school in Tucson, Arizona, with a passive solar energy system was built by Arthur Brown. In 1976 the Aspen-Pitkin County airport was opened as the first large commercial building in the U.S. that used a passive solar energy system for heating. However, the original idea of using passive solar energy goes back to ancient times. Archeologists have found houses with passive solar energy systems dating back to the fifth century AD.

16. Steam Turbines

The first steam turbine, of which there is any record, was made by Hero of Alexandria more than 2000 years ago. This simply demonstrated that a jet of steam, impinging on a paddle wheel, could convert heat energy into mechanical energy. In the late nineteenth century significant improvements in the efficiency of conversion were made by, among others, Sir Charles Parsons on Tyneside, U.K. and Charles G. Curtis in the U.S.

Early steam engines up to that time had involved very high rotational speed, which was difficult to utilize for many purposes unless speed-reducing gearboxes were employed. Parsons had deduced that moderate surface velocities and speeds of rotation were essential if the ‘‘turbine motor’’ was to receive general acceptance as a prime mover. His early designs arranged to divide the fall in pressure of the steam into small fractional expansions over a large number of turbine wheels in series so that the velocity of the steam over each wheel was not excessive.

At the close of the 19th century, many local power stations employed reciprocating steam engines to drive electric generators. Steam turbines had the advantage over reciprocating steam engines, which were based on the movement of a piston in a cylinder, of being lighter and more efficient. The Curtis multiple-stage steam turbine (patented in 1896, sold rights to General Electric in 1901) occupied a smaller space and cost much less than contemporary reciprocating steam engine-driven generators of the same output. The Curtis turbine was also shorter than the Parsons turbine, and was thus less susceptible to distortion of the central shaft.

The work that Curtis, Parsons, and others carried out in the development of steam turbines allowed large central power stations to be developed, providing electricity for the growing demand during the early 1900s. Early machines at the beginning of the 20th century

17. Thermal Graphite Moderated Nuclear Reactors

In a nuclear reactor, an element low on the atomic scale such as carbon or hydrogen is used to absorb kinetic energy to slow down naturally emitted neutrons from the radioactive fuel. In most power reactors, refined but unenriched natural uranium (238U or uranium-238) is the preferred fuel over 99 percent of the time. When the neutrons move more slowly or at a ‘‘moderated’’ speed, the chances of collision between the neutrons and other uranium nuclei, leading to fission and a chain reaction, are increased. Reactor designs are often named for the type of moderator used.

The first reactors, including the experimental pile built in 1942 at Chicago during World War II and the early production reactors built in 1943 at Hanford in Washington state, used graphite as a moderator. Later reactors used water, heavy water, sodium, or other materials as moderators. In the U.S., almost all power reactors and all submarine and ship propulsion reactors relied on pressurized water systems or boiling water systems, first installed in the late 1950s. Acronyms for all these systems have become conventional, with the most common being the boiling water reactor (BWR), pressurized water reactor (PWR), and light water-cooled graphite-moderated reactor (LWGR).

Accidents involving graphite reactors are particularly dangerous, since graphite is flammable. A release of radioactivity in 1957 at the British Windscale Reactor near Sellafield, Cumbria, a graphite production reactor, was not immediately disclosed. Even accidents with water-cooled reactors, such as that at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania on March 28, 1979, cause national and international concern. However, far more serious was the Chernobyl fire of April 26 1986, in a 1000-megawatt rated RBMK graphite-moderated reactor. That fire spread radioactive contamination across not only the Ukraine but also much of eastern and northern Europe as well. As at Windscale, details of the Chernobyl accident were temporarily suppressed. Gas-cooled graphite reactors are prevented from burning by the fact that they are cooled with carbon dioxide. However, if oxygen-containing air leaks into the system and the cooling system fails, the graphite can ignite.

18. Thermal Water Moderated Nuclear Reactors

Nuclear reactors are usually classified by their coolant and their moderators. The moderator is a material, low in the atomic scale, whose atomic nucleus has the effect of slowing down or moderating the speed of fast neutrons emitted during nuclear fission. By slowing the speed of neutrons, the moderator increases the chance of collision of neutrons with the nuclei of fissionable nuclear fuel atoms. The original reactor designed by Enrico Fermi during the Manhattan Project at Chicago, known as Chicago Pile One, or CP-1, was a graphite-moderated, air-cooled reactor. Many British and French nuclear reactors for the generation of electrical power use carbon in the form of graphite, and they are cooled with carbon dioxide gas. These types are known as Magnox reactors. However, the common designs for power generation developed in the U.S. used water both as coolant and as a moderator.

Water-cooled reactors fall into two large families. Heavy water reactors contain water in which the hydrogen atom is replaced with the hydrogen isotope deuterium. This type of reactor is manufactured for export by Canada. The pressurized heavy water reactor (PHWR) has been exported and installed in India, Romania, and elsewhere. The U.S. built five heavy water reactors at Savannah River, South Carolina, in the 1950s to serve as production reactors for the manufacture of plutonium and tritium for nuclear weapons. By the late 1980s, all the Savannah River production reactors had been closed. After some experimentation with graphite-moderated gas-cooled designs and with heavy-water moderation during the 1950s, the U.S. followed the ‘‘light water’’ path.

19. Wind Power Generation

Wind is essentially the movement of substantial air masses from regions of high pressure to regions of low pressure induced by the differential heating of the Earth’s surface. This simplistic view belies the complexity of atmospheric weather systems but serves to indicate the origin of climatic airflow.

The first attempts to harness wind power for electricity production date back to the 1930s. In Germany, Honnef planned a monstrous five turbine, 20 megawatt (MW), wind tower, several hundred meters high, a far cry from the sleek aerospace wind turbine generators (WTGs) of today. The design of a large scale WTG is limited to one of two formats realistically held to have good prospects. First, the horizontal axis type descended from those encountered by Don Quixote and common until recently in the flat lands of Europe; and second, the vertical axis machines of which the Darrieus rotor is perhaps the most common. Of the two, horizontal axis machines predominate, although the vertical axis type has many positive attributes, not the least of these being simplicity.

Energy and Power Technology

The repercussions of the rapacious appetite for control of energy among Western industrial nations have not been confined to the lot of the individual, however. As in previous eras, when the control of mechanical or biological power carried financial, geographical, and social significance, the use and abuse of electrical energy now additionally carries environmental, political, and moral implications. Developments in energy and power in the twentieth century must therefore be considered within these broader thematic areas as the generation and consumption of energy are inextricably linked with practically the whole spectrum of human existence.

At the beginning of the 20th century, despite the fact that many components of modern electronics such as the battery had already been invented 100 years earlier, body power was still the norm, especially in rural areas. Horses, carriages, tow paths, water mills, and the like were the standard means of transport and power for a large proportion of the population, despite the growth of electricity and the 130 supply companies that were operating by 1896 in Britain. Even in urban settings, only lighting and telegraphy were advanced to the stage where the benefits were generally enjoyed as a result of Thomas Edison’s invention of the light bulb in 1879 and Alexander Graham Bell’s first telephone transmission in 1878.

By 1900 in Britain the main features of an electricity supply industry had been established. The system was based on the generation of high-voltage alternating current (AC), with transformers stepping down voltages for local use. However, one obstacle that the industry had to overcome was the lack of standardization across local areas. In some parts, direct current (DC) equipment was still installed, and local voltage levels and frequencies varied considerably. Despite problems posed by these variations, at the start of the century most of the appliances that are now taken for granted had appeared. Space heaters, cookers, and lighting equipment were not yet in every home, but the very speed at which their use was adopted was testament to the flexibility and popularity of electricity. In 1918 electric washing machines became available, and in 1919 the first refrigerator appeared in Britain. They had already been introduced for domestic use in the U.S. in 1913. Electricity had been firmly accepted as the energy of the future. Demand from the residential sector started to boom and spurred further research. Most importantly, perhaps, by the 1920s in Britain the domestic immersion heater began to take over the duties of coal. The use of electric trolleys and trains, which had been running since the end of the nineteenth century, also continued to expand, and underground travel developed swiftly. Electricity also made advances in communications possible, from the telegraph and the telephone, to the broadcasting boom of the 1920s. In 1928 the construction of a British national grid system began, and it took less than ten years before the system was in operation. This alacrity is partly to be explained by the influence of World War I. The war’s heavy demands on manufacturing acted as a great incentive for the rapidly evolving electricity industry, particularly with regard to improving the efficiency of supply. Thereafter, the rebuilding and expansion of industry across the industrialized world began. In Russia, Lenin was moved to state, ‘‘Communism equals Soviet power plus electrification,’’ as part of the propaganda for industrialization. Electricity took over the driving of fans, elevators, and cranes, driving coal-mining equipment, for example, and rolling mills in steel factories. The use of individual electric motors allowed astonishing advances in speed control, precision, and productivity of machine tools.

With World War II came devastation. Power stations and fuel supplies were inevitably considered as strategic targets for the bombers during the destructive aerial attacks by both the Axis powers and the Allies. By 1946, the estimated deficiency of generating capacity in Europe was 10,000 megawatts. According to anecdotal evidence, the victory bells in Paris were only able to ring out in 1945 because of electricity transmitted from Germany, where more industrial capacity of all kinds, including power stations, had survived. Whatever the truth of this may be, the security of electricity supply quickly became an issue of undisputed importance throughout Europe, and the fuels used in electrical generation were valuable resources indeed.

At the start of the twentieth century, there was a new worldwide optimism about coal as a resource that seemed to be available in almost unlimited amounts. Coal consumption levels rose steeply both in the U.S. and Europe, to reach a peak around 1914 and the outbreak of World War I. Between the world wars, consumption quantities remained almost static, particularly in the U.S., as other fuel types started to dominate the market. Reasons for this slow-down include the rising popularity of the four-stroke ‘‘Otto’’ cycle engine that is widely used in transportation even today as well as the commercialization of the diesel engine. These two technologies pushed fuel sources swiftly from solid to liquid fuels.

Nuclear Power

Nuclear fission was discovered in the 1930s. Considerable research occurred in those early years, particularly in the U.S., the U.K., France, Canada, and the former Soviet Union, in the design and construction of commercial nuclear power stations. In the early 1940s, U.S. intelligence regarding Germany’s promising nuclear research activities dramatically hastened the U.S. resolve to build a nuclear weapon. The Manhattan Project was established for this purpose in August 1942. In July 1945, Manhattan Project scientists tested the first nuclear device in Alamagordo, New Mexico, using plutonium produced from a uranium and graphite-pile reactor in Richland, Washington. A month later a highly enriched uranium nuclear bomb was dropped on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, and a plutonium nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, effectively ending World War II.

