Welcome to MolES and NanoES Research Training Testbeds Touch the screen to learn more

NANO Engineering Systems Baker lab The Baker Lab on the 4th floor focus on the design of proteins which can perform biological functions such as fighting disease. Clean Energy The Research and training Testbed on the 1st floor of NanEs is a maker space for solar cells, batteries and grid simulation The Clean Energy Institute Office 2nd floor, coordinates research in 5 departments here and across campus. R&T Testbed Luscombe Lab The Luscombe Lab on the 1st floor works on polymer chemistry for photovoltaics. Hillhouse Lab The Hillhouse Lab on the 1st floor works on alternative solar cells using earth abundant elements.

Clean Energy Institute Research Areas Solar Materials Storage Grid Plastic solar sells Smart Grid, Demand Response Microgrids Alternative battery electrodes and chemistries Predicting and pricing energy Supplies from renewables Grid scale flow batteries Copper Zinc Tin Oxide CZTS Solar cells Energy Stats

Molecular Analysis Facility (MAF) Research Tools Click Instrument to learn more Atomic Force Microscope Scanning Electron Microscope Transmission Electron Microscope

Atomic Force Microscope https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic-force_microscopy#/media/File:Atomic_force_microscope_by_Zureks.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mypcafm.gif https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AFM_(used)_cantilever_in_Scanning_Electron_Microscope,_magnification_1000x.JPG Atomic Force Microscope An extremely fine point is scanned across a test material and is deflected by electrostatic forces. A mirror reflects and magnifies this movement which is read as a raster image. It can resolve structures 10 nm across.

Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) An electron beam is focused by magnetic lenses and bounces of the surface of the subject is recorded from the side. SEM can show structures 1-20 nm across … 500,000x magnification. Provides detailed 3D like imagery of surfaces. X-ray scattering can provide elemental composition of the surface.

Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/SimpleSEMandTEM.jpg Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) An electron beam is focused by magnetic lenses and passes through a very thin subject and illuminates a screen. TEM can show structures .01 nm across … 50,000,000x magnification. Individual atoms can be visualized.

Research Training Testbed Education Training Testbed- Provide an integrative training environment for upper-division undergrads and grad students that helps them understand energy materials, device, and systems, from molecules to miles Course: Energy Materials, Devices, and Systems- (CHEM 572)   Nanoparticle synthesis and characterization lab- (silver nanoprisms) Battery lab- (li ion coin cell, with carbon electrodes) Solar cell fabrication and Characterization ( perovskite ) Solar Photochemistry lab Semiconductor properties lab Grid system simulation lab

Energy Sources Today and Tomorrow Currently renewable energy other than hydro provides less than 1% of our energy supply. Yet renewables are the clean and scalable alternative that can meet tomorrows energy and environmental demands. Decreasing manufacturing and capital costs along with increasing efficiency are immediate goals. MolES and CEI researchers are developing new materials for solar and batteries.

Stabilization Triangle Carbon Scenarios df 1.6 Billions of Tons Carbon Emitted per Year Historical emissions Flat path Stabilization Triangle 8 16 1950 2000 2050 2100 How can we prevent this much carbon being added to the atmosphere in the next 30 years? Billions of tons of carbon emitted per year If we don’t act increasing energy usage will add more carbon to the atmosphere resulting in more global warming.

Click a button below to learn about UW research at that power of ten. The goal for CEI is to provide an integrative training environment for upper-division undergrads and grad students that helps them understand energy materials, device, and systems, from molecules to kilometers. This presentation highlights energy research at different scales in homage to the “Powers of Ten” video of Charles and Ray Eames. Each page encompasses a dimension that is a power of 10 larger than the one before. Click a button below to learn about UW research at that power of ten.

