Month: July 2025

Introducing ReSURF sensor – an ultrafast, stretchable, self-healing and recyclable sensing device that enables on-site, real-time surveillance of water quality within milliseconds

SINGAPORE, July 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Clean, safe water is vital for human health and well-being. It also plays a critical role in our food security, supports high-tech industries, and enables sustainable urbanisation. However, detecting contamination quickly and accurately remains a major challenge in many parts of the world. A groundbreaking new device developed by researchers at the National University of Singapore (NUS) has the potential to significantly advance water quality monitoring and management.

Taking inspiration from the biological function of the oily protective layer found on human skin, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Benjamin Tee from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Design and Engineering at NUS translated this concept into a versatile material, named ReSURF, capable of spontaneously forming a water-repellent interface. This new material, which can be prepared through a rapid micro-phase separation approach, autonomously self-heals and can be recycled. The researchers incorporated the material into a device known as a triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG), which uses the energy from the movement of water droplets to create an electric charge. The resulting device (ReSURF sensor) can be applied as a water quality monitor.

“The ReSURF sensor can detect various pollutants, such as oils and fluorinated compounds, which are challenging for many existing sensors. This capability, together with unique features such as self-powered, self-healing, reusability and recyclability, positions ReSURF as a sustainable solution for real-time, on-site, and sustainable water quality monitoring,” said Assoc Prof Tee.

The team’s design of the ReSURF material and performance of the novel water quality sensor were published in the scientific journal Nature Communications on 1 July 2025.

Rapid and sustainable water quality sensing

Existing water quality monitoring technologies such as electrochemical sensors, optical detection systems, and biosensors are effective in certain specific applications, such as detecting heavy metals, phosphorus, and microbial pollution.

However, these technologies often face limitations including slow response, high costs, reliance on external reagents or power sources, limited reusability, and the need for bulky laboratory equipment or specialised instrumentation.

The ReSURF sensor developed by the NUS team effectively overcomes these challenges, particularly in on-site real-time water quality sensing. The self-powered device has demonstrated the ability to detect water contaminants in approximately 6 milliseconds (i.e. around 40 times faster than a blink of the eye).

Additionally, the ReSURF sensor is designed to be self-healing and recyclable, making it a sustainable and low-maintenance solution. Being stretchable and transparent, the material can be easily integrated into flexible platforms, including soft robotics and wearable electronics, setting it apart from conventional sensing materials.

Furthermore, the ReSURF material applied as a sensor offers an environmentally friendly solution as it can be easily recycled due to its solubility in solvents, enabling it to be reused in new devices without suffering a loss in performance.

ReSURF sensor: How it works

The ReSURF sensor monitors water quality by analysing the electrical signals generated when analytes — such as salts, oils, or pollutants — in the water droplets, contact its surface. When water droplets containing analytes strike the water-repellent surface of the sensor, they spread out and slide off quickly, generating electric charges within milliseconds. The magnitude and characteristics of the signal generated would vary according to the composition and concentration of the analytes present. By monitoring these signals in real time, the ReSURF sensor can rapidly and accurately assess water quality without the need for external power sources.

To demonstrate its capabilities, the researchers tested the ReSURF sensor on a pufferfish-like soft robot in detecting oil in water and perfluorooctanoic acid – a common contaminant found in water sources. The test produced promising results with both contaminants producing different voltage signals, providing a proof-of-concept that the ReSURF sensor can be used in early surveillance of possible contamination.

Safeguarding water quality

The ReSURF sensor offers broad application potential. It can be deployed in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs to enable early surveillance of pollutants, allowing for quick response to water contamination emergencies. In agriculture, it is capable of monitoring water safety in areas like rice fields. In industrial settings and sewage treatment plants, the ReSURF sensor could provide valuable insights for wastewater management.

Next steps

The research team hopes to optimise the ReSURF sensor by enhancing the specificity of pollutant detection, integrating wireless data transmission capabilities, and scaling the system for long-term or large-scale environmental monitoring. Additionally, the researchers plan to explore more eco-friendly material alternatives to enhance sustainability and align with evolving environmental regulations.

