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

在巨大需求的推动下，全球能源市场和环境正处于巨大变化的尖端，人们越来越意识到化石燃料的有限供应和环境退化。在此背景下，我们建议研究先进纳米半导体及其在能源有效利用和可持续生产中的应用。基于我们最近使用InGaN纳米线阵列取得的世界上最高效的无磷白光led的成就，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大规模的照明行业提供一个范式转变，并为加拿大制造业在世界上占据领先地位提供一个非凡的机会。此外，人们还设想，目前的能源和环境问题可以在很大程度上通过发展人工光合作用来解决，这种光合作用可以模仿自然系统，其中只有阳光、二氧化碳和水被用作能源生产的原材料。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出高质量的多波段InGaN纳米线光催化剂，这种催化剂可以吸收大部分太阳光谱，并能实现高效率（>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证明在太阳直接照射下，二氧化碳高效光化学还原成甲醇。显然，该项目还将为全球变暖的双重问题提供创新的解决方案，包括温室气体的捕获和储存，以及直接从二氧化碳和水中生产可再生燃料。这个连贯的研究项目是基于我们在工程纳米材料开发方面的开创性工作，例如InGaN纳米线阵列，并将为培养快速发展的可再生能源，照明，制造和纳米技术行业的学生和博士后提供一个绝佳的机会。

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.