The nuclear power industry suffered some notable disasters during its years of technological development. In 1979, the Three Mile Island Unit 2 (TMI-2) nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania suffered damage due to mechanical or electrical failure of parts of the cooling system. Just seven years later, on the opposite side of the Iron Curtain near an obscure city on the Pripiat River in northcentral Ukraine, another disaster occurred. This accident became a metaphor not only for the horror of uncontrolled nuclear power but also for the collapsing Soviet system and its disregard for the safety and welfare of workers. On April 26, 1986, the No. 4 reactor at Chernobyl exploded and released 30 to 40 times the radioactivity of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Western world first learned of history’s worst nuclear accident from Sweden where abnormal radiation levels, the result of deposits carried by prevailing winds, were registered.

Ranking as one of the greatest industrial accidents of all time, the Chernobyl disaster and its impact on the course of Soviet events can scarcely be exaggerated. No-one can predict what will finally be the exact number of human victims. Thirty-one lives were lost immediately. Hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, Russians, and Belo Russians had to abandon entire cities and settlements within the 30 kilometer zone of extreme contamination. Estimates vary, but it is likely that over 15 years after the event, some 3 million people, more than 2 million in Belarus alone, continued to live in contaminated areas.

Often accused of being one of the two great evils in the energy sector along with nuclear power, the oil industry grew over the course of the twentieth century to acquire significance and influence previously unimagined for any industrial sector. As the century opened, the U.S. was the largest oil producer in the world, but the discovery and exploitation of reserves in the Middle East, South America, and Mexico soon shifted the balance of the market away from the U.S., which by 1950 produced less than half the world’s oil. This trend continued and by the year 2000, oil production was almost equally divided between OPEC (Organization of Petroleum-Exporting Countries) and non-OPEC countries. Even in the early years of the century, the geographical spread of supply and demand quickly created the need for a system of distribution of unprecedented scale. The distances and quantities involved led to the construction of pipelines and huge ocean-going ships and tanker trucks. The capital intensive nature of these infrastructure projects, as well as the costs of exploration and exploitation of oil fields, concentrated control of resources in the hands of a few companies with vast coffers. As the reserves from easily exploitable sites dwindled, the pockets even of governments were insufficiently deep to invest in new drilling projects, and Royal Dutch Shell, Standard Oil, British Petroleum, and others were born.

Concern about fossil fuel depletion began to be voiced around the world in the 1960s, but the issue created headlines on the international political circuit in 1970 following the publication of the Club of Rome’s report ‘‘Limits to Growth.’’ This document warned of the impending exhaustion of the world’s 550 billion barrels of oil reserves. ‘‘We could use up all of the proven reserves of oil in the entire world by the end of the next decade,’’ said U.S. President Jimmy Carter. And although between 1970 and 1990 the world did indeed use 600 billion barrels of oil, and according to the Club of Rome reserves should have dwindled to less than zero by then, in fact, the unexploited reserves in 1990 amounted to 900 billion barrels not including tar shale.

Hydroelectric Power

Not a recent development by any stretch of the imagination, hydroelectric power was used extensively at the start of the twentieth century for mechanical work in mills and has a pedigree stretching back to ancient Egyptian times. Indeed, water power produces 24 percent of the world’s electricity and supplies more than 1 billion people with power. At the end of the twentieth century, hydroelectric power plants generally ranged in size from several hundred kilowatts to many hundreds of megawatts, but a few mammoth plants supplied up to 10,000 megawatts and electricity to millions of people. These leviathans, or ‘‘temples of modern India,’’ as India’s first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru declared, were also the cause of massive discontent from social and environmental standpoints. The displacement of local indigenous populations and failure to deliver promised benefits were just two of the many complaints. By comparison, and despite hydroelectric power’s renewable credentials, the use of conventional fossil fuel technologies such as natural gas remained relatively uncontroversial.

Coal-Gas Technology

A derivative of coal as its name implies, coal-gas is produced through the carbonization of coal and has played a not insignificant role in the development of power and energy in the twentieth century. It was an important and well-established industry product as the century opened, although electricity had already started to make inroads into some of the markets that coal-gas served. Coal-gas enjoyed widespread use in domestic heating and cooking and some industrial facilities, but despite the invention of the Welsbach Mantle in 1885, electricity soon started to dominate the lighting market. The Ruhrgebeit in Germany was the most active coal-gas producing area in the world. It was here that the Lurgi process, in which low-grade brown coal is gasified by a mixture of superheated steam and oxygen at high pressure, flourished for many years. However, as the coal supplies necessary for the process became increasingly expensive, and as oil fractions with similar properties became available, the coal-gas industry swiftly declined. In fact, when the coal industry seemed to have reached a pinnacle, another rival industry—natural gas—was being born.

Natural Gas

The American gas industry developed along different lines from the European market. Each started from a different basis at the dawn of the twentieth century. The U.S. had been quick to adopt the production of coal-gas, which was used for lighting as early as 1816. After the discovery of fields of largely compatible natural gas in relatively shallow sites when searching for oil reserves, the natural gas industry expanded swiftly. Large-scale transmission mechanisms were developed with alacrity, and one noteworthy example of this came from the Trans-Continental Gas Pipeline Corporation, which completed a link from fields in Texas and Louisiana to the demand-intensive area around New York in 1951. By contrast, in Europe the exploitation of natural gas began in earnest in the years following World War II. In the Soviet Union, for example, the rich fields around Baku in Azerbaijan were connected to both their Eastern Bloc allies by 1971 and also to West Germany and Italy by over 680,000 kilometers of pipelines.

In Western Europe developments on the geopolitical level benefited Britain, which officially acquired the mineral rights for the western section of the North Sea in 1964. Just one year later, the West Sole field was discovered. Britain had already imported some natural gas from the U.S., and within 12 years had switched almost entirely from manufactured coal-gas to natural gas. This conversion was no simple operation. The differing properties of manufactured and natural gas meant that domestic and industrial appliances numbering in the tens of millions had to be altered. The British conversion scheme, which lasted ten years, is estimated to have cost £1000 million. Other similar conversion programs were carried out in Holland, Hungary, and even in the Far East.

In October 1973, panic gripped the U.S. The crude-oil rich Middle Eastern countries had cut off exports of petroleum to Western nations as punishment for their involvement in recent Arab–Israeli conflicts. Although the oil embargo would not ordinarily have made a tremendous impact on the U.S., panicking investors and oil companies caused a gigantic surge in oil prices.

There were more oil scares throughout the next two decades. When the Shah of Iran was deposed during a revolution, petroleum exports were diminished to virtually negligible levels, causing crude oil prices to soar once again. Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in the 1990s also inflated oil prices, albeit for only a short time. These events highlighted the world’s dependence on Middle Eastern oil and raised political awareness about the security of oil supplies.

The ‘‘dash for gas’’ in the U.K.—the rapid switch from coal to gas as the dominant source of power generation fuel—was no doubt partly instigated by the discovery of home reserves there. Worldwide the new application of an old technology, combined cycle gas turbines, or CCGTs, played a significant role. During the last decades of the twentieth century, the gas turbine emerged as the world’s dominant technology for electricity generation. Gas turbine power plants thrived in countries as diverse as the U.S., Thailand, Spain, and Argentina. In the U.K., the changeover began in the late 1980s and resulted in the closure of many coal mines and coal-fired power stations. As electricity industries were privatized and liberalized, the CCGT in particular became more and more attractive because of its low capital cost, high thermal efficiency, and relatively low environmental impact. Indeed, this technology contributed to the trend identified by Cesare Marchetti, which depicts the chronological shift of the world’s sources of primary power from wood to coal to oil to gas during the last century and a half. Each of these fuels is successively richer in hydrogen and poorer in carbon than its predecessor, supporting the hypothesis that we are progressing toward a pure hydrogen economy.

Distributed Generation

Embedded or distributed generation refers to power plants that feed electricity into a local distribution network. By saving transmission and distribution losses, it is generally considered to be an environmentally and socially beneficial option compared with centralized generation. Technologies that contributed to the expansion of this mode of generation include wind turbines, which developed to the point where their cost of generation rivaled that of central power stations, photovoltaic cells, and combined heat and power units. These industries expanded massively in the latter years of the century, particularly in Europe where regulatory measures gave impetus and a degree of commercial security to the fledgling industries.

Many industries worldwide began producing hydrogen, hydrogen-powered vehicles, hydrogen fuel cells, and other hydrogen products toward the end of the twentieth century. Hydrogen is intrinsically ‘‘cleaner’’ than any other fuel used to date because combustion of hydrogen with oxygen produces energy with only water, no greenhouse gases or particulate exhaust fumes, as a byproduct. At the close of the twentieth century, however, although prototypes and demonstration projects abounded, commercial competitiveness with conventional fuels was still only a distant prospect.

From almost wholly somatic sources of power in 1900, energy and power developed at an astonishing pace through the century. As the century closed, despite support for ‘‘green’’ power, particularly in developed nations, the worldwide generation of energy was still dominated by fossil fuels. Nevertheless, unprecedented changes seemed possible, driven for the first time by environmental and social concerns rather than technological possibilities or purely commercial considerations. Awareness of energy-related carbon emissions issues addressed by the Kyoto protocol raised questions concerning the institutional arrangements on both national and international levels, and their capacity for action in responding to public demand. After a century of development, a wide variety of institutional and regulatory regimes evolved around electricity supply. These most often took the form of a franchised, regulated monopoly within clearly defined administrative boundaries, in a functional symbiosis with government. However, each has the same basic technical model at its heart; Large, central generators produce AC electricity, and deliver it to consumers over a network. The continuing stable operation of this system on which many millions of people rely, once considered the responsibility of central governments, is changing. The increasing shift toward liberalization and internationalization is moving responsibility for energy supplies away from state-owned organizations, a trend compounded by the environmental and institutional implications of renewable energy technologies.

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Regions & Countries

How republicans view climate change and energy issues.

Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress.

Growing share of Americans favor more nuclear power

A majority of Americans (57%) say they favor more nuclear power plants to generate electricity in the country, up from 43% who said this in 2020.

Why Some Americans Do Not See Urgency on Climate Change

As the Earth’s temperature continues to rise, climate change remains a lower priority for some Americans, and a subset of the public rejects that it’s happening at all. To better understand the perspectives of those who see less urgency to address climate change, the Center conducted a series of in-depth interviews designed to provide deeper insight into the motivations and views of those most skeptical about climate change.

What the data says about Americans’ views of climate change

Two-thirds of Americans say the United States should prioritize developing renewable energy sources over expanding the production of fossil fuels.

How Americans view electric vehicles

About four-in-ten Americans (38%) say they’re very or somewhat likely to seriously consider an electric vehicle (EV) for their next vehicle purchase.

Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change

Large shares of Americans support the U.S. taking steps to address global climate change and prioritize renewable energy development in the country. Still, fewer than half are ready to phase out fossil fuels completely and 59% oppose ending the production of gas-powered cars.

Home solar panel adoption continues to rise in the U.S.

While residential solar power generates just a fraction of the country’s overall electricity, it has continued to grow rapidly.

Americans support incentives for electric vehicles but are divided over buying one themselves

Overall, two-thirds of Americans support providing incentives to increase the use of electric and hybrid vehicles.

A Majority of Americans Favor Expanding Natural Gas Production To Export to Europe

Yet renewable sources, like wind and solar, remain Americans’ overall priority for domestic production.

Americans Largely Favor U.S. Taking Steps To Become Carbon Neutral by 2050

Majorities of Americans say the United States should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources and take steps toward the country becoming carbon neutral by the year 2050. But just 31% want to phase out fossil fuels completely, and many foresee unexpected problems in a major transition to renewable energy.

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About Pew Research Center Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts .

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Green economy summit: how can Australia get more from its relationship with Vietnam?

Trang Nguyen , Climateworks Centre and Anna Skarbek , Climateworks Centre

A bridge to nowhere: Natural gas will not lead Canada to a sustainable energy future

Amy Janzwood , University of British Columbia and Heather Millar , University of New Brunswick

Eco-friendly tech comes with its own environmental costs: that’s why it’s vital to cut energy demand now

Timothy Laing , University of Brighton

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450+ Technology Research Topics & Ideas for Your Paper

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Technology is like a massive puzzle where each piece connects to form the big picture of our modern lives. Be it a classroom, office, or a hospital, technology has drastically changed the way we communicate and do business. But to truly understand its role, we need to explore different technology research topics.

And that's where this blog will be handy! Powered by solid experience, our professional term paper writers gathered multiple technology research paper topics in literally any direction. Whether you're a student looking for an intriguing subject for your project or just a tech enthusiast trying to broaden your understanding, we've got your back. Dive into this collection of tech topics and see how technological progress is shaping our world.

What Are Technology Topics?

Technology is the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. It's the smartphone in your hand, the electric car on your street, and the spacecraft exploring Mars. It might also be the code that protects your online privacy and the microscope that uncovers mysteries of the human cell.

Technology permeates our lives, revolutionizing the way we communicate, learn, work, and play. But, beyond the gadgets and gizmos, there's a world of diverse technology research topics, ideas, concepts, and challenges.

Technology topics zoom in on these ideas, peeling back the layers of the tech universe. As a researcher, you might study how AI is changing healthcare, explore the ethical implications of robotics, or investigate the latest innovations in renewable energy. Your project should probe into the 'how,' the 'why,' and the 'what next' of the technology that is reshaping our world. So, whether you're dissecting the impact of EdTech on traditional learning or predicting the future of space exploration, research topics in technology are limitless.

Branches of Technology Research Paper Topics

Undoubtedly, the reach of technology is extensive. It's woven its way into almost every corner of our lives. Before we move to technological research topics, let’s first see just where technology has left its mark. So, here are some areas where technology is really shaking things up:

• Government services: E-governance, digital IDs, and digital voting are just a few examples of technology's application in government services.
• Finance: Fintech innovations include cryptocurrencies, mobile banking, robo-advising, and contactless payments.
• Education: Technology is used in a wide variety of educational contexts, from e-learning platforms and digital textbooks to educational games and virtual classrooms.
• Communication: Social media, video conferencing, instant messaging, and email are all examples of tech's role in communication.
• Healthcare: From electronic medical records and telemedicine to advanced imaging technology and robotic surgery, technology is surely transforming healthcare.
• Agriculture: Technological advancements are revolutionizing agriculture through precision farming, automated machinery, drones, and genetic engineering.
• Retail: It also influences retail through e-commerce, mobile payments, virtual fitting rooms, and personalized shopping experiences.
• Environment: Tech is used in climate modeling, conservation efforts, renewable energy, and pollution control.

These are far from all sectors where technology can be applied. But this list shows how diverse topics in technology can be.

How to Choose a Technology Research Topic?

Before you select any idea, it’s important to understand what a good technology research topic is. In a nutshell, a decent topic should be interesting, relevant, and feasible to research within your available resources and time. Make sure it’s specific enough, but not to narrow so you can find enough credible resources. 

Your technology topic sets the course of your research. It influences the type and amount of information you'll search for, the methods you'll use to find it, and the way you'll interpret it. Ultimately, the right topic can make your research process not only more manageable but also more meaningful. But how to get started, you may ask. Don’t worry! Below we are going to share valuable tips from our thesis writers on how to choose a worthy topic about technology.

• Make research Study the latest trends and explore relevant technology news. Your task is to come up with something unique that’s not been done before. Try to look for inspiration in existing literature, scientific articles, or in past projects.
• Recognize your interests Start with what you are genuinely curious about in the field of technology. Passion can be a great motivator during the research process.
• Consider the scope You want a topic that is neither too broad nor too narrow. It should provide enough material to explore without being overwhelming.
• Check availability of resources Ensure there are sufficient trustworthy resources available for your chosen topic.
• Evaluate the relevance Your technology research idea should be pertinent to your field of study and resonate with current trends. This can make your research more valuable and engaging for your audience.

Top List of Technology Research Topics

Are you looking for the best research topics about technology? Stop by! Here, we’ve carefully collected the topic ideas to ignite your curiosity and support your research. Each topic offers various data sources, allowing you to construct well-supported arguments. So, let's discover these fascinating subjects together!

• AI's influence on healthcare.
• Challenges of cybersecurity in a connected world.
• Role of drones in modern agriculture.
• Could renewable energy replace fossil fuels?
• Impact of virtual reality on education.
• Blockchain's potential beyond cryptocurrencies.
• Ethical considerations in biotechnology.
• Can smart cities enhance quality of life?
• Autonomous vehicles – opportunities and threats.
• Robotics in manufacturing.
• Is big data changing decision-making processes?
• E-waste : Challenges and solutions.
• Role of IoT in smart homes.
• Implications of 5G technology.
• EdTech: A revolution in learning?

Good Technology Research Topics

Ready for another batch of inspiration? Get ready to discover great technology topics for a research paper across various disciplines. These ideas are designed to stimulate your creativity and provide substantial information for your research. So, let's explore these exciting themes together!

• Impact of nanotechnology on medicine.
• Harnessing quantum computing potential.
• Augmented reality in tourism.
• Can bioinformatics revolutionize disease prediction?
• Sustainability in tech product design.
• Darknet : A hidden side of the internet.
• How does technology influence human behavior?
• Assistive technology in special education.
• Are smart textiles transforming the fashion industry?
• Role of GIS in urban planning.
• Space tourism: A reality or fantasy?
• Potential of digital twins in engineering.
• How is telemedicine shaping healthcare delivery?
• Green IT : Addressing environmental issues.
• Impact of machine learning on finance.

Interesting Technology Research Paper Topics

For those craving intriguing angles and fresh ideas, we present these interesting topics in technology. This collection is filled with thought-provoking subjects that cover the lesser-known areas of technology. Each topic is concise, clear, and ready to spark a fascinating research journey!

• Cyber-physical systems in industry 4.0.
• Social implications of deepfake technology.
• Can gamification enhance learning outcomes?
• Neuromorphic computing: Emulating the human brain.
• Li-Fi : Light-based communication technology.
• Health risks of prolonged screen time.
• Quantum cryptography and secure communication.
• Role of technology in sustainable agriculture.
• Can we predict earthquakes with AI?
• Virtual influencers: A new trend in marketing.
• Tech solutions for wildlife conservation.
• Role of 3D printing in organ transplantation.
• Impact of automation on the job market.
• Cloud gaming: A new era in the gaming industry.
• Genomic editing: Possibilities and ethical concerns.

New Technology Research Topics

Understanding the fast-paced world of technology requires us to keep up with the latest developments. Hence, we bring you burning  technology research paper topics. These ideas reflect the most recent trends and advances in technology, offering fresh perspectives for your research. Let's take a look at these compelling subjects!

• Potential of hyper automation in business processes.
• How is AI changing digital marketing?
• Brain-computer interfaces: The future of communication?
• Quantum supremacy : Fact or fiction?
• 5D data storage: Revolutionizing data preservation.
• Rise of voice technology in consumer applications.
• Using AI for mental health treatment.
• Implications of edge computing for IoT devices.
• Personalized learning with AI in education.
• Role of technology in reducing food waste.
• Digital twin technology in urban development.
• Impact of AI on patent law.
• Cybersecurity in the era of quantum computing.
• Role of VR in disaster management training.
• AI in talent recruitment: Pros and cons.

Unique Technology Research Topics

For those wanting to stand out with truly original research, we offer 100% authentic topics about technology. We understand that professors highly value unique perspectives. Below we've meticulously selected these technology paper topics to offer you something different. These are not your everyday technology subjects but rather unexpected gems ready to be explored.

• Digital ethics in AI application.
• Role of technology in countering climate change.
• Is there a digital divide in developing countries?
• Role of drones in disaster management.
• Quantum internet: Possibilities and challenges.
• Digital forensic techniques in cybersecurity.
• Impact of technology on traditional art forms.
• Biohacking: Can we really upgrade ourselves?
• Technology and privacy: An inevitable trade-off?
• Developing empathy through virtual reality.
• AI and creativity: Can machines be artists?
• Technology's impact on urban gardening.
• Role of technology in accessible tourism.
• Quantum biology: A frontier of science.
• Unmanned underwater vehicles: Opportunities and threats.

Informative Research Topics in Technology

If you are seeking comprehensive information on technologies, this selection will definitely provide you with insights. As you may know, every study should be backed up by credible sources. Technology topics for research papers below are very easy to investigate, so you will surely find a bunch of academic resources.

• Exploring  adaptive learning systems in online education.
• Role of technology in modern archaeology.
• Impact of immersive technology on journalism.
• The rise of telehealth services.
• Green data centers: A sustainable solution?
• Cybersecurity in mobile banking.
• 3D bioprinting : A revolution in healthcare?
• How technology affects sleep quality.
• AI in music production: A new era?
• Technology's role in preserving endangered languages.
• Smart grids for sustainable energy use.
• The future of privacy in a digital world.
• Can technology enhance sports performance?
• Role of AR in interior design.
• How technology is transforming public libraries.

