Case study: Accelerators for a Sustainable Future

Case study: Accelerators for a Sustainable Future

Climate change is a hot topic in science at this moment in time: taking stock of the changes already happening, understanding the dangers, reducing our contribution to climate change and developing new clean energy sources are just some of the issues that scientists from all disciplines are addressing. Many applications of accelerators have been found that can help in the on-going efforts on climate change, ranging from the study of air pollutants in the atmosphere to developing alternative energy sources such as hydrogen fuel.

Water and Flue Gas Treatment

Fuelled by the demands of research, accelerator technology is developing at such a rate that the use of electron accelerators to destroy sulphur oxides and nitrous oxides pumped into the atmosphere by factories and power plants is now becoming a realistic, even better option for companies looking to reduce harmful emissions. Another potential application of electron beam accelerators is in the treatment of waste water. Efficient oxidising molecules are produced by the interaction between the ionising radiation and particles in the water, which leads to cleaner water.

Controlling power plant gas emission: Treatment of the gasses from power plants by small electron accelerators in the flues of these power stations could help to reduce the level of greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere. Image credit: Pomorzany power plant, Poland – Pkuczynski

For more information see;

Article [2009] (Symmetry Magazine): Cleaner living through electrons

Article [2012] (ISIS): Capturing a Cleaner Future

Doc [2011] (African Journal of Environmental Science and Technology): Application of electron beam technology in improving sewage water quality: An advance technique

Web (Forschungszentrum Jülich): Environmentally friendly power plants

(+) Doc (IAEA, 1994) [French]: Traitement des gaz de combustion par faisceaux d'électrons: assainir l'air

Study of Atmospheric Aerosols

Particle accelerators are used to generate X-rays for microscopy techniques used in studying the composition of, and therefore the origins of, atmospheric aerosols. Two such techniques: Scanning Transmission X-ray Microscopy (STXM), using X-rays emitted due to synchrotron radiation by a specialized particle accelerator, and Particle-Induced X-ray Emission (PIXE) spectrometry, are carried out at the Advanced Light Source (ALS) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in the US. These studies are important in helping us understand the effects on the climate of pollution from various sources.

For more information see;

Article [2004] (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory): Composition of Atmospheric Aerosol Particles

Web (Forschungszentrum Jülich): Climate Research

Web (Elettra): Chemical Analysis of Particulates

Web (Jožef Stefan Institute): Environment

Fuel Cell Research

Techniques like Grazing-Incidence Small-Angle X-ray Scattering (GISAXS), which uses synchrotron radiation produced by particle accelerators, and Low-Energy Electron Diffraction Spectroscopy (LEEDS), where the diffraction of electrons from a particle accelerator is measured and used to understand the surface structure of crystalline materials, are used to study the potential of new materials for application in new more powerful batteries and fuel cells for hydrogen driven cars.

For more information see;

Web (Paul Scherrer Institute): Fuel Cell Systems and Diagnostics

Article [2009] (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory): Proton Channel Orientation in Block Copolymer Electrolyte Membranes

Web (Forschungszentrum Jülich): Fuel Cells

Web (Elettra): High Efficiency Energy

Solar Cell Research

Studies of the structure of organic solar cells using specialist spectroscopy and reflectometry techniques at synchrotron radiation facilities are helping to improve our understanding of organic solar cells. This research is helping to make the dream of cheaper, mass produced solar cells a reality, meaning that solar power will have the potential to one day become a realistic alternative to fossil fuels.

For more information see;

Article [2010] (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory): Structure of All Polymer Solar Cells Impedes Efficiency

Article [2011] (ISIS): Spreadable Polymer Solar Cells

Article [2011] (ISIS): Cling-Film Solar Cells Could Lead to Advances in Renewable Energy

Article[2009] (ISIS): Polymers for Organic Solar Cells

Website (Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin for Materials and Energy): Solar Energy Research

Web (Forschungszentrum Jülich): Photovoltaics

Hydrogen Fuel Research

Scientists are using state-of-the-art spectroscopy techniques requiring particle accelerators to gain a deeper understanding of materials with potential uses for hydrogen storage and in electrochemical cells that turn water into fuel!

For more information see;

Article [2011] (ISIS): New Spin-Out Company From ISIS Develops Emission-Free Hydrogen Fuel

Article [2006] (ISIS): The Secrets of Storing Hydrogen

Article [2006] (ISIS): New Material For Hydrogen Storage

Article [2005] (Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory): Hydrogen Storage in Carbon Nanotubes Through Formation of C-H Bonds

(+) Web[German]: Wasserstoffspeicherung im Festkörper (RUBION)

See also the section 'Accelerators for Energy and Environment'