“Future iterations could integrate additional sensing modalities or machine learning–based signal analysis to enable more precise identification and classification of pollutants. We envision this platform as a foundation for the development of more intelligent and responsive water quality monitoring systems,” said Assoc Prof Tee.

Read more at: https://news.nus.edu.sg/nus-researchers-develop-novel-material-for-water-quality-monitoring-device/.

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SOURCE National University of Singapore

SHANGHAI, July 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Envision Energy, a global leader in green technology, has successfully completed a groundbreaking large-scale fire test for its smart energy storage system, raising the bar for safety, environmental responsibility, and system resilience. Conducted under full on-site supervision by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA Group), strategic partners, and North American Fire Protection Engineers (FPEs), the test fully complied with the stringent CSA C800 standard – a consensus standard developed with input from insurers, regulators, and industry experts, providing one of the most authoritative international safety benchmarks for energy storage.

World‘s Densest BESS Setup: 5cm Tightest Spacing, Zero Fire Propagation in 49 Hours

The test recreated real-world worst-case site conditions by placing four fully charged (100% SOC) 5MWh Envision Smart Energy Storage containers (A, B, C, D) in an ultra-dense back-to-back, side-by-side configuration – just 5 centimeters apart, compared to the typical industry standard spacing of 3 to 5 meters. This setup represents the most energy-dense fire test layout ever attempted, significantly increasing the challenge due to heightened thermal coupling and limited airflow. Importantly, the burn was allowed to proceed with zero intervention.

The test pushed the boundaries of the most stringent safety limits – yet even under unprecedented thermal stress and energy concentration, the system showed exceptional resilience and containment. Container A burned for 49 hours and 32 minutes, reaching a peak temperature of 1,297°C. Meanwhile, internal battery temperatures in the adjacent containers B, C, and D remained stable at just 35°C, 44°C, and 43°C respectively – well below our normal operational window.

Notably, container A maintained structural integrity throughout the burn, showing no deformation, no collapse, and intact sealing gaskets. Even more impressively, there was zero fire spread or damage to neighboring containers. Units B, C, and D remained unscathed inside and out, with post-test inspections confirming all internal modules were fully operational and undamaged.

3-Hour Ignition Delay –  Extended Window for Fire Response

To simulate a worst-case ignition scenario, the fire was initiated by applying high-power, synchronized heating to four battery cells within a modified pack, from which the nano-level thermal insulation had been removed. The ignition source was strategically placed at the center of the container cluster – where fire spread risk is greatest in all directions. Under these extreme conditions, ignition took nearly three hours – over 50% longer than typical – offering a critical window for early detection and emergency response.

Zero Emission Fire Testing – New Benchmark for Environmental Safety

Environmental safety was also a key focus throughout the test. All combustion gases from the burning container A were captured by overhead smoke hoods, analyzed for composition, and fully neutralized through advanced treatment. The entire 49-hour test produced no odors, no emissions, and zero pollution, setting a new industry benchmark for clean and environmentally responsible fire testing in energy storage.

AI-Driven Safety & Full Lifecycle Asset Protection

Envision’s AI-powered Smart Energy Storage System offers superior safety even under extreme conditions. It integrates Envision’s proprietary high-safety battery cells within a robust three-layer safety architecture spanning cell, pack, and system levels. Coupled with AI-driven fire detection and active pack-level firefighting, the system isolates thermal events within a single container. To date, Envision’s storage systems have been deployed in over 300 projects worldwide with zero safety incidents.

This breakthrough fire test proves that even in highly unlikely fire scenarios, Envision’s Smart Energy Storage can fully contain risk within a single container. The quantifiable safety results provide insurers with greater confidence to underwrite storage assets, paving the way for broader commercial adoption and accelerating the transition to safe, large-scale energy storage.

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SOURCE Envision Energy

JAKARTA, Indonesian, July 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In line with its commitment to meaningful community impact, Vantage Foundation has partnered with KDM Foundation, a Jakarta-based nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of homeless children through education, creativity, and sustainable living.

During a recent visit to the KDM campus, Vantage Foundation team members were welcomed by Sotar Sinaga, Director of KDM Foundation, who shared the organisation’s holistic approach to youth development. More than just a shelter, KDM offers an immersive and empowering environment where children are encouraged to explore their potential through activities like painting, handcrafting, football, and environmental education.

