HBCU RISE: Design of Nanostructures for Energy efficient Devices

历史上的黑人高校科学与工程研究基础设施（HBCU-RISE）活动隶属于科学与技术卓越研究中心（CREST）项目，支持提供科学和工程学科博士学位的hbcu的研究能力发展。HBCU-RISE项目与接收部门的长期计划和机构使命，以及扩大机构研究能力和增加理工科博士生生产的计划直接相关。在国家科学基金会的支持下，阿拉巴马州农工大学旨在通过开发节能设备和发电机来解决能源危机。阿拉巴马农工大学将培养至少4名研究生和2名本科生，以及6名K-12教师和12名中学生。该项目将使阿拉巴马a&m大学的博士生数量增加30%。这个项目有潜力为在能源收集和纳米科学方面受过训练的少数民族学生做出重大贡献，这对国家的能源基础设施至关重要。提议的研究包括纳米结构的设计和白光光源、热电发电机和环境源能量收集器的节能装置的制造。研究目标包括：1)完善光学与材料科学研究基础设施；2)设计发光性能增强的纳米结构玻璃，并在低功率二极管激光激发下发射出明亮的白光；3)开发用于高温应用的纳米结构多层和/或单层热电（TE）器件和TE波导；4)纳米复合薄膜的制备与表征；5)设计压电/热释电发电机系统，制作悬臂式和堆叠式收割机进行概念验证。这项研究将使阿拉巴马a&m大学能够：(1)设计出无污染的高效二极管泵浦白光光源和激光材料；(2)设计更高效的热电发电机；(3)发展清洁能源。该项目将扩大所有公民对国家科学基金会使命、科学成就和技术进步相关问题的科学素养。

The Historically Black Colleges and Universities Research Infrastructure for Science and Engineering (HBCU-RISE) activity within the Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program supports the development of research capability at HBCUs that offer doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines. HBCU-RISE projects have a direct connection to the long-term plans of the host department(s) and the institutional mission, and plans for expanding institutional research capacity as well as increasing the production of doctoral students in science and engineering. With support from the National Science Foundation, Alabama A&M University aims to address the energy crisis by developing energy efficient devices and power generators. Alabama A&M University will train at least four graduate and two undergraduate students, and a total six K-12 teachers and twelve secondary school students. This project will increase the number of Ph.D. students at Alabama A&M University by 30%. This project has the potential to contribute significantly to the pool of minority students trained in energy harvesting and nanoscience that is vital to the nation's energy infrastructure.The proposed research involves the design of nanostructures and the fabrication of energy efficient devices for white light sources, thermoelectric power generators, and energy harvesters from ambient sources. The research objectives include: 1) improving infrastructure in Optics and Materials Science research; 2) designing nanostructured glasses with enhanced luminescence properties and demonstrating bright white light emission under low power diode laser excitation; 3) developing nano-structured multilayer and/or single layer Thermoelectric (TE) devices and TE waveguides for high temperatures applications; 4) fabricating and characterizing nanocomposite films; and 5) designing piezoelectric/pyroelectric generator system and fabricating cantilever and stack harvesters to demonstrate proof of concept. This research will enable Alabama A&M University to: (1) design efficient diode pumped white light sources and laser materials, which are free from pollution; (2) design more efficient thermoelectric power generators; and (3) develop clean energy sources. This project will expand the scientific literacy of all citizens on issues related to NSF's mission, scientific achievement, and technological advancements.