Newsroom

Research Progress
  • 13

    04 2018

    New Perpective of Solar Cells Based on Dual Doping Graphdiyne

    Carbon Based Energy Conversion Materials Research Team led by Professor JIU Tonggang, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), conducted a novel approach of dual doping GD into electron transport layers of PSCs, where the conductivity of electron transport layers was boosted, the resulting device performance was improved, and the certified power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 20% was obtained. The related work was published in Nano Energy. Graphdiyne (GD), an advanced full carbon nano structured material, has drawn extensive attention following in the footsteps of studies on Fullerene, carbon nanotubes and Graphene. It is regarded as the most stable synthetic allotrope of carbon fam...

  • 04

    04 2018

    Biosynthetic 100% Optical Purity D-lactate

    A research team led by Prof. ZHAO Guang from Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), developed a high efficiency cell factory to successfully obtain 100% optical purity D-lactate. Plastic is one of the most versatile and widely used materials in the world. However, the traditional petroleum-based plastic has brought severe ‘white pollution’ due to its nondegradability. Approximately 40 million tons of plastic waste is gen...

  • 26

    03 2018

    Prescribing “Medicines” for Treating the Poor Performances of High-Voltage Li-Ion Batteries

    Prof. CUI Guanglei’s research group from Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), prescribed “Medicines” (electrolyte additives) for treating the poor performances effectively of a high-voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4/graphite battery system with high energy density. It was rationally demonstrated that, the two functional additives of tris(trimethylsilyl) phosphite (TMSP) and 1,3-propanediolcyclic sulfate (PCS) could efficiently stabilize solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layers of both electrodes, making the cyclability of this battery system unprecedentedly high. Moreover, a third designed self-extinguishing flame-retardant additive of (ethoxy)-penta-fluoro-cyclo-triphosphazene (PFPN) was introduced for reducing the flammability of the electrolyte, guaranteeing the battery safety to some extent. Nowadays, the utilizations of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are spreading quickly from small-sized portable electronic devices to large-scale electric transportation tools and renewable energy storage systems. As a result, people's dep...

  • 12

    02 2018

    Direct Purification and Characterization of the Key Cellulosomal Exoglucanase Cel48S

    The research group from Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology(QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS), developed a series of genetic tools for non-model microorganisms like C. thermocellum (J Microbiol Methods; PloS One; Appl Microbiol Biotechnol; Biotechnol Biofuels). They performed directed engineering of cellulosome for the in situ purification of the catalytic domain of Cel48S in one step with high purity and full activity. The global demand of clean fuel is becoming more urgent, especially for the developing nations. The sustainable non-food lignocellulosic biomass is an attractive source for biofuel and biochemical production. However, the high cost, complicated an...

  • 24

    01 2018

    Photothermal Membrane for Fresh Water Generation via Evaporation

    Water shortage is a global issue facing mankind. Natural solar-driven water evaporation process suffers from low efficiency because water is a poor light absorber. Photothermal membrane, able to realize efficient light harvesting and conversion to heat, is an ideal choice to accelerate the water evaporation under the illumination. However, the tedious process and special techniques in surface modification limit the further development in widespread application. Recently, the research team led by Prof. JIANG Heqing from Qingdao Key Laboratory of Functional Membrane Material and Membrane Technology, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), developed a facile and general “Nanomorphology Composite” strategy to fabricate the carbon-based photothermal membrane with controllable surface microstructure using one-dimensional (1D) carbon nanotubes (CNT) and two-dimensional (2D) graphene. Water shortage is a global issue facing mankind. Natural solar-driven water evaporation process suffers from low efficiency because water is a poor light absorber. Photothermal membrane, able to realize efficient light harvesting and conversion to...

  • 15

    01 2018

    How does the thermostable enzyme bind substrate tightly at elevated temperature?

    Temperature is one of the most important factors for evolution. As the temperature increases, the catalytic activity of the enzyme increases correspondingly, but at the same time, the affinity between the enzyme and the substrate decreases. It has been proved that metal ions enhance the activity, stability and substrate affinity of metal enzymes. However, the role of metal ions-binding amino acids in thermophilic adaptation is not clear. Recently, a research team led by Prof. LI Fuli from Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology (QIBEBT), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), unraveled the function of metal ions-binding amino acids in improving substrate affinity. Temperature is one of the most important factors for evolution. As the temperature increases, the catalytic activity of the enzyme increases correspondingly, but at the same time, the affinity between the enzyme and the substrate decreases. It ha...