The visit offered a closer look at KDM’s impressive self-sustaining ecosystem, which includes a small farm with chickens and catfish, alongside an organic waste management system. These initiatives not only serve practical needs, but also educate the children about sustainability, responsibility, and self-reliance.

A particularly moving moment was learning about the ‘Pepe Doll’ art project, created in partnership with local brand Tulisan. Inspired by the story of a young girl seeking food on the streets, proceeds from the sale of the dolls directly support KDM’s mission to provide education and shelter to children in need.

KDM’s outreach begins far beyond its campus walls. One of its most effective engagement tools is football – not simply as a sport, but as a platform to teach discipline, cooperation, and teamwork. By organising matches in the community, KDM builds trust and opens the door for vulnerable youth to find safety, guidance, and purpose.

“We don’t call it fundraising – we call it friend raising,” said Sotar Sinaga, Director of KDM Foundation. “Without friends, we cannot run our school or sustain these life-changing projects. It’s the community that keeps us going.”

Through this partnership, Vantage Foundation is proud to stand alongside KDM Foundation in its mission to create a brighter future for Indonesia’s underserved children. The joy, resilience, and creativity witnessed during the visit deeply moved the Vantage team and reaffirmed the importance of investing in early, inclusive support for at-risk youth.

“The environment at KDM is filled with hope and opportunity,” said Steven Xie, Executive Director of Vantage Foundation. “Every child we met carried a spark of potential and it’s through partnerships like this that we can help them realise it. We are honoured to support KDM’s incredible work and help amplify their impact.”

Together, Vantage Foundation and KDM are not just building shelter – they’re building futures, confidence, and connection. This collaboration marks another meaningful step in Vantage Foundation’s ongoing journey to uplift communities and create lasting change.

Vantage Foundation

Vantage Foundation is an independent charitable organization launched at the McLaren Technology Centre in the UK in 2023. The foundation has partnered with organisations worldwide, including Grab Indonesia, the iREDE Foundation in Nigeria, Teach for Malaysia, and Instituto Claret in Brazil, to drive impactful social initiatives.

For more information, please visit www.vantage.foundation

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SOURCE Vantage Foundation

NINGBO, China, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — A milestone in global heterojunction (HJT) photovoltaic technology! Risen Energy Co., Ltd. (Stock Code: 300118) today announced its self-developed Hyper-ion HJT modules have achieved a groundbreaking 740Wp average mass-production power, setting a new industry efficiency benchmark. With certified cell conversion efficiency of 26.61%, this innovation demonstrates immediate R&D-to-production integration. This breakthrough cements Risen Energy’s leadership in high-efficiency PV industrialization.

Core Innovations: Patent-Protected Tech & Cost-Performance Revolution
Leveraging National Key Research and Developement Program, Risen Energy’s proprietary technologies deliver structural optimization and drastic cost reduction while maintaining peak efficiency:

1. Metallization Upgrade: Silver consumption slashed to 5mg/W (↓37.5% vs. TOPCon), driving non-silicon cost reduction via stencil printing.
2. Low CTM Loss Encapsulation: Module CTM (Cell-To-Module) loss minimized to 1.8% with cell breakage-rates under 0.03%, enabling high-yield manufacturing.

Dual Advantages: High Energy Yield & Ultra-Low Carbon
The 740W Hyper-ion module’s -0.24%/°C temperature coefficient and 90% bifaciality delivered 4.09% higher power output than TOPCon at SGS Saudi Arabia’s test site. Peak monthly gains hit 6.04% in August, proving its “higher heat, higher yield” reliability. Per 100MW project, this translates to:

• +3 million kWh annual power generation
• 2,880 tons CO₂ reduction
• Carbon footprint as low as 376.5kg eq CO₂/kWc

Global Market Momentum
As the prime solution for utility-scale, commercial/industrial, and high-temperature projects, Risen Hyper-ion Pro series HJT modules dominate:

• 9GW+ 2025 HJT-specific tenders in China (led by state-owned giants like China Green Dev./CGN etc.)
• Expansion to 50+ countries across Middle East/Southeast Asia
• 6%+ verified energy gain in Saudi/UAE high-irradiation regions, slashing LCOE.

