Insights
![](https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/files/thumbs/Resources_thumbs_larger/2021-05-19-DV850.jpg)
Solar batteries without the charger? We’re working on that
Michael De Volder tells us how a Friday afternoon experiment led to research on a new low-cost battery design that can be charged directly by light without a separate solar cell or power converter.
![](https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/files/thumbs/Resources_thumbs_larger/Green_flower.jpg)
Untangling the spaghetti: nanomanufacturing for clean water and green batteries
The IfM?s NanoManufacturing group is developing nanotechnologies to supply clean water for developing nations and build better batteries for renewable energy.
![](https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/files/thumbs/Resources_thumbs_larger/microstructures.jpg)
A new way to make microstructured surfaces
Method can produce strong, lightweight materials with specific surface properties.
![](https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/files/thumbs/Resources_thumbs_larger/Small-but-mighty.jpg)
Small but mighty: the manufacturing challenges of nanotechnology
Head of NanoManufacturing at the IfM, Dr Michael de Volder explains why manufacturing carbon nanotubes is so difficult and so important.