Event
NanoCenter Colloquium-Craig Grimes, Penn State
Monday, September 21, 2009
2:30 p.m.
Chemistry Building, Room 0115
Oded Rabin
oded@umd.edu
Towards Efficient Conversion of Solar Energy to Electricity or Fuels Using Self-Assembled 1-D TiO2 Nanotube/wire Arrays
Refreshments served at 2PM
Craig A. Grimes
The Pennsylvania State University
We consider the self-assembled synthesis and application to solar energy conversion of semiconducting n-type TiO2 nanotube as well as nanowire arrays. Details of the specific architecture, crystallinity, composition and illumination geometry of the nanotube or nanowire arrays are critical factors in their performance. We discuss the key aspects relating to each factor and the advances achieved in improving each. Solar fuel applications include hydrogen generation via water photoelectrolysis, and the photocatalytic reduction of CO2 and water vapor to hydrocarbon fuels. We discuss several photovoltaic devices making use of the 1-D nanotube/wire morphology, including dye-sensitized, heterojunction, and resonance energy transfer FRET-based devices.
Biography
Craig A. Grimes received the Ph.D. degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin in 1990. He is currently a Professor of Electrical Engineering and Materials Science and Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University, University Park. His research interests include hybrid heterojunction solar cells, photocatalytic reduction of CO2 to hydrocarbon fuels, solar production of hydrogen by water photoelectrolysis, propagation and control of electromagnetic energy, and remote query environmental sensors.
