Alternative Energy Devices and Systems: From Phosphor-Free Solid State Lighting to Solar-Powered Artificial Photosynthesis

全球能源市场和环境正处于巨大变化的风口浪尖，这是由贪婪的需求和对化石燃料有限供应和环境退化的日益认识所驱动的。在这种情况下，我们建议研究先进的纳米半导体及其在能源的有效利用和可持续生产中的应用。基于我们最近使用InGaN纳米线阵列实现的世界上最高效的无磷白色LED，我们将首先开发效率超过200流明/瓦的无磷固态灯，而目前的效率约为100流明/瓦。这种创新的照明技术将为庞大的照明行业提供一个范式转变，并为加拿大的制造业提供一个非凡的机会，以占据世界领先地位。此外，已经设想，当前的能源和环境问题可以通过开发可以模拟自然系统的人工光合作用来大部分解决，其中仅使用阳光、CO2和水作为能源生产的原材料。在这方面，上述提出的InGaN纳米线非常适合人工光合作用。因此，我们的中期目标是开发上级质量，多波段InGaN纳米线基光催化剂，可以吸收大部分太阳光谱，并可以驱动高效率（>15%）的太阳能制氢。从长远来看，我们建议使用这种宽带纳米线阵列在太阳直接照射下将CO2高效光化学还原为甲醇。显然，该计划还将为全球变暖的双重问题提供创新解决方案，包括捕获和储存温室气体以及直接从二氧化碳和水生产可再生燃料。这个连贯的研究计划是坚实的基础上，我们在工程纳米材料的开发，如InGaN纳米线阵列的开创性工作，并将提供一个特殊的机会，培养学生和博士后在快速发展的可再生能源，照明，制造和纳米技术行业。

The worldwide energy market and environment is on the cusp of immense change, driven by a voracious demand and an increasing awareness of the limited supply and degrading environment of fossil fuels. In this context, we propose to investigate advanced nanoscale semiconductors and their applications in the effective utilization and sustainable production of energy. Based on our recent achievement of the world's most efficient phosphor-free white LEDs using InGaN nanowire arrays, we will first develop phosphor-free solid state lamps with an efficiency of over 200 lumens/watt, compared to the current ~100 lumens/watt. Such an innovative lighting technology will provide a paradigm shift for the massive lighting industry and an extraordinary opportunity for the manufacturing industry in Canada to take on the leading position in the world. Additionally, it has been envisioned that the current energy and environment issues can be largely addressed by developing artificial photosynthesis that can mimic the natural system, wherein only sunlight, CO2 and water are used as the raw materials for energy production. In this regard, the afore-proposed InGaN nanowires are ideally suited for artificial photosynthesis. Therefore, our intermediate term objective is to develop superior quality, multi-band InGaN nanowire based photocatalysts that can absorb a large part of the solar spectrum and can drive high-efficiency (>15%) solar hydrogen production. In the long term, we propose to demonstrate high efficiency photochemical reduction of CO2 into methanol under direct solar irradiation using such broadband nanowire arrays. Evidently, this program will also provide innovative solutions to the twin problems of global warming, including the capture and storage of greenhouse gases and the production of renewable fuels directly from CO2 and water. This coherent research program is solidly based on our pioneering work in the development of engineered nanomaterials, e.g. InGaN nanowire arrays and will provide an exceptional opportunity for training students and postdocs in the rapidly evolving renewable energy, lighting, manufacturing, and nanotechnology industries.