Carbon-Based Nanoscience

Graphic of a spectrum from carbon nanotubes

Photoluminescence excitation spectrum of surfactant-stabilized suspension of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Each peak in the figure corresponds to the emission from a single nanotube species in the distribution.

The Carbon Nanoscience Group seeks to understand the chemical, physical, and optoelectronic properties of a variety of nanosystems and nanomaterials. The end goal is to develop and apply design principles to fabricate new molecules and materials for application in several important renewable energy technologies. In particular, we are interested in hydrogen storage, solar photochemistry to produce electricity or fuels, gas separation membranes, and fuel cell, catalytic, photovoltaic, and battery materials.

The flexibility offered by the carbon atom in forming fullerenes and nanotubes, and their unique physical, chemical, and optoelectronic properties, provide a focal point for the group. However, we are interested in other types of nanostructures as well. Our work is supported by the DOE Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Hydrogen Program, DOE BES Solar Photochemistry Program, DOE BES Materials Science and Engineering Program, as well as the NREL Director's Discretionary Research and Development Program. The group leads the DOE Hydrogen Sorption Center of Excellence, which brings together a team of eight universities, five national laboratories, and one industrial partner. We interact very closely with the Chemical Sciences and Nanoscience and Computational Materials Sciences teams, as well as others within and outside NREL.

Core competencies include:

Understanding of the relationship between structure and function in nanoscale materials and systems
Controlled synthesis of nanostructures by pulsed laser vaporization, arc-discharge evaporation, chemical vapor and hot-wire chemical vapor deposition, wet chemical, and self-assembly techniques
Study of nanotube/polymer composites, systems of nanotubes coupled to photoactive molecules, semiconductor quantum dots, or catalytic particles
Purification, separation, and spectroscopic techniques to isolate and study specific species of interest
Analysis of purity, defect, optoelectronic, and reactivity characteristics by Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies, x-ray diffraction, nuclear magnetic resonance and transmission electron microscopy
Precision analysis of hydrogen, methane, and carbon dioxide adsorption thermodynamics and transport phenomena with a variety of customized instrumentation
Study of charge and energy transport in electronically coupled nanostructures by a variety of steady-state and time-resolved optical techniques.

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