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Scientists from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and Sandia National Laboratories have added something new to a family of engineered, high-tech materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs): the ability to conduct electricity. This breakthrough—conductive MOFs—has the potential to make these already remarkable materials even more useful, particularly for detecting gases and toxic substances.

A new argument has just been added to the growing case for graphene being bumped off its pedestal as the next big thing in the high-tech world by the two-dimensional semiconductors known as MX2 materials.

The report, BNEF's 2030 Market Outlook, based on modelling of electricity market supply and demand, technology cost evolution and policy development in individual countries and regions, forecasts that Asia-Pacific will account for more than half of the 5TW of net new power capacity that will be added worldwide in the next decade and a half

To start, the stuff is made with the AA-8000 aluminum alloy. This alloy became the required standard for aluminum wiring to resolve the problems of the poor quality aluminum wiring used prior to 1972 (AA-1350 aluminum). Adding the copper cladding allowed the wire to be connected to devices that did not have to be rated for “aluminum.” In fact, brand new, 2014, receptacles that are Tamper Resistant, come rated for both copper and copper-clad wires. This is a testament to the fact that receptacle manufacturers do not see a problem with copper-clad wiring.

This study examines the geopolitical role of 14 metals and metalloids needed for renewable energy technologies. The analysis focuses on three factors with potential geopolitical importance: the geographic concentration of resources, potential revenues of resources rich countries and the size of total global markets.