Controversial Research Topics on Technology

Technological field touches upon areas where technology, ethics, and society intersect and often disagree. This has sparked debates and, sometimes, conspiracy theories, primarily because of the profound implications technologies have for our future. Take a look at these ideas, if you are up to a more controversial research topic about technology:

• Facial recognition technology: Invasion of privacy?
• Tech addiction: Myth or reality?
• The ethics of AI in warfare.
• Should social media platforms censor content?
• Are cryptocurrencies a boon or a bane?
• Is technology causing more harm than good to our health?
• The bias in machine learning algorithms.
• Genetic engineering: Playing God or advancing science?
• Will AI replace human jobs?
• Net neutrality: Freedom of internet or control?
• The risk of AI superintelligence.
• Tech companies' monopoly: Beneficial or detrimental?
• Are we heading towards a surveillance society?
• AI in law enforcement: Safeguard or threat?
• Do we rely too much on technology?

Easy Technology Research Paper Topics

Who ever thought the tech field was only for the tech-savvy? Well, it's time to dispel that myth. Here in our collection of simple technology research topics, we've curated subjects that break down complex tech concepts into manageable chunks. We believe that every student should get a chance to run a tech related project without any hurdles.

• Impact of social media on interpersonal communication.
• Smartphones: A boon or a bane?
• How technology improves accessibility for people with disabilities.
• E-learning versus traditional learning.
• Impact of technology on travel and tourism.
• Pros and cons of online shopping.
• How has technology changed entertainment?
• Technology's role in boosting productivity at work.
• Online safety: How to protect ourselves?
• Importance of digital literacy in today's world.
• How has technology influenced the music industry?
• E-books vs printed books: A tech revolution?
• Does technology promote loneliness?
• Role of technology in shaping modern communication.
• The impact of gaming on cognitive abilities.

Technology Research Topics Ideas for Students

As an experienced paper writing service online that helps students all the time, we understand that every learner has unique academic needs. With this in mind, the next section of our blog is designed to cater specifically to different academic levels. Whether you're a high school student just starting to explore technology or a doctoral candidate delving deep into a specialized topic, we've got different technology topics arranged by complexity.

Technology Research Topics for High School Students

High school students are expected to navigate complex topics, fostering critical thinking and promoting in-depth exploration. The proposed research paper topics on technology will help students understand how tech advancements shape various sectors of society and influence human life.

• How have smartphones changed our communication?
• Does virtual reality in museums enhance visitor experience?
• Understanding privacy issues in social media.
• How has technology changed the way we listen to music?
• Role of technology in promoting fitness and healthy lifestyle.
• Advantages and disadvantages of online learning.
• Does excessive screen time affect sleep quality?
• Do video games affect academic performance?
• How do GPS systems work?
• How has technology improved animation in films?
• Pros and cons of using smart home devices.
• Are self-driving cars safe?
• Technology's role in modernizing local libraries.
• Can technology help us lead more sustainable lifestyles?
• Can technology help improve road safety for teenagers?

Technology Research Topics for College Students

Think technology research topics for college are all about rocket science? Think again! Our compilation of college-level tech research topics brings you a bunch of intriguing, conversation-stirring, and head-scratching questions. They're designed to let you sink into the world of technology while also pushing your academic boundaries. Time to dive in, explore, question, and take your own unique stance on hot-button issues.

• Biometrics in identity verification: A privacy risk?
• Impact of 5G on mobile gaming.
• Are wearable fitness devices a true reflection of health?
• Can machine learning help predict climate change effects?
• Are digital currencies disrupting traditional finance?
• Use of drones in search and rescue operations.
• Impact of e-learning on academic performance.
• Does artificial intelligence have a place in home security?
• What are the ethical issues surrounding robotic surgery?
• Are e-wallets a safer option for online transactions?
• How has technology transformed news dissemination?
• AI in language translation: How accurate can it be?
• Personalized advertising: Boon or bane for online users?
• Are smart classes making learning more interactive?
• Influence of technology on homemade crafts and DIY culture.

Technology Research Topics for University Students

Are you browsing for university technology research ideas? We've got you covered. Whether you're about to dig deep into high-tech debates, or just taking your first steps, our list of technology research questions is your treasure chest.

• Blockchain applications in ensuring academic integrity.
• Impact of quantum computing on data security.
• Are brain-computer interfaces a future communication tool?
• Does digital currency pose a threat to the global economy?
• Use of AI in predicting and managing natural disasters.
• Can biometrics replace traditional identification systems?
• Role of nanotechnology in waste management.
• Machine learning's influence on climate change modeling.
• Edge computing: Revolutionizing data processing?
• Is virtual reality in psychological therapy a viable option?
• Potential of synthetic biology in medical research.
• Quantum cryptography: An uncrackable code?
• Is space tourism achievable with current technology?
• Ethical implications of gene editing technologies.
• Artificial intelligence in governance.

Technology Research Paper Topics in Different Areas

In the next section, we've arranged a collection of technology research questions related to different areas like computer science, biotechnology, and medicine. Find an area you are interested in and look through subject-focused ideas and topics for a research paper on technology.

Technology Research Topics on Computer Science

Computer science is a field that has rapidly developed over the past decades. It deals with questions of technology's influence on society, as well as applications of cutting-edge technologies in various industries and sectors. Here are some computer science research topics on technology to get started:

• Prospects of machine learning in malware detection.
• Influence of cloud computing on business operations.
• Quantum computing: potential impacts on cryptography.
• Role of big data in personalized marketing.
• Can AI models effectively simulate human decision-making?
• Future of mobile applications: Towards augmented reality?
• Pros and cons of open source software development.
• Role of computer science in advancing virtual reality.
• Natural language processing: Transforming human-computer interaction?
• Developing secure e-commerce platforms: Challenges and solutions.
• Green computing : solutions for reducing energy consumption.
• Data mining in healthcare: An untapped opportunity?
• Understanding cyber threats in the internet of things.
• Algorithmic bias: Implications for automated decision-making.
• Role of neural networks in image recognition.

Information Technology Research Topics

Information technology is a dynamic field that involves the use of computers and software to manage and process information. It's crucial in today's digital era, influencing a range of industries from healthcare to entertainment. Here are some captivating information technology related topics:

• Impact of cloud technology on data management.
• Role of information technology in disaster management.
• Can artificial intelligence help improve data accuracy?
• Cybersecurity measures for protecting personal information.
• Evolving role of IT in healthcare administration.
• Adaptive learning systems: A revolution in education?
• E-governance : Impact on public administration.
• Role of IT in modern supply chain management.
• Bioinformatics and its role in personalized medicine.
• Is data mining an invasion of privacy?
• Can virtual reality enhance training and development programs?
• Role of IT in facilitating remote work.
• Smart devices and data security: A potential risk?
• Harnessing IT for sustainable business practices.
• How can big data support decision-making processes?

Technology Research Topics on Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence, or AI as we fondly call it, is all about creating machines that mimic human intelligence. It's shaping everything from how we drive our cars to how we manage our calendars. Want to understand the mind of a machine? Choose a topic about technology for a research paper from the list below:

• AI's role in detecting fake news.
• Chatbots in customer service: Are humans still needed?
• Algorithmic trading: AI's impact on financial markets.
• AI in agriculture: a step towards sustainable farming?
• Facial recognition systems: an AI revolution or privacy threat?
• Can AI outperform humans in creative tasks?
• Sentiment analysis in social media: how effective is AI?
• Siri, Alexa, and the future of AI.
• AI in autonomous vehicles: safety concern or necessity?
• How AI algorithms are transforming video games.
• AI's potential in predicting and mitigating natural disasters.
• Role of AI in combating cyber threats.
• Influence of AI on job recruitment and HR processes.
• Can AI help in advancing climate change research?
• Can machines make accurate diagnoses?

Technology Research Topics in Cybersecurity Command

Cybersecurity Command focuses on strengthening digital protection. Its goal is to identify vulnerabilities, and outsmart cyber threats. Ready to crack the code of the cybersecurity command? Check out these technology topics for research designed to take you through the tunnels of cyberspace:

• Cybersecurity strategies for a post-quantum world.
• Role of AI in identifying cyber threats.
• Is cybersecurity command in healthcare a matter of life and death?
• Is there any connection between cryptocurrency and cybercrime?
• Cyber warfare : The invisible battleground.
• Mitigating insider threats in cybersecurity command.
• Future of biometric authentication in cybersecurity.
• IoT security: command challenges and solutions.
• Cybersecurity and cloud technology: A secure match?
• Influence of blockchain on cybersecurity command.
• Machine learning's role in malware detection.
• Cybersecurity protocols for mobile devices.
• Ethics in cybersecurity: Hacking back and other dilemmas.
• What are some steps to recovery after a breach?
• Social engineering: Human factor in cybersecurity.

Technology Research Topics on Biotechnology

Biotechnology is an interdisciplinary field that has been gaining a lot of traction in the past few decades. It involves the application of biological principles to understand and solve various problems. The following research topic ideas for technology explore biotechnology's impact on medicine, environment, agriculture, and other sectors:

• Can GMOs solve global hunger issues?
• Understanding biotech's role in developing personalized medicine.
• Using biotech to fight antibiotic resistance.
• Pros and cons of genetically modified animals.
• Biofuels – are they really a sustainable energy solution?
• Ethical challenges in gene editing.
• Role of biotech in combating climate change.
• Can biotechnology help conserve biodiversity?
• Biotech in beauty: Revolutionizing cosmetics.
• Bioluminescence – a natural wonder or a biotech tool?
• Applications of microbial biotechnology in waste management.
• Human organ farming: Possibility or pipe dream?
• Biotech and its role in sustainable agriculture.
• Biotech advancements in creating allergy-free foods.
• Exploring the future of biotech in disease detection.

>> Read more: Biology Topics to Research

Technology Research Paper Topics on Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is an area of science that involves the manipulation of genes to change or enhance biological characteristics. This field has raised tremendous ethical debates while offering promising solutions in medicine and agriculture. Here are some captivating topics for a technology research paper on genetic engineering:

• Future of gene editing: Breakthrough or ethical dilemma?
• Role of CRISPR technology in combating genetic diseases.
• Pros and cons of genetically modified crops.
• Impact of genetic engineering on biodiversity.
• Can gene therapy provide a cure for cancer?
• Genetic engineering and the quest for designer babies.
• Legal aspects of genetic engineering.
• Use of genetic engineering in organ transplantation.
• Genetic modifications: Impact on human lifespan.
• Genetically engineered pets: A step too far?
• The role of genetic engineering in biofuels production.
• Ethics of genetic data privacy.
• Genetic engineering and its impact on world hunger.
• Genetically modified insects: Solution for disease control?
• Genetic engineering: A tool for biological warfare?

