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"pzt-rubber A new material developed by researchers at Princeton and Caltech is capable of harvesting energy from the simplest of movements like walking or breathing. This new rubber chip made of PZT (lead zirconate titanate) nanoribbons could eventually power small portable electronic devices like cell phones. The PZT is embedded in silicone rubber sheets that produce electricity when flexed or other pressure is applied. The scientists who developed the chip see them being inserted into shoes or even within the body to continually harness power for our portable devices. Before that freaks you out too much, the scientists envision the chips being placed next to the lungs to utilize breathing motions for powering pacemakers. Pacemaker users wouldn't have to undergo surgery to replace batteries since their breathing would be a constant source of energy. The reason this particular material stands out compared to all of the other piezoelectric materials out there is that it's far more efficient. According to the researchers, PZT can convert 80 percent of mechanical energy applied to it into electric energy, which is 100 times more efficient than quartz. That efficiency allows it to harness such small movements like breathing and opens up a much greater range of possibilities for its use."

"Light Emitting Wallpaper to Replace Light Bulbs in 2012 Light Emitting Wallpaper to Replace Light Bulbs in 2012 A company developing ultra-efficient organic LED lighting technology has been awarded a £454k grant by the Carbon Trust. The OLED materials, being pioneered by LOMOX Ltd, have a wide variety of potential applications and when coated onto a film could be used to cover walls creating a light-emitting wallpaper which replaces the need for traditional light bulbs. As well as being flexible, OLED film will require a very low operating voltage (between 3 to 5 volts) so it can be powered by solar panels and batteries making it ideal for applications where mains power is not available such as roadside traffic warning signs."

"co2-crystals Scientists at UCLA have developed synthetic crystals that trap gasses like a smart sponge. The crystals are highly selective, allowing them to achieve a 400% improvement in CO2 capture over current technologies. The crystals are three-dimensional and code information in the same manner as DNA. While not as sophisticated as DNA, the developers consider it a significant advancement in chemistry and materials science. The scientists hope the technology could be used to capture CO2 from both large sources like power plants, and smaller ones like vehicle tailpipes and smaller factories. The material could also potentially be used to convert CO2 into a fuel. Ideally, these highly efficient crystals could be used for CO2 capture in lots of different settings while we try to transition to cleaner technologies."