Pore size of battery electrode At the core of the lithium ion battery single atoms of lithium physically move into the pores in the electrode. At the core of the lithium ion battery single atoms of lithium physically move into the pores in the electrode. Improving electrodes and developing new battery chemistries can help make batteries safer and longer lasting. Improving electrodes and developing new battery chemistries can help make batteries safer and longer lasting. Lithium ion Pore size of battery electrode tenths of nanometers

Bucky ball: C60 Some CEI researchers design new molecules. CEI researchers design new molecules for example this polymer ink has been designed to absorb light of a specific wavelength and can added to a plastic solar cell. For example, this polymer ink has been designed to absorb light of a specific wavelength and can added to a plastic solar cell. Bucky ball: C60 nanometers

Manganese-Doped Cadmium Selenide nanoparticles (CdSe) Sheet Graphene Graphene has a perfect network of carbon atoms. Sheets have excellent electrical conductivity. Researchers explore how to make sheets larger sheets of graphene and incorporate it into devices. Graphene has is perfect network of carbon atoms. Sheets have excellent electrical conductivity. Researchers explore how to make sheets larger sheets of graphene and incorporate it into devices. Upper right doped CdSe quantum dots. When the conditions are just right the nanocrystals will neatly arrange themselves as a monolayer onto a surface in the most efficient way possible, as seen in the grid pattern in the image. In the upper left there is a darker region which is the formation of a second layer of nanocrystals. When the conditions are just right, nanoparticles will neatly arrange themselves as a monolayer onto a surface in the most efficient way possible, as seen in the grid pattern in the image to the right. In the upper left there is a darker region which is the formation of a second layer of nanocrystals. Manganese-Doped Cadmium Selenide nanoparticles (CdSe) tens of nanometers

hundreds of nanometers Ion beam instruments can form nanotexturing surfaces. To take advantage of quantum effects, dots, prisms, and balls can be made just 15 nanometers in diameter. Ion beam instruments can form nanotexturing surfaces. To take advantage of quantum effects dots, prisms, and balls can be made just 15 nanometers in diameter. These are nanoparticles of silicon (~50-100nm diameter), which have been etched in a dilute hydrofluoric acid solution to remove the native silicon dioxide layers on their surface. The intended use of these particles was in an experimental lithium-ion battery anode. Theoretically, an anode based on silicon could store 10x as much electric charge as one made out of graphite (such as in current lithium-ion batteries). https://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=22563 Zinc oxide 300 nanometer ball, composed of 15 nanometer grains Silicon nanoparticles These are nanoparticles of silicon (~50-100nm diameter), which have been etched in a dilute hydrofluoric acid solution to remove the native silicon dioxide layers on their surface. The intended use of these particles was in an experimental lithium-ion battery anode. Theoretically, an anode based on silicon could store 10x as much electric charge as one made out of graphite (such as in current lithium-ion batteries). Nanotextured antireflective coating Nanowires hundreds of nanometers

(size of red blood cells) Nano wires suspended in a polymer contribute to high performance battery electrodes. Nano-wires suspended in a polymer contribute to high performance battery electrodes. Zinc oxide: 300 nanometer balls micrometers (size of red blood cells)

Layers of CZTS solar cell approximately 1-5 um Thin film solar cells will be printed on roll to roll presses. Each layer is functionally connected. One may absorb light of certain color, another transports excitons to a third layer where electron / hole pairs are separated, creating free charges that flow through the circuit. Thin film solar cells will be printed on roll to roll presses. Each layer is functionally connected. One may absorb light of certain color, another transports excitons to a third layer where electron / hole pairs are separated creating free charges that flow through the circuit. http://www.washington.edu/news/2008/04/10/popcorn-ball-design-doubles-efficiency-of-dye-sensitized-solar-cells/ ZTS photovoltaic cell structure. Image by Alfred Hicks/NREL Layers of CZTS solar cell approximately 1-5 um Light absorbing zinc oxide 10 um thick tens of micrometers

hundreds of micrometers, or tenths of millimeters Micro texturing can make an antireflective coating on silicon or plastics. For mass production the pattern can be stamped into the plastic from master much as vinyl LP records were stamped. http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/manufacturing/high-efficiency Micro texturing can make an antireflective coating on silicon or plastics. For solar cells, this can increase absorption of light. For mass production the pattern can be stamped into the plastic from a master, much as vinyl LP records were stamped. hundreds of micrometers, or tenths of millimeters (width of human hair)