Reproduction Technology Research Paper Topics

Reproduction technology is all about the science that aids human procreation. It's a field teeming with innovation, from IVF advancements to genetic screening. Yet, it also stirs up ethical debates and thought-provoking technology topics to write about:

• Advances in in Vitro Fertilization (IVF) technology .
• The rise of surrogacy: Technological advancements and implications.
• Ethical considerations in sperm and egg donation.
• Genetic screening of embryos: A step forward or an ethical minefield?
• Role of technology in understanding and improving fertility.
• Artificial Wombs: Progress and prospects.
• Ethical and legal aspects of posthumous reproduction.
• Impact of reproductive technology on the LGBTQ+ community.
• The promise and challenge of stem cells in reproduction.
• Technology's role in preventing genetic diseases in unborn babies.
• Social implications of childbearing technology.
• The concept of 'designer babies': Ethical issues and future possibilities.
• Reproductive cloning: Prospects and controversies.
• Technology and the future of contraception.
• Role of AI in predicting successful IVF treatment.

Medical Technology Topics for a Research Paper

The healthcare field is undergoing massive transformations thanks to cutting-edge medical technology. From revolutionary diagnostic tools to life-saving treatments, technology is reshaping medicine as we know it. To aid your exploration of this dynamic field, we've compiled medical technology research paper topics:

• Role of AI in early disease detection.
• Impact of telemedicine on rural healthcare.
• Nanotechnology in cancer treatment: Prospects and challenges.
• Can wearable technology improve patient outcomes?
• Ethical considerations in genome sequencing.
• Augmented reality in surgical procedures.
• The rise of personalized medicine: Role of technology.
• Mental health apps: Revolution or hype?
• Technology and the future of prosthetics.
• Role of Big Data in healthcare decision making.
• Virtual reality as a tool for pain management.
• Impact of machine learning on drug discovery.
• The promise of medical drones for emergency response.
• Technology's role in combating antimicrobial resistance.
• Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Blessing or curse?

>> More ideas: Med Research Topics

Health Technology Research Topics

Health technology is driving modern healthcare to new heights. From apps that monitor vital stats to robots assisting in surgeries, technology's touch is truly transformative. Take a look at these topics related to technology applied in healthcare:

• Role of mobile apps in managing diabetes.
• Impact of health technology on patient privacy.
• Wearable tech: Fad or future of personal health monitoring?
• How can AI help in battling mental health issues?
• Role of digital tools in promoting preventive healthcare.
• Smart homes for the elderly: Boon or bane?
• Technology and its impact on health insurance.
• The effectiveness of virtual therapy sessions.
• Can health chatbots replace human doctors?
• Technology's role in fighting the obesity epidemic.
• The use of blockchain in health data management.
• Impact of technology on sleep health.
• Social media and its effect on mental health.
• Prospects of 3D printing in creating medical equipment.
• Tele-rehabilitation: An effective solution for physical therapy?

>> View more: Public Health Topics to Research

Communication Technology Research Topics

With technology at the helm, our ways of communicating are changing at an unprecedented pace. From simple text messages to immersive virtual conferences, technology has rewritten the rules of engagement. So, without further ado, let's explore these communication research ideas for technology that capture the essence of this revolution.

• AI chatbots: Re-defining customer service.
• The impact of 5G on global communication.
• Augmented Reality: The future of digital marketing?
• Is 'digital divide' hindering global communication?
• Social media's role in shaping public opinion.
• Can holographic communication become a reality?
• Influence of emojis in digital communication.
• The cybersecurity challenges in modern communication.
• Future of journalism in the digital age.
• How technology is reshaping political communication.
• The influence of streaming platforms on viewing habits.
• Privacy concerns in the age of instant messaging.
• Can technology solve the issue of language barriers?
• The rise of podcasting: A digital renaissance.
• Role of virtual reality in remote communication.

Research Topics on Technology in Transportation

Technology is the driving force behind the dramatic changes in transportation, making journeys safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly. Whether it's autonomous vehicles or the concept of Hyperloop, there are many transportation technology topics for a research paper to choose from:

• Electric vehicles: A step towards sustainable travel.
• The role of AI in traffic management.
• Pros and cons of autonomous vehicles.
• Hyperloop: An ambitious vision of the future?
• Drones in goods delivery: Efficiency vs. privacy.
• Technology's role in reducing aviation accidents.
• Challenges in implementing smart highways.
• The implications of blockchain in logistics.
• Could vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicles solve traffic problems?
• Impact of GPS technology on transportation.
• How has technology influenced public transit systems?
• Role of 5G in future transportation.
• Ethical concerns over self-driving cars.
• Technology in maritime safety: Progress and hurdles.
• The evolution of bicycle technology: From spokes to e-bikes.

Technology Research Paper Topics on Education

The intersection of technology and education is an exciting frontier with limitless possibilities. From online learning to interactive classrooms, you can explore various technology paper topics about education:

• How does e-learning affect student engagement?
• VR classrooms: A glimpse into the future?
• Can AI tutors revolutionize personalized learning?
• Digital textbooks versus traditional textbooks: A comparison.
• Gamification in education: Innovation or distraction?
• The impact of technology on special education.
• How are Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) reshaping higher education?
• The role of technology in inclusive education.
• Cybersecurity in schools: Measures and challenges.
• The potential of Augmented Reality (AR) in classroom learning.
• How is technology influencing homeschooling trends?
• Balancing technology and traditional methods in early childhood education.
• Risks and benefits of student data tracking.
• Can coding be the new literacy in the 21st century?
• The influence of social media on academic performance.

>> Learn more: Education Research Paper Topics

Relationships and Technology Research Topics

In the digital age, technology also impacts our relationships. It has become an integral part of how we communicate, meet people, and sustain our connections. Discover some thought-provoking angles with these research paper topics about technology:

• How do dating apps affect modern relationships?
• The influence of social media on interpersonal communication.
• Is technology enhancing or hindering long-distance relationships?
• The psychology behind online dating: A study.
• How do virtual reality environments impact social interaction?
• Social media friendships: Genuine or superficial?
• How does technology-mediated communication affect family dynamics?
• The impact of technology on work-life balance.
• The role of technology in sustaining long-term relationships.
• How does the 'always connected' culture influence personal boundaries?
• Cyberbullying and its effect on teenage relationships.
• Can technology predict compatibility in relationships?
• The effects of 'ghosting' in digital communication.
• How technology assists in maintaining relationships among elderly populations.
• Social media: A boon or bane for marital relationships?

Agriculture Technology Research Paper Topics

Modern agriculture is far from just tilling the soil and harvesting crops. Technology has made remarkable strides into the fields, innovating and improving agricultural processes. Take a glance at these technology research paper topic ideas:

• Can drone technology transform crop monitoring?
• Precision agriculture: Benefits and challenges.
• Aquaponics and the future of sustainable farming.
• How is artificial intelligence aiding in crop prediction?
• Impact of blockchain technology in food traceability.
• The role of IoT in smart farming.
• Vertical farming : Is it a sustainable solution for urban food supply?
• Innovations in irrigation technology for water conservation.
• Automated farming: A boon or a threat to employment in agriculture?
• How satellite imagery is improving crop disease detection.
• Biotechnology in crop improvement: Pros and cons.
• Nanotechnology in agriculture: Scope and limitations.
• Role of robotics in livestock management.
• Agricultural waste management through technology.
• Is hydroponics the future of farming?

Technological Research Topics on Environment

Our planet is facing numerous environmental challenges, and technology may hold the key to solving many of these. With innovations ranging from renewable energy sources to waste management systems, the realm of technology offers a plethora of research angles. So, if you're curious about the intersection of technology and environment, this list of research topics is for you:

• Innovations in waste management: A technology review.
• The role of AI in predicting climate change impacts.
• Renewable energy: Advancements in solar technology.
• The impact of electric vehicles on carbon emissions.
• Can smart agriculture help solve world hunger?
• Role of technology in water purification and conservation.
• The impact of IoT devices on energy consumption.
• Technology solutions for oil spills.
• Satellite technology in environmental monitoring.
• Technological advances in forest conservation.
• Green buildings: Sustainable construction technology.
• Bioengineering: A solution to soil erosion?
• Impact of nanotechnology on environmental conservation.
• Ocean clean-up initiatives: Evaluating existing technology.
• How can technology help in reducing air pollution?

>> View more: Environmental Science Research Topics

Energy & Power Technology Topics for Research Paper

Energy and power are two pivotal areas where technology is bringing unprecedented changes. You can investigate renewable energy sources or efficient power transmission. If you're excited about exploring the intricacies of energy and power advancements, here are some engaging technology topics for research papers:

• Assessing the efficiency of wind energy technologies.
• Power storage: Current and future technology.
• Solar panel technology: Recent advancements and future predictions.
• Can nuclear fusion be the answer to our energy crisis?
• Smart grid technology: A revolution in power distribution.
• Evaluating the impact of hydropower on ecosystems.
• The role of AI in optimizing power consumption.
• Biofuels vs. fossil fuels: A comparative study.
• Electric vehicle charging infrastructure: Technological challenges and solutions.
• Technology advancements in geothermal power.
• How is IoT technology helping in energy conservation?
• Harnessing wave and tidal energy: Technological possibilities.
• Role of nanotechnology in improving solar cell efficiency.
• Power transmission losses: Can technology provide a solution?
• Assessing the future of coal technology in the era of renewable energy.

Research Topics about Technology in Finance

The finance sector has seen drastic changes with the rise of technology, which has revolutionized the way financial transactions are conducted and services are offered. Consider these research topics in technology applied in the finance sector:

• Rise of cryptocurrency: An evaluation of Bitcoin's impact.
• Algorithmic trading: How does it reshape financial markets?
• Role of AI and machine learning in financial forecasting.
• Technological challenges in implementing digital banking.
• How is blockchain technology transforming financial services?
• Cybersecurity risks in online banking: Identifying solutions.
• FinTech startups: Disrupting traditional finance systems.
• Role of technology in financial inclusion.
• Assessing the impact of mobile wallets on the banking sector.
• Automation in finance: Opportunities and threats.
• Role of big data analytics in financial decision making.
• AI-based robo-advisors vs. human financial advisors.
• The future of insurance technology (InsurTech).
• Can technology solve the issue of financial fraud?
• Impact of regulatory technology (RegTech) in maintaining compliance.

>> More ideas: Finance Research Topics

War Technology Research Paper Topics

The nature of warfare has transformed significantly with the evolution of technology, shifting the battlegrounds from land, sea, and air to the realms of cyber and space. This transition opens up a range of topics to explore. Here are some research topics in the realm of war technology:

• Drones in warfare: Ethical implications.
• Cyber warfare: Assessing threats and defense strategies.
• Autonomous weapons: A boon or a curse?
• Implications of artificial intelligence in modern warfare.
• Role of technology in intelligence gathering.
• Satellite technology and its role in modern warfare.
• The future of naval warfare: Autonomous ships and submarines.
• Hypersonic weapons: Changing the dynamics of war.
• Impact of nuclear technology in warfare.
• Technology and warfare: Exploring the relationship.
• Information warfare: The role of social media.
• Space warfare: Future possibilities and implications.
• Bio-warfare: Understanding technology's role in development and prevention.
• Impact of virtual reality on military training.
• War technology and international law: A critical examination.

