(662a) Engineering of Nanocrystals for Clean Energy Applications

Nanocrystals such as quantum dots are important for electronic/optoelectronic energy technologies. In the course of developing energy devices or energy process technologies, chemical synthesis and process engineering play significant roles in controllably achieving designed tailoring of materials nanostructures, as well as drastically improving the process production yield and nanomaterials properties.  Distinct from other nanotechnology applications, energy processes or devices (such as large-dimension panels for solar cells or for solid state lighting) could consume large quantities of high-quality, but low-cost nanomaterials (such as nanocrystals, films, or membranes). Thus, new engineering principles must be developed to enable high performance/cost ratio and the nanoscience-to-nanomanufacturing transition in order to meet the energy demands. Energy efficiency performance is determined by the high quality (e.g., well controlled fine nanostructures) of the produced materials. The speaker will focus on chemical/molecular process engineering perspectives by presenting a few examples of energy nanomaterials being developed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, including quantum-dot nanocrystals for solid-state lighting and biofermentation-produced CIGS nanoparticles for thin film solar cells.