HBCU RISE: Design of Nanostructures for Energy efficient Devices

历史上的黑人学院和大学科学与工程研究基础设施（HBCU-RISE）活动在科学和技术卓越研究中心（CREST）计划支持在HBCU提供科学和工程学科博士学位的研究能力的发展。HBCU-RISE项目与主办部门的长期计划和机构使命以及扩大机构研究能力以及增加科学和工程博士生产量的计划有直接联系。在国家科学基金会的支持下，亚拉巴马A M大学旨在通过开发节能设备和发电机来解决能源危机。亚拉巴马A M大学将培训至少4名研究生和2名本科生，总共6名K-12教师和12名中学生。该项目将增加博士学位的数量。学生在亚拉巴马A M大学的30%。该项目有可能为培养对国家能源基础设施至关重要的能量收集和纳米科学方面的少数民族学生做出重大贡献。拟议的研究涉及纳米结构的设计和白色光源、热电发电机和环境源能量收集器的节能设备的制造。研究目标包括：1）改进光学和材料科学研究的基础设施; 2）设计具有增强的发光性质并在低功率二极管激光器激发下展示明亮的白色光发射的纳米结构玻璃; 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）制造和表征纳米复合膜;以及5）设计压电/热释电发生器系统并制造悬臂和堆叠收获器以证明概念的证明。这项研究将使亚拉巴马A& M大学：（1）设计高效的二极管泵浦白色光源和激光材料，无污染;（2）设计更高效的热电发电机;（3）开发清洁能源。该项目将扩大所有公民对与NSF的使命、科学成就和技术进步有关的问题的科学素养。

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.