MSE 410: Materials Foundations for Energy Applications MSE 810: Materials for Energy Applications Spring 2012 Course instructors: Donald Morelli (Lead) C9E ERC [email protected] Tom Bieler 3527 Engineering Building [email protected] Bruce Dale 3815 Technology Blvd, Suite A118 [email protected] Lawrence Drzal 2100 Engineering Building [email protected] Phillip Duxbury 4260 BPS [email protected] Wei Lai 3524 Engineering Building [email protected] Richard Lunt 4135 Engineering Building [email protected] Jason Nicholas C9C ERC [email protected] Jeffrey Sakamoto 3519 Engineering Building [email protected] Course description The dawn of the 21st Century has starkly illuminated new challenges in the area of energy production and use: a rapidly increasing worldwide demand, dwindling supply, and the overarching threat of environmental damage due to energy utilization. These are not temporary inconveniences but rather harsh realities of a new world: energy reserves whose creation took millions of years are being depleted by an increasingly energy-hungry global society. How can science respond to these new challenges? Materials will play a central role. This course will survey in a seminar-like format the wide field of materials for energy applications. After some introductory discussions of the challenge presented by climate change and energy usage, we will explore a range of materials issues related to the development of new energy technologies and the more efficient utilization of existing energy resources. Topics to be covered include: unconventional geologic fuels and biofuels; photovoltaic materials and solar energy conversion; materials for future wind energy needs; thermoelectric materials for solid state energy conversion; materials for electrical energy storage; materials for hydrogen production, storage, and use; bio-fuel cells solid-state lighting materials; and materials challenges in nuclear energy.Time and location Class will meet T/Th from 3:00 - 4:20 pm in Room 1257 Anthony Hall Office hours (Morelli) T/Th 1:30-2:30 pm and by appointment. I will also respond to course-related questions and comments via email. Grading Your course grade will be determined by a combination of your scores on two take-home exams, homework/attendance, a final presentation, and a final research paper, according the following distribution: Exam I (take home, mid- to late February) 15% Exam II (take home, mid-to late April) 15% Homework/Attendance 10% Final Research Presentation 30% Final Research Paper 30% Research Presentation/Paper Each student will undertake an independent topic focusing on a particular issue or problem related to materials for energy applications. Selection of the topic will be made in consultation with Professor Morelli. Each student will summarize his or her findings in the form of a research paper and a presentation. Details regarding the expected content of the presentation and paper will follow. Papers will be due near the end of the semester, and presentations will be given the last few days of class.Course Outline (all dates are tentative) Date Topic Description Instructor(s) Jan 10 No Class: Morelli on travel Jan 12, 17 Introduction The energy/climate problem: broad view Morelli Jan 19 Module I: geologic/alternative fuels Geology and infrastructure of the current hydrocarbon economy. Alternative sources: shale oil, tar sands, methane clathrates Nicholas Jan 24, 26 Module II: thermoelectric materials Introduction; the design of thermoelectric materials Morelli Jan 31, Feb 2 Module II: thermoelectric materials Thermal and electrical transport properties; model systems Morelli Feb 7, 9 Module II: thermoelectric materials Synthesis of TE materials; aspects TE devices Morelli/Sakamoto (Feb 9) Feb 14, 16 Module III: inorganic photovoltaic materials Introduction and design of materials Morelli Feb 21,23 Module III: inorganic photovoltaic materials Inorganic semiconductors for solar cell applications Morelli Feb 28, Mar 1 Module IV: materials issues for future nuclear energy Radiation damage, recovery mechanisms, and creep-rupture Bieler Mar 5-9 Spring Break Mar 15 Module V: organic photovoltaic materials Dye sensitized and polymer solar cells, POLEDS Duxbury Mar 20 Module V: organic photovoltaic materials Small molecule solar, OLEDS, and other organic electronics Lunt Mar 22, 27 Module VI: inorganic solid state lighting and LED’s III-V wide band gap semiconductors, phosphors Morelli Mar 29, Apr 3 Module VII: materials related to hydrogen technologies Hydrogen production, transportation, storage, and use; fuel cells Nicholas April 5, 10, 12 Module VIII: materials for electrical energy storage Batteries, ultracapacitors Lai, Sakamoto, Drzal April 17 Module IX: Bio fuel cells Bio fuel cells Barton April 19 Module X: biofuels Technologies, land use, GHGs and energy return considerations for biofuels Dale April 24 Module XI: other energy technologies Geothermal, hydro, wind,… Morelli April 26 and May 3 (final exam day) Student Presentations