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What is Nanionics? • Nanoionics centers on the manipulation of space

charge at ionic interfaces or junctions to control ionic conduction.

Our Vision:

• Explore/exploit nanoionic effects to create the

next generation of ionic materials/devices.

Renewable Energy Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (REMRSEC) NSF MRSEC DMR-0820518

P. C. Taylor, R. T. Collins, A. Herring, C. Koh. B. Moskal (Co-PI’s)

IRG2: Advanced Membranes for Energy Applications

Membranes play a critical role in renewable energy

technologies

Current membranes are a weak link in many applications

A fundamental understanding of ionic transport is

essential to make transformative changes in membrane

materials

IRG1: Materials for Next Generation Photovoltaics

PV electric power today is more expensive than coal

Incremental changes in materials will not get us where we need to go

A fundamental understanding of nanostructured and other

PV materials is essential to make transformative changes in

solar panels This goal requires understanding and controlling carrier

relaxation rates in quantum confined systems

Seed Project: Clathrate Hydrates and Silicon

Clathrates for Storage of Fuels

Current storage materials are a weak link in all applications

A fundamental understanding of the incorporation of

guest molecules in clathrate hydrates is essential to

make transformative changes in these storage materials

• Outreach to students and the community

• Promotion of diversity in faculty, students, and

future students

REMRSEC Vision

Research and Engineering

• Innovative and transformative research and

engineering on materials for renewable energy

applications

Human Resource Development

• Education of the next generation of renewable

energy professionals

Goals: Education, Human Resources, and Diversity

Prepare undergraduate and graduate students to embark on

careers in

renewable energy fields

Provide undergraduate and graduate students with research

experiences in renewable energy

Expose K-12 teachers and students to concepts of renewable

energy

Improve the recruitment and retention of female and minority

undergraduate and graduate students and faculty

Accomplishments: Education, Human Resources, and Diversity

Development of Renewable Energy Minor

Successful REU program in renewable energy

Successful K-12 teacher workshop on renewable energy curricula

First joint RFEMRSEC-NREL hire

c-Si

Collect Particles onto a Substrate

Control Particle Size & Distribution

Growth of 3-D Superlattice Structures

Synthesize Nanoparticles

Embed Particles in an Oxide Matrix

Decouple Nanocrystal Synthesis from Matrix

Encapsulation Process

2000 2100 2200 2300

2234 cm-1

(SiH(O3))2168 cm

-1

(SiH2(O

2))

2135 cm-1

(Surface SiH3)

2102 cm-1

(Surface SiH2)

Tra

nsm

ittan

ce (

a.u.

)

Wavenumber (cm-1)

2072 cm-1

(Surface SiH)

0 200 400 600 800

Ram

an In

tens

ity (

a.u.

)

Raman Shift (cm-1)

509 cm-1

Si phonon peak

Size Control of Si NCs

Blue shift observed due to

decrease in Si NC core size

due to oxication

600 700 800 900 1000

PL

In

ten

sity (

a. u

.)

Wavelength (nm)

after 24 hrs

as-synthesized

(eV)2.2 2 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2

600 700 800 900 1000

PL

In

ten

sity (

a. u

.)

Wavelength (nm)

1 W

3 W

10 W

15 W

Decreasing

RF Power

(eV)2.2 2 1.8 1.6 1.4 1.2

Change in PL peak position

with rf power: Si NC size

decreases with increasing

power

UV

off

UV

on

SiOx

Organic Photovoltaics

• ZnO nanowire/polymer bulk heterojunctions OPVs

• Interface functionalization and device optimization

• New organic absorbers (dendrimers) and acceptors (trimetaspheres)

• Manufacturable deposition techniques – inkjet, spray

without

ODT

with

ODT

Addressing Ionic Transport via Nanoionics

“Superionoc” Hybrid Overview

“Ionic hybrids” - Novel composite ionic

materials based on combination of proton

conducting oxides and hydrogen permeable

metals

Work function difference between the oxide

and metal creates space charge layer

Enhance proton conductivity

Schematic diagram of

diffusion of protons in the

SCL

Ionic Transistor: Proof-Of Concept

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

-0.5 0.5 1.5 2.5

So

urc

e-D

rain

Cu

rre

nt

Os

cil

lati

on

(p

A)

Applied Source-Drain Voltage (V)

Vg = 0.608

Vg = 0.204V

Vg = 0.396V

Macro-scale room temperature ionic FET has been built

Modulation of ionic conductivity analogous to electronic

FET

Provides proof-of-concept

Utilize to verify/study the effects of nanoionic space

charge phenomena

Research plan for Micro-scale solid state ionic FET

Modeling