Food Technology Topics for Research Papers

Food technology is a field that deals with the study of food production, preservation, and safety. It involves understanding how various techniques can be applied to increase shelf life and improve nutrition value of foods. Check out our collection of food technology research paper topic ideas:

• Lab-grown meats: Sustainable solution or a mere hype?
• How AI is enhancing food safety and quality?
• Precision agriculture: Revolutionizing farming practices.
• GMOs: Assessing benefits and potential risks.
• Role of robotics in food manufacturing and packaging.
• Smart kitchens: Streamlining cooking through technology.
• Nanofood: Tiny technology, big impact.
• Sustainable food systems: Role of technology.
• Food traceability: Ensuring transparency and accountability.
• Food delivery apps: Changing the face of dining out.
• The rise of plant-based alternatives and their production technologies.
• Virtual and augmented reality in culinary experiences.
• Technology in mitigating food waste.
• Innovations in food packaging: Impact on freshness and sustainability.
• IoT in smart farming: Improving yield and reducing waste.

Entertainment Technology Topics

Entertainment technology is reinventing the ways we experience amusement. This industry is always presenting new angles for research and discussion, be it the rise of virtual reality in movies or the influence of streaming platforms on the music industry. Here's a list of unique research topics related to entertainment technology:

• Impact of virtual reality on the movie industry.
• Streaming platforms vs traditional media: A comparative study.
• Technology in music: Evolution and future prospects.
• eSports: Rise of a new form of entertainment.
• Augmented reality in theme parks.
• The transformation of theater with digital technology.
• AI and film editing: Redefining the art.
• The role of technology in the rise of independent cinema.
• Podcasts: Revolutionizing radio with technology.
• Immersive technologies in art exhibitions.
• The influence of technology on fashion shows and design.
• Livestreaming concerts: A new norm in the music industry?
• Drones in entertainment: Applications and ethics.
• Social media as an entertainment platform.
• The transformation of journalism in the era of digital entertainment.

Technology Research Questions

As we navigate the ever-changing landscape of technology, numerous intriguing questions arise. Below, we present new research questions about technology that can fuel your intellectual pursuit.

• What potential does quantum computing hold for resolving complex problems?
• How will advancements in AI impact job security across different sectors?
• In what ways can blockchain technology reform the existing financial systems?
• How is nanotechnology revolutionizing the field of medicine?
• What are the ethical implications surrounding the use of facial recognition technology?
• How will the introduction of 6G change our communication patterns?
• In what ways is green technology contributing to sustainable development?
• Can virtual reality transform the way we approach education?
• How are biometrics enhancing the security measures in today's digital world?
• How is space technology influencing our understanding of the universe?
• What role can technology play in solving the global water crisis?
• How can technology be leveraged to combat climate change effectively?
• How is technology transforming the landscape of modern agriculture?
• Can technological advancements lead to a fully renewable energy-dependent world?
• How does technology influence the dynamics of modern warfare?

Bottom Line on Research Topics in Technology

Technology is a rapidly evolving field, and there's always something new to explore. Whether you're writing for the computer sciences, information technology or food technology realm, there are endless ideas that you can research on. Pick one of these technology research paper topics and jumpstart your project.

Trust professionals to ‘ write a research paper for me !’ Our team of expert writers is ready to assist you in crafting an exceptional research paper on any topic. Just reach out, and we'll provide you with high-quality work tailored to your needs.

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April 9, 2024

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Research finds Americans supportive but misinformed about fusion energy's promise

by University of Oklahoma

Research led by Hank Jenkins-Smith, Ph.D., director of the Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis at the University of Oklahoma, explores American adults' perceptions of fusion energy. This first-of-its-kind study reveals broad public support from respondents, but their limited knowledge of the technology and frequent misconceptions could pose a challenge to those seeking to develop fusion energy in the U.S.

The paper is published in the journal Fusion Science and Technology .

"Our research questions public perceptions of nuclear fission and whether these opinions could affect the potential for fusion energy to become a major power source for the U.S. electrical grid," he said. "It turns out that these social perspectives are significant and must be addressed by engineers, physicists, and regulatory specialists for this technology to be widely adopted."

Fission energy, or the splitting of atoms, differs from fusion energy, which combines two atoms under extreme heat and pressure. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the fusion process is intrinsically safe. It offers an abundant source of energy with very little greenhouse gas emissions or long-living radioactive waste. The same cannot be said for fission energy.

"We discovered that less than half of all respondents had heard of fusion energy, and many confused fission and fusion," he said. "This confusion, along with pop cultural references of Godzilla or Homer Simpson and memories of spectacular accidents, like those at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl or Fukushima, cause them to believe that fusion technology is extraordinarily risky."

Based on their research findings, Jenkins-Smith's team determined that the public wants decision-makers to think carefully about the safety constraints and future incentives for fusion energy in America.

"The fusion industry should look at how the fission industry has developed an amazing safety culture. They've built in many layers and processes to reduce the possibility of accidents," he said. "These are things that fusion regulators must develop ahead of time rather than waiting for a disaster to strike and fixing the problem later."

According to Jenkins-Smith, messaging is an important takeaway from this research. He believes there are potential opportunities for misleading statements, leveraged by fusion opponents, to confuse and scare Americans and to undermine public trust for information from technology supporters.

"Because the public is not well-informed, opponents could fairly easily generate false narratives linking fission to fusion and thereby poisoning public acceptance of fusion moving forward," he said.

"To combat this, developers, regulators, and advocacy groups must be aware of and careful about what they say about fusion energy. They must have humility and avoid making overly optimistic claims that will be difficult or impossible to achieve. Doing so will go a long way in retaining societal acceptance of this technology ."

Study respondents currently express high trust for regulators and operators of prospective fusion energy facilities. These positive views of fusion are based, in part, on technological optimism.

"Americans have a propensity to believe that new technologies can help improve their lives. We're technological optimists," he said. "The more technologically optimistic someone is, the more likely they are to support fusion energy . Harnessing this optimism could help grow our economy, tackle climate change, and address international security and energy concerns."

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Quantum breakthrough when light makes materials magnetic

The potential of quantum technology is huge but is today largely limited to the extremely cold environments of laboratories. Now, researchers at Stockholm University, at the Nordic Institute for Theoretical Physics and at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice have succeeded in demonstrating for the very first time how laser light can induce quantum behavior at room temperature -- and make non-magnetic materials magnetic. The breakthrough is expected to pave the way for faster and more energy-efficient computers, information transfer and data storage.

Within a few decades, the advancement of quantum technology is expected to revolutionize several of society's most important areas and pave the way for completely new technological possibilities in communication and energy. Of particular interest for researchers in the field are the peculiar and bizarre properties of quantum particles -- which deviate completely from the laws of classical physics and can make materials magnetic or superconducting. By increasing the understanding of exactly how and why this type of quantum states arise, the goal is to be able to control and manipulate materials to obtain quantum mechanical properties.

So far, researchers have only been able to induce quantum behaviors, such as magnetism and superconductivity, at extremely cold temperatures. Therefore, the potential of quantum research is still limited to laboratory environments.

Now, a research team from Stockholm University and the Nordic Institute of Theoretical Physics (NORDITA)* in Sweden, the University of Connecticut and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in USA, the National Institute for Materials Science in Tsukuba, Japan, the Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, the 'Sapienza' University of Rome and the Ca' Foscari University of Venice in Italy, is the first in the world to demonstrate in an experiment how laser light can induce magnetism in a non-magnetic material at room temperature. In the study, published in Nature , the researchers subjected the quantum material strontium titanate to short but intense laser beams of a peculiar wavelength and polarization, to induced magnetism.

"The innovation in this method lies in the concept of letting light move atoms and electrons in this material in circular motion, so to generate currents that make it as magnetic as a refrigerator magnet. We have been able to do so by developing a new light source in the far-infrared with a polarization which has a "corkscrew" shape. This is the first time we have been able to induce and clearly see how the material becomes magnetic at room temperature in an experiment. Furthermore, our approach allows to make magnetic materials out of many insulators, when magnets are typically made of metals. In the long run, this opens for completely new applications in society," says the research leader Stefano Bonetti at Stockholm University and at the Ca' Foscari University of Venice

The method is based on the theory of "dynamic multiferroicity," which predicts that when titanium atoms are "stirred up" with circularly polarized light in an oxide based on titanium and strontium, a magnetic field will be formed. But it is only now that the theory can be confirmed in practice. The breakthrough is expected to have broad applications in several information technologies.

"This opens up for ultra-fast magnetic switches that can be used for faster information transfer and considerably better data storage, and for computers that are significantly faster and more energy-efficient," says Alexander Balatsky, professor of physics at NORDITA.

In fact, the results of the team have already been reproduced in several other labs, and a publication in the same issue of Nature demonstrates that this approach can be used to write, and hence store, magnetic information. A new chapter in designing new materials using light has been opened.

• Spintronics
• Quantum Physics
• Spintronics Research
• Quantum Computers
• Computers and Internet
• Quantum computer
• Quantum entanglement
• Quantum tunnelling
• Nanoparticle
• Absolute zero
• Quantum number
• Radiant energy
• Electron configuration

Story Source:

Materials provided by Stockholm University . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• M. Basini, M. Pancaldi, B. Wehinger, M. Udina, V. Unikandanunni, T. Tadano, M. C. Hoffmann, A. V. Balatsky, S. Bonetti. Terahertz electric-field-driven dynamical multiferroicity in SrTiO3 . Nature , 2024; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07175-9

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Office: Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) & Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)

FOA number:  DE-FOA-0003274

FOA Amount: $18.8 million

Phase 1 Selections to be Announced : ~September 2024

Link to Apply:  MACRO: Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity

Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s  Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) and  Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) announced the MACRO: Mixed Algae Conversion Research Opportunity   funding opportunity announcement (FOA).   The FOA will award up to $18.8 million to address research and development (R&D) challenges in converting algae, such as seaweeds and other wet waste feedstocks, to biofuels and bioproducts that can decarbonize domestic transportation, industry, and communities.

Seaweeds, also known as macroalgae, are an emerging biomass resource with unique benefits compared to land-based biomass systems. However, they are underutilized and are difficult to convert due to their variability, unique chemical make-up, and storage instability. Overcoming these conversion challenges will help build algae biomass supply chains, accelerate their demand, and ultimately, drive the U.S. bioeconomy by enabling greater volumes of  sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) conversion to algae.

A wide range of biomass resources, such as readily available seaweeds and wet waste feedstocks, will be critical to reach the  Biden-Harris administration’s decarbonization goal of an equitable, clean energy future of net-zero emissions, economy-wide by no later than 2050. This FOA will also support the government-wide targets of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Grand Challenge , the Executive Order on Advancing Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing Innovation for a Sustainable, Safe, and Secure American Bioeconomy , and the Clean Fuels & Products Shot™ .