Vision from Leadership
Dr. Yang Pochuan, Dean of Risen Global PV Research Institute:

“We’re targeting >27% cell efficiency and 790W+ monocrystalline modules within 3 years. Our perovskite tandem tech will enable 850Wp+ mass production by 2028, advancing the world’s net-zero transition with ‘China Solutions’.

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SOURCE Risen Energy Co., Ltd

Florida team transports more than 10,000 pounds of food during Stamp Out Hunger drive, furthering its mission to help fight food insecurity

TAMPA, Fla., July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Good Greek Moving & Storage has been recognized as the Mover of the Month for June 2025 by national nonprofit Move For Hunger, in honor of the team’s outstanding participation in the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, held annually by the National Association of Letter Carriers.

On May 10, 2025, during the annual Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive, the Tampa crew transported 10,771 pounds of food, the equivalent of 8,976 meals, to local food banks including Metropolitan Ministries and ECHO of Riverview, helping combat hunger in the local community.

This recognition reflects the company’s larger commitment to fighting food insecurity. Since partnering with Move For Hunger in May 2023, Good Greek Moving & Storage has transported over 118,000 pounds of food, helping to provide nearly 99,000 meals across Florida and beyond.

“Good Greek Moving & Storage is one of the most dedicated movers in our network, and we are so grateful for all they’ve done to fight hunger in our communities, especially through their support of the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive,” said Jennifer Padilla, Network Engagement Manager at Move For Hunger. “Without movers like them, we could never have reached over 61 million pounds of food collected to help feed more than 50 million people.”

This honor follows a series of accolades for the company, including being named the 2024 National Mover of the Year by the American Trucking Association. The company’s mission to serve extends beyond relocation, integrating community support into its daily operations by collecting non-perishable food on moving day, supporting local food banks, and providing emergency relief during natural disasters.

“We’re honored to be named Mover of the Month. This award is a reflection of the heart and purpose our Good Greek team brings to every move,” said Spero Georgedakis, founder and CEO of Good Greek Moving & Storage. “We don’t just move people, we move resources, hope, and impact throughout our communities. That’s the Good Greek way.”

For more information on how Good Greek supports hunger relief, visit www.goodgreek.com or moveforhunger.org.

In addition to its partnership with  Move For Hunger, Good Greek & Storage proudly supports a range of impactful organizations, including the American Cancer Society, Place of Hope, Homeless Coalition, South Florida Red Cross, and Little Smiles – always showing up where help is needed most, with heart, hands, and hope.

If you’d like to support the mission of Move For Hunger and national food drives like Stamp Out Hunger, visit www.moveforhunger.org to learn how you can donate, get involved, or become a partner. Every contribution helps rescue surplus food, reduce waste, and deliver meals to the 1 in 8 Americans facing food insecurity.

To learn more about Good Greek Moving & Storage’s ongoing community initiatives, including how we support food banks, children’s charities, and local nonprofit, visit www.goodgreek.com.

About Good Greek Relocation Systems:
Named the 2024 National Mover of the Year by the American Trucking Associations, Good Greek Relocation Systems is the World’s First and Only Total Relocation Company®, offering a full suite of services including realty, insurance and title services, junk and debris removal, automobile transport, and, of course, moving and storage. For over 27 years, the “Good Greek” himself, Spero Georgedakis, has delivered game-changing relocation services across South Florida. Credited with revolutionizing the perception of the moving industry, Spero and his team are committed to providing the “Best Move Ever,” with an unwavering focus on respect, transparency, and exceptional customer service.
Headquartered in South Florida with locations across the state, Good Greek is the Official Mover of many of Florida’s most prominent sports teams and institutions, including the Miami HEAT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays, Orlando Magic, Orlando City SC, the University of Florida Gators, the University of Miami Hurricanes, the University of Central Florida Knights, Florida State University Seminoles, Florida Atlantic University Owls, Florida International University Panthers, the Tampa Bay Rowdies, Orlando Pride, Orlando Solar Bears, and the Fort Myers Mighty Mussels.

Press Contact:
Lalita Bogatz
VP of Media & Marketing
lbogatz@goodgreek.com
(561) 463-5857

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SOURCE Good Greek Moving & Storage