BRIGE: An Integrated Research and Education Program for Viral-Templated Type-II Nanostructured Heterojunctions for Photovoltaics

智力价值：这一布里奇奖的研究目标是组装具有优异电传输性能的纳米结构材料和设备。这种材料将能够创造出既高效又负担得起的太阳能电池，这一组合到目前为止一直难以捉摸。通过使用生物分子组装第二类半导体异质结，将在电子传输方面实现关键的改进。生物分子无与伦比的组装能力产生了其他技术无法实现的纳米结构，但这对于增强这些材料的电子传输是必不可少的。第二类结具有空间上不同的电子和空穴的局域能量极小值，从而导致光生电子-空穴对的快速分离。基于生物的组装和第二类异质结的混合将显著改善纳米结构材料和器件内的电子传输，改变光伏领域并应对21世纪的能源挑战。广泛影响：生物分子辅助半导体异质结组装将解决纳米材料中载流子传输不良的挑战，并增进对这些材料中载流子分离和收集的理解。生物组装纳米结构材料中增强的电子传输将使低成本、高效率的太阳能电池成为现实，并有助于制定纳米材料受控组装的一般设计规则。此外，布里奇奖将为一些指导和推广活动提供支持，这些活动旨在通过课程作业、研究经验和专业发展机会增加多样性和扩大对工程学的参与。PI将开发和教授一个服务学习课程，在这个课程中，本科生在服务于当地社区需求的同时解决现实世界的问题。这门跨学科的课程将培养师徒关系，激发人们对太阳能工程项目的热情，同时在未来的工程师和教师之间建立工作关系。此外，PI将扩大她支持和指导本科生研究人员的努力。

Intellectual Merit: The research objective of this BRIGE award is to assemble nanostructured materials and devices with superior electrical transport properties. Such materials will enable the creation of solar cells that are both highly efficient and affordable, a combination which has been elusive to date. The crucial improvement in electrical transport will be attained by using biomolecules to assemble type-II semiconductor heterojunctions. The unparalleled assembly abilities of biomolecules produce nano-architectures not possible with other techniques, but which are essential for enhanced electrical transport in these materials. Type-II junctions have spatially distinct local energy minima for electrons and holes, thus causing rapid separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The blend of bio-based assembly and type-II heterojunctions will significantly improve electrical transport within nanostructured materials and devices, transforming the field of photovoltaics and tackling the energy challenges of the 21st century.Broader Impacts: Biomolecule-assisted assembly of semiconductor heterojunctions will address the challenge of poor carrier transport in nanostructured materials and advance understanding of separation and collection of carriers within these materials. Enhanced electrical transport in bio-assembled nanostructured materials will make low-cost, efficient solar cells a reality and aid in development of general design rules for controlled assembly of nanomaterials. Furthermore, the BRIGE Award will provide support for a number of mentoring and outreach activities designed to increase diversity and broaden participation in engineering through coursework, research experience, and professional development opportunities. The PI will develop and teach a service-learning class in which undergraduates address real-world problems while serving the needs of the local community. The interdisciplinary course will nurture mentor-protégé relationships and generate enthusiasm for solar engineering projects while building working relationships between future engineers and teachers. Furthermore, the PI will expand her efforts to support and mentor undergraduate researchers.