Topic Areas

Aligning with BETO and FECM’s strategic program goals, the FOA will fund selected projects in two focus areas: 

• Topic Area 1 : Conversion of Seaweeds to Low Carbon Fuels and Bioproducts   This Topic Area, funded by BETO, will focus on laboratory scale R&D on conversion of seaweeds and seaweed blends with other wet wastes to renewable fuels and bioproducts to enable these readily available feedstocks to access new markets. It aims to address gaps in storage, mobilization, and conversion of readily available algae, including offshore farmed seaweeds, seaweed wastes, and blends of seaweed with other waste algae or blends of seaweed with other wet wastes to low-carbon fuels and bioproducts to enable these readily available feedstocks to access new markets. If successful, these efforts will enable market expansion, address community waste management challenges, and reduce greenhouse gas reductions.  
• Topic Area 2 : Conversion of Algal Biomass for Low Carbon Agricultural Bioproducts This Topic Area, funded by FECM, will support the use of anthropogenic CO 2 streams from industrial sources or utilities to grow micro- and macroalgae for low-carbon bioproducts. It aims to utilize CO 2 emissions streams from utilities or industrial sources to grow algae for source material and create value-added bioproducts (exclusive of fuels). Applications are sought that utilize anthropogenic (e.g., fossil fuel derived) CO 2 emissions, including concentrated CO 2 supplied from DAC technologies, in the cultivation process and then convert macro- and/or micro-algae into low-carbon agricultural applications or bioproducts such as animal feed. Applications are encouraged to focus on optimization of the technologies and processes for the conversion of cultivated algae biomass to bioproducts and clearly describe the end use bioproducts targeted.

Both topic areas contribute to BETO’s  strategic goals for SAFs and other low-carbon bioproducts , as well as FECM’s aims to use CO 2   emissions to grow algae and convert these feedstocks into low-carbon agricultural bioproducts.

BETO anticipates making approximately five to six financial assistance awards lasting from 24 to 36 months under this FOA. FECM intends to award three to four financial assistance awards that will run up to 24 months in length.  

The FOA concept paper  deadline is 5:00 p.m. ET, on May 10, 2024 , and full applications are  due at 5:00 p.m. ET, on June 27, 2024 . More information on the MACRO FOA and how to apply can be found on EERE Exchange . Additional information on the FOA and applicant eligibility is also available on Grants.gov .

An informational webinar  for potential applicants will be held on Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET . 

Additional Information

Visit  BETO’s funding announcement page  for other upcoming funding opportunities.

Teaming Partner List

BETO has compiled a  Teaming Partner List  to encourage collaboration and facilitate the formation of project teams. The list allows organizations wishing to apply for funding to explore partnering with other prospective applicants. Partnerships can provide additional expertise and resources to successfully meet FOA goals. 

Please include the following information in your partner list submission:

Topic Field -  Please enter the Subtopic Area you are interested in. If you would like to be included in multiple Subtopic Areas, please complete separate submissions.

Background, Interests, Capabilities Field -  Please include information about your organization type/characteristics in the “Background, Interest, Capabilities” field to help other participants identify your expertise and resources. BETO also seeks applications from diverse teams of minority-serving institutions (MSIs), including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Minority Business Enterprises, Minority-Owned Businesses, Woman-Owned Businesses, Veteran-Owned Businesses, and tribal entities; workforce education and training providers; and labor organizations.

Any organization that would like to be included on this list should submit the required information via the  Teaming Partner List  on EERE Exchange.

Disclaimer:  By submitting a request to be included on the Teaming Partner List, the requesting organization consents to the publication of the above-referenced information. By enabling and publishing the Teaming Partner List, EERE is not endorsing, sponsoring, or otherwise evaluating the qualifications of the individuals and organizations that are self-identifying themselves for placement on this Teaming Partner List. EERE will not pay for the provision of any information, nor will it compensate any applicants or requesting organizations for the development of such information.

Technology Verification

All applications selected for award negotiations under Topic Area 1 of this FOA are required to participate in a verification process led by DOE’s identified external third-party non-conflicted verification team. This verification process provides  technical assistance  to both BETO and the project by providing an in-depth analysis of key technical and economic metrics to ensure transparency and increase the likelihood of project success.

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A new way to detect radiation involving cheap ceramics

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The radiation detectors used today for applications like inspecting cargo ships for smuggled nuclear materials are expensive and cannot operate in harsh environments, among other disadvantages. Now, in work funded largely by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security with early support from the U.S. Department of Energy, MIT engineers have demonstrated a fundamentally new way to detect radiation that could allow much cheaper detectors and a plethora of new applications.

They are working with Radiation Monitoring Devices , a company in Watertown, Massachusetts, to transfer the research as quickly as possible into detector products.

In a 2022 paper in Nature Materials , many of the same engineers reported for the first time how ultraviolet light can significantly improve the performance of fuel cells and other devices based on the movement of charged atoms, rather than those atoms’ constituent electrons.

In the current work, published recently in Advanced Materials , the team shows that the same concept can be extended to a new application: the detection of gamma rays emitted by the radioactive decay of nuclear materials.

“Our approach involves materials and mechanisms very different than those in presently used detectors, with potentially enormous benefits in terms of reduced cost, ability to operate under harsh conditions, and simplified processing,” says Harry L. Tuller, the R.P. Simmons Professor of Ceramics and Electronic Materials in MIT’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering (DMSE).

Tuller leads the work with key collaborators Jennifer L. M. Rupp, a former associate professor of materials science and engineering at MIT who is now a professor of electrochemical materials at Technical University Munich in Germany, and Ju Li, the Battelle Energy Alliance Professor in Nuclear Engineering and a professor of materials science and engineering. All are also affiliated with MIT’s Materials Research Laboratory

“After learning the Nature Materials work, I realized the same underlying principle should work for gamma-ray detection — in fact, may work even better than [UV] light because gamma rays are more penetrating — and proposed some experiments to Harry and Jennifer,” says Li.

Says Rupp, “Employing shorter-range gamma rays enable [us] to extend the opto-ionic to a radio-ionic effect by modulating ionic carriers and defects at material interfaces by photogenerated electronic ones.”

Other authors of the Advanced Materials paper are first author Thomas Defferriere, a DMSE postdoc, and Ahmed Sami Helal, a postdoc in MIT’s Department of Nuclear Science and Engineering.

Modifying barriers

Charge can be carried through a material in different ways. We are most familiar with the charge that is carried by the electrons that help make up an atom. Common applications include solar cells. But there are many devices — like fuel cells and lithium batteries — that depend on the motion of the charged atoms, or ions, themselves rather than just their electrons.

The materials behind applications based on the movement of ions, known as solid electrolytes, are ceramics. Ceramics, in turn, are composed of tiny crystallite grains that are compacted and fired at high temperatures to form a dense structure. The problem is that ions traveling through the material are often stymied at the boundaries between the grains.

In their 2022 paper, the MIT team showed that ultraviolet (UV) light shone on a solid electrolyte essentially causes electronic perturbations at the grain boundaries that ultimately lower the barrier that ions encounter at those boundaries. The result: “We were able to enhance the flow of the ions by a factor of three,” says Tuller, making for a much more efficient system.

Vast potential

At the time, the team was excited about the potential of applying what they’d found to different systems. In the 2022 work, the team used UV light, which is quickly absorbed very near the surface of a material. As a result, that specific technique is only effective in thin films of materials. (Fortunately, many applications of solid electrolytes involve thin films.)

Light can be thought of as particles — photons — with different wavelengths and energies. These range from very low-energy radio waves to the very high-energy gamma rays emitted by the radioactive decay of nuclear materials. Visible light — and UV light — are of intermediate energies, and fit between the two extremes.

The MIT technique reported in 2022 worked with UV light. Would it work with other wavelengths of light, potentially opening up new applications? Yes, the team found. In the current paper they show that gamma rays also modify the grain boundaries resulting in a faster flow of ions that, in turn, can be easily detected. And because the high-energy gamma rays penetrate much more deeply than UV light, “this extends the work to inexpensive bulk ceramics in addition to thin films,” says Tuller. It also allows a new application: an alternative approach to detecting nuclear materials.

Today’s state-of-the-art radiation detectors depend on a completely different mechanism than the one identified in the MIT work. They rely on signals derived from electrons and their counterparts, holes, rather than ions. But these electronic charge carriers must move comparatively great distances to the electrodes that “capture” them to create a signal. And along the way, they can be easily lost as they, for example, hit imperfections in a material. That’s why today’s detectors are made with extremely pure single crystals of material that allow an unimpeded path. They can be made with only certain materials and are difficult to process, making them expensive and hard to scale into large devices.

Using imperfections

In contrast, the new technique works because of the imperfections — grains — in the material. “The difference is that we rely on ionic currents being modulated at grain boundaries versus the state-of-the-art that relies on collecting electronic carriers from long distances,” Defferriere says.

Says Rupp, “It is remarkable that the bulk ‘grains’ of the ceramic materials tested revealed high stabilities of the chemistry and structure towards gamma rays, and solely the grain boundary regions reacted in charge redistribution of majority and minority carriers and defects.”

Comments Li, “This radiation-ionic effect is distinct from the conventional mechanisms for radiation detection where electrons or photons are collected. Here, the ionic current is being collected.”

Igor Lubomirsky, a professor in the Department of Materials and Interfaces at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, who was not involved in the current work, says, “I found the approach followed by the MIT group in utilizing polycrystalline oxygen ion conductors very fruitful given the [materials’] promise for providing reliable operation under irradiation under the harsh conditions expected in nuclear reactors where such detectors often suffer from fatigue and aging. [They also] benefit from much-reduced fabrication costs.”

As a result, the MIT engineers are hopeful that their work could result in new, less expensive detectors. For example, they envision trucks loaded with cargo from container ships driving through a structure that has detectors on both sides as they leave a port. “Ideally, you’d have either an array of detectors or a very large detector, and that’s where [today’s detectors] really don’t scale very well,” Tuller says.

Another potential application involves accessing geothermal energy, or the extreme heat below our feet that is being explored as a carbon-free alternative to fossil fuels. Ceramic sensors at the ends of drill bits could detect pockets of heat — radiation — to drill toward. Ceramics can easily withstand extreme temperatures of more than 800 degrees Fahrenheit and the extreme pressures found deep below the Earth’s surface.

The team is excited about additional applications for their work. “This was a demonstration of principle with just one material,” says Tuller, “but there are thousands of other materials good at conducting ions.”

Concludes Defferriere: “It’s the start of a journey on the development of the technology, so there’s a lot to do and a lot to discover.”

