Chemical Sciences and Nanoscience

NREL's specialists in chemical science and nanoscience are helping to provide the nation with clean sources of energy by studying and developing novel and efficient ways to convert the energy in sunlight into chemical energy (such as hydrogen) and light-generated electricity. Our research focuses on the basic, fundamental science that underpins many aspects of renewable energy. We are funded primarily through the Photochemistry and Radiation Research program in the DOE Office of Science Office of Basic Energy Sciences, Division of Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and Biosciences. Additional funding is through NREL's National Center for Photovoltaics and Buildings and Thermal Systems, as well as external agencies such as XCEL Energy and DARPA.

The innovative chemistry and physics that evolves from these fundamental studies also underpins a number of applied projects that aim to capitalize on these discoveries. One of our primary goals is to understand photoconversion processes in a wide variety of systems, ranging from quantum dots, molecular dyes, conjugated molecules, and polymers to nanostructured oxides and carbon nanotubes. These studies underpin R&D of new photon conversion approaches to solar fuels and solar electricity with potential efficiencies that may exceed significantly those of conventional solar cells and photoconversion devices.

Our research strategy addresses a wide range of scientific disciplines, including molecular synthesis used as a tool for controlling the physical properties of the systems being studied. The Chemical Sciences Team has expertise in the synthesis of III-V and IV-VI colloidal quantum dots, where carrier dynamics, impact ionization, and multi-exciton generation are studied using femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopic techniques such as transient absorption and terahertz spectroscopy. Colloidal quantum dots are also coupled with self-assembling proteins to help understand inter-quantum dot communication; and with single-wall carbon nanotubes and conjugated polymers to investigate exciton and photoinduced electron transfer mechanisms.

Molecules such as perylenes, porphyrins, and phthalocyanines are synthesized with substituents to control the electronic structure that can promote and control charge carrier transport in thin films, with the goal of developing a new class of efficient, excitonic solar cells. Aspects of charge carrier generation, mobility, and transport are being investigated in dye-sensitized, nanostructured metal oxides with a combination of both experiment and theory using Monte-Carlo simulations and time-of-flight techniques.

Research into the electronic structure of single-wall carbon nanotubes using photoluminescence spectroscopy is combined with studies on how they interact with molecules, semiconducting polymers, and colloidal quantum dots using quantum chemical calculations and newly developing approaches such as time-resolved microwave conductivity.

For staff profiles, publications, and contact information see Chemical Science and Nanoscience Research staff.