A cross section of a silicon solar cell showing elemental composition The scanning electron microscope can visualize structure from nanometers to millimeters. The EDAX attachment allow the researcher to identify the elemental composition of the subject. Confirming that you have created the material or structure that you were trying to create is an important part of the research process. The scanning electron microscope can visualize structure from nanometers to millimeters. The EDAX attachment allow the researcher to identify the elemental composition of the subject. Confirming that you have created the material or structure that you were trying to create is an important part of the research process. A cross section of a silicon solar cell showing elemental composition millimeters

Laboratory scale experimental solar cells. Ultimately new materials are incorporate into completed devices so they can be tested for performance. Button batteries can be tested in automated cyclers. Small glass or plastic test solar cells can be tested with an artificial sun. Ultimately new materials are incorporate into completed devices so they can be tested for performance. Button batteries can be tested in automated cyclers. Small glass or plastic test solar cells can be tested with an artificial sun. Coin cell battery for Testing new chemistry Laboratory scale experimental solar cells. 0.5-1 volt 10 milliamps tens of mm, or centimeters

Flow battery exchange membrane Larger devices often consist of groups of smaller components such as this silicon solar cell. Flow batteries have stacks of special exchange membranes which allow electrolytes to react as they charge or discharge. Larger devices often consist of groups of smaller components such as this silicon solar cell. Flow batteries have stacks of special exchange membranes which allow electrolytes to react as they charge or discharge. 1 Solar cell .5 volts, 1 amp 0.5 watt Flow battery exchange membrane tens of centimeters, or decimeters

≈ 1000 watts per square meter A solar panel typically consists of 60 cells that are wired in a combination of series and parallel arrangements. One panel might be able to capture 250 watts when the whole area is exposed to 1000 watts of incoming solar energy. A solar panel typically consists of 60 cells that are wired in a combination of series and parallel arrangements. One panel might be able to capture 250 watts when the whole area is exposed to 1000 watts of incoming solar energy. Solar irradiance ≈ 1000 watts per square meter Panel area ≈ 1 square meter 60 cells: 250 watts output If we can learn to make our solar panels more efficient, we can capture more of this energy! meters

Home scale projects might use 25 panels, producing 5 to 10 kilowatts. Home scale projects might use 25 panels creating 5 to 10 kilowatts. A wind turbine produces 1.8 megagwatts, enough for 330 homes. The flow battery can store the output of about 2 hours of production. Grid Scale Flow battery, in four shipping containers Power: 600 kilowatts Energy: 2.2 megawatt hours = 2,200 kilowatt hours tens of meters

Hundreds of square meters, producing 34 kilowatts An increasing number of building on campus have solar panels on the roof, thanks to UW solar student projects. An increasing number of building on campus have solar panels on the roof thanks to UW solar student projects. Hundreds of square meters, producing 34 kilowatts Vestas Wind Turbine Power: 1.8-2 megawatts hundreds of meters

Puget Sound Energy's Wild Horse Solar Farm near Ellensburg Washington features 2,723 photovoltaic solar panels which produce up to 500 kilowatts of power. Community scale solar is less expensive per watt than home scale solar but it does occupy land. Desert Sunligh Solar Farm in southern California is 550 megawattes Panels produce power even under cloudy skies—50 to 70 percent of peak output with bright overcast and 5 to 10 percent with dark overcast. kilometers

Some communities are turning to self-contained microgrids which offer resilience and the ability to balance supply and demand locally. Communities are turning to self-contained microgrids which offer resilience and the ability to conform supply and demand. A microgrid generates and distributes power for a small area, and has the ability to operate separately from the grid: in “island” mode tens of kilometers

A National Smart Grid The entire national grid needs to be modernized. Efficient transport of energy from solar and wind locations to demand centers will help smooth out the renewable power contribution. The entire national grid needs to be modernized. Efficient transport of energy from solar and wind locations to demand centers will help smooth out the renewable power contribution. hundreds of kilometers

Are we ready to tackle a Global Grid? http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0011/earthlights2_dmsp_big.jpg https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Earth_in_nights.jpg thousands of kilometers, or megameters