I-Corps: Titania Nanotubes and Related Materials for Diverse Applications

该项目将研究二氧化钛纳米管在太阳能电池，催化，催化等应用的商业潜力，PI在过去几年中在这些领域的研究已经确定了几种高效率，低成本的技术准备方法，（i）通过廉价和可扩展的电化学路线生产的超高表面密度的二氧化钛纳米管阳极的开发和表征。(ii)合成低成本的聚合物空穴再生剂，如适用于太阳能电池应用的聚乙烯二氧噻吩（PEDOT）（iii）用具有非常高的催化氧化效率的金纳米颗粒修饰的二氧化钛纳米管，从而证明在燃料电池、汽车催化剂等中的应用前景。高性能催化剂材料;将开发出具有上级的电荷传输和太阳能吸收性能的光催化剂和光伏阳极（ii）作为当前PV电池/模块中的主要瓶颈的液体电解质将被固体空穴导体取代，以及（iii）将实现高性能太阳能电池组件的最佳集成，从而产生稳定、低成本，适合于大批量制造的高效太阳能电池。如果成功，该项目可能会产生商业影响，建立几个新的联系。该项目中的新发展将获得专利，并将采取快速技术转让措施。该研究借鉴了许多科学学科，将材料科学与光化学，光电子学和化学相结合，从而为学生提供独特的教育体验，包括代表性不足的群体的参与，加强研究和教育的基础设施以及工业推广。

The project will investigate the commercial potentail of titania nanotubes for applications in solar cells, photocatalysis, catalysis, etc. Research in these areas by the PI over the last several years has identified several high-efficiency, low-cost technology-ready methodologies in (i) the development and characterization of titania nanotube anodes with ultra-high surface density produced via inexpensive and scalable electrochemical routes. (ii) synthesis of low-cost polymer hole-regenerators such as poly-ethylene-dioxy-thiophene (PEDOT) amenable to solar cell applications (iii) Titania nanotubes decorated with gold nanoparticles with extraordinarily high catalytic oxidation efficiencies thus demonstrating promise for applications in fuel cells, automobile catalysts, etc. Several advances in energy technology will emanate from this work: (i) tech-ready biocompatible nanomaterials; high-performance catalyst materials; photocatalyst and photovoltaic anodes with superior charge transport and solar absorptive properties will be developed (ii) the liquid electrolyte which is the main bottleneck in current PV cells/modules will be replaced by solid hole-conductors and (iii) an optimal integration of high-performance solar cell components will be achieved resulting in stable, low cost, high-efficiency solar cells which are amenable to large-volume manufacture. If successful, this project may have commercial impacts with the establishment of several new contacts. The novel developments within this project will be patented and rapid tech-transfer measures will be taken. The research draws on a number scientific disciplines, combining materials science with photovoltaics, optoelectronics and chemistry, thus providing a unique educational experience for students including the participation of underrepresented groups, enhancement of infrastructure for research and education, and industrial outreach.