This work is currently supported by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office. This support does not constitute an express or implied endorsement on the part of the government. It was also funded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

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Solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of more than 9% in photocatalytic water splitting

Photocatalytic water splitting with a high solar-to-hydrogen efficiency of more than nine per cent is achieved using pure water, concentrated solar light and an indium gallium nitride photocatalyst.

• , Ishtiaque Ahmed Navid
•  &  Zetian Mi

Article | 30 November 2022

A membrane-based seawater electrolyser for hydrogen generation

An efficient and scalable direct seawater electrolysis method for hydrogen production that addresses the side-reaction and corrosion problems associated with using seawater instead of pure water is demonstrated.

• , Zhiyu Zhao

Article | 15 November 2022

Regulating surface potential maximizes voltage in all-perovskite tandems

Because open-circuit voltage deficit is greater in wide-bandgap perovskite solar cells, the authors introduce diammonium molecules to modify perovskite surface states and achieve a more uniform spatial distribution of surface potential, enabling record voltage all-perovskite tandem solar cells.

• , Aidan Maxwell

Article | 09 November 2022

Perovskite solar cells based on screen-printed thin films

Using a stable and viscosity-tunable perovskite ink, a hybrid perovskite thin-film photovoltaic device can be deposited by the screen-printing method, which exhibits higher efficiency compared with previously investigated techniques.

• Changshun Chen
• , Jianxin Chen
•  &  Wei Huang

Article | 02 November 2022

Strain-retardant coherent perovskite phase stabilized Ni-rich cathode

The introduction of a coherent perovskite phase into the layered structure of a lithium-ion battery reduces lattice strain and stress to produce a robust crystal structure.

• Liguang Wang
• , Tongchao Liu
•  &  Jun Lu

Article | 12 October 2022

Spatiotemporal imaging of charge transfer in photocatalyst particles

Photovoltage measurements on cuprous oxide photocatalyst particles are used to spatiotemporally track the charge transfer processes on the femtosecond to second timescale at the single-particle level.

• Ruotian Chen
• , Zefeng Ren
•  &  Can Li

Fast charging of energy-dense lithium-ion batteries

A new approach to charging energy-dense electric vehicle batteries, using temperature modulation with a dual-salt electrolyte, promises a range in excess of 500,000 miles using only rapid (under 12 minute) charges.

• Chao-Yang Wang
•  &  Brian D. McCarthy

Article | 21 September 2022

Compositionally complex doping for zero-strain zero-cobalt layered cathodes

A compositionally complex (high-entropy) doping strategy is proposed to fabricate zero-strain high-Ni and Co-free layered cathodes with superior structural and mechanical stabilities and long cycle life.

• , Chunyang Wang
•  &  Huolin L. Xin

Article 12 September 2022 | Open Access

Large harvested energy with non-linear pyroelectric modules

A macroscopic and scalable pyroelectric energy harvester in the form of multilayer capacitors produces 11.2 J of electrical energy, with a pyroelectric material generating up to 4.43 J cm −3  per cycle.

• Pierre Lheritier
• , Alvar Torelló
•  &  Emmanuel Defay

Article | 07 September 2022

A sustained high-temperature fusion plasma regime facilitated by fast ions

A magnetic confinement regime established at the Korea Superconducting Tokamak Advanced Research device enables the generation of plasmas over 10 8  kelvin for 20 seconds with the aid of fast ions without plasma edge instabilities or impurity accumulation.

• , S. J. Park
•  &  Y.-S. Na

Article | 22 July 2022

Electroreduction of nitrogen with almost 100% current-to-ammonia efficiency

A high-efficiency, robust process using a high-concentration imide-based lithium-salt electrolyte enables the electroreduction of nitrogen with stabilized ammonia yield rates of 150 ± 20 nmol s −1   cm −2 and a current-to-ammonia efficiency that is close to 100%.

• Hoang-Long Du
• , Manjunath Chatti
•  &  Alexandr N. Simonov

Article | 08 June 2022

Origin of structural degradation in Li-rich layered oxide cathode

Diffractive imaging of an important class of battery electrodes during cycling shows that lattice strain is a crucial yet overlooked factor that contributes to voltage fade over time.

• Tongchao Liu
• , Jiajie Liu
•  &  Khalil Amine

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Press Release

U.S. Department of Energy Announces $10 Million to Explore Using Plants to Extract Critical Materials from Soil to Support Domestic Supply Chain

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $10 million in funding to explore nickel extraction from soil using plants—a process known as phytomining—to establish a competitive domestic supply chain, supplement conventional mining methods, and reduce nickel imports. Managed by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E), this effort supports  President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to strengthen domestic critical materials supply chains, enhance our economic and national security, and meet the growing demand for critical materials needed to ensure America leads the world in the emerging clean energy economy.

“In order to accomplish the goals laid out by President Biden to meet our clean energy targets, and support our economy and national security, it’s going to take all-hands-on-deck approach and innovative solutions,”  said ARPA-E Director Evelyn N. Wang.  “By exploring phytomining to extract nickel as the first target critical material, ARPA-E aims to achieve a cost-competitive and low-carbon footprint extraction approach needed to support the energy transition.”

Among the critical materials named in the DOE  Critical Materials Assessment (CMA), nickel serves as an ideal target to validate the viability of phytomining in the U.S. due to the large number of documented nickel hyperaccumulation (HA) plants. Nickel is used in the cathodes of lithium-ion batteries present in electric vehicles, consumer electronics, stationary storage, stainless steel, metallurgy, coatings, electroplating, and other alloys. Nickel is crucial to global clean energy technology supply chains and future demand is expected to grow.

The new ARPA-E Exploratory Topic announced today, Plant HYperaccumulators TO MIne Nickel-Enriched Soils (PHYTOMINES) , seeks to spur the technological development of phytomining in the United States that could complement current and future domestic sources of nickel and catalyze phytomining of critical minerals beyond nickel.

The targeted outcomes of PHYTOMINES are: 

• Technologies could be interventions in the soil or plant microbiome or the development of plant traits that enable the accumulation of nickel at an enhanced rate. ARPA-E envisions these projects as early-stage proof-of-concepts likely to take place in closed or open-air laboratories, greenhouses, or confined fields where light, humidity, and temperature regimes can be fully programmed.
• Possible projects include mapping HA species of interest, mineral characteristics in soil, and land ownership data for natural habitats and adjacent areas viable for phytomining, scaling opportunities, and technoeconomic and lifecycle analyses of phytomining projects.

PHYTOMINES encourages partnerships between farmers, scientists, battery manufacturers, steel and mining industries, and more. You can access more information on ARPA-E Exchange .

ARPA-E advances high-potential, high-impact clean energy technologies across a wide range of technical areas that are strategic to America's energy security. Learn more about these efforts and ARPA-E's commitment to ensuring the United States continues to lead the world in developing and deploying advanced clean energy technologies. 

Press and General Inquiries: 202-287-5440 [email protected]

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• Dark matter and energy
• Research update

Baryon acoustic oscillations hint that dark energy may have changed over time

Preliminary observations made by the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI) hint that the acceleration of the expansion of the universe has not been constant – in other words, dark energy has changed over the history of the universe.

At the turn of the millennium, astronomers discovered that the universe has been expanding at an ever increasing rate. This came as a shock to most cosmologists who had assumed that the pull of gravity was slowing the expansion of the universe after the Big Bang.

In 1998 and 1999, two independent teams discovered the acceleration by measuring the distances to supernovae and the speeds that they are receding from Earth. Dark energy – a term that was coined in 1998 – was invoked to provide the vast amount of energy required for this constant acceleration. Three leaders of those teams shared the 2011 Nobel Prize for Physics for the discovery, and in the past quarter century a variety of observations have backed the inclusion of dark energy in the Standard Model of cosmology.

Now, another shock could be coming thanks to DESI, which was designed to study the expansion of the universe.

Robot-controlled optical fibres

DESI is located on the Nicholas U Mayall Telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. In comprises thousands of robot-controlled optical fibres that send light to an array of spectrographs. This allowed DESI to make an extensive map of galaxies and quasars in the universe. The spectroscopic data provide a measure of how fast a galaxy is moving away from us, which is determined by a galaxy’s redshift.

Key to DESI’s dark-energy study is that galaxies are not uniformly distributed throughout the universe, but rather are concentrated in bubble-like regions that are surrounded by emptier space. This is a result of how the early universe expanded and cooled. The process started with a hot plasma through which sound waves propagated, creating areas of high and low density called baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO).

Eventually this plasma “froze” to create the gas that would go on to form the earliest stars and galaxies. Bubbles of galaxies tended to form in the dense regions created by BAO, and these expanded along with the universe. Therefore, the size of a galaxy bubble tells astronomers how old it was when it sent us its light. The team also used the light from ancient quasars to illuminate the BAO, allowing them to probe further back in time than was possible with the galaxy measurements.

Tantalizing hints

Putting the spectroscopic and BAO information together, DESI team could determine the expansion rate of the universe at seven different points in time over the past 11 billion years. While their observations are broadly in line with a constant value of dark energy, DESI scientists have reported tantalizing hints of some deviation.

“So far, we’re seeing basic agreement with our best model of the universe, but we’re also seeing some potentially interesting differences that could indicate that dark energy is evolving with time,” explains DESI’s director Michael Levi , who is based at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the US. “Those may or may not go away with more data, so we’re excited to start analysing our three-year dataset soon.”

New theory links supermassive black holes and dark energy

While the team found that its observations are consistent with dark energy varying with time, the statistical significance of the deviation is only about 3σ. This means that there is about a 0.2% chance that the observation is a statistical fluke. In cosmology and some other fields of physics, a significance of 5σ is required for a discovery.

These observations were made in the first year of operation of DESI, which is expected to survey the universe for at least five years.

“It’s astonishing that with only our first year of data, we can already measure the expansion history of our universe at seven different slices of cosmic time, each with a precision of 1 to 3%,” says Berkeley’s Nathalie Palanque-Delabrouille . “The team put in a tremendous amount of work to account for instrumental and theoretical modelling intricacies, which gives us confidence in the robustness of our first results.”

As well as shedding new light on the expansion of the universe, DESI has also provided new information about the mass of the neutrino.

The BAO observations are described in a preprint on arXiv . Related publications can be found here .

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Advancements in Thermal Safety and Management Technologies for Energy Storage Systems

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Energy storage technology serves as a crucial technology in the utilization of new, clean energy sources, particularly wind and solar energy. However, various energy storage methods, including fixed energy storage devices such as physical and electrochemical energy storage, as well as mobile energy storage ...

Keywords : energy storage, auto mobile, electric vehicle, thermal management, safety technology, solar energy, wind energy, fire risk, battery, cooling pack

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