Semiconductor Photoanodes for Water Oxidation and Solar Fuels Generation Stabilized Using Atomic Layer Deposition

化学系支持加州理工学院的Nicholas Strandwitz成为美国化学竞争力研究员。Strandwitz博士将与Nate Lewis教授合作，研究利用原子层沉积（ALD）技术制造廉价、稳定的光阳极，用于水氧化和太阳能燃料发电。这项工作将与阿贡国家实验室的科学家合作进行，利用那里最先进的沉积和微量分析能力。为了扩大参与范围，PI将与加利福尼亚州帕萨迪纳市约翰·马歇尔基础学校的八年级公立学校科学教师合作，开发以能源为主题的课程实践教学模块。这些教学模块结合了加利福尼亚州八年级学生的标准，并将被设计成易于与现有课程相结合。像斯特兰德维茨博士这样的研究旨在使下一代能源技术能够帮助国家摆脱对化石燃料的依赖。Strandwitz博士所追求的扩大参与的努力旨在使来自各种背景的年轻人能够更好地为在STEM领域的进一步学习做好准备，并培养他们对科学有潜力解决的各种社会问题（例如能源可持续性）的认识。

The Division of Chemistry supports Nicholas Strandwitz of the California Institute of Technology as an American Competitiveness in Chemistry Fellow. Dr. Strandwitz will work with Prof. Nate Lewis to investigate the use of Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) to create inexpensive, stable photoanodes for water oxidation and solar fuels generation. The work will be carried out in collaboration with scientists at Argonne National Laboratory -- taking advantage of the state of the art deposition and microanalysis capabilities available there. For his plan for broadening participation, the PI will develop energy-themed curriculum hands-on teaching modules, in collaboration with 8th grade public school science teachers at John Marshall Fundamental School in Pasadena, CA. The teaching modules incorporate California State Standards for 8th graders, and will be designed to be easily integrated into the existing curricula. Research like that of Dr. Strandwitz is designed to enable next-generation energy technology to help wean the country of its dependence upon fossil fuels for energy. The efforts at broadening participation being pursued by Dr. Strandwitz are aimed at enabling young people from all backgrounds to be better prepared for further study in STEM fields, as well as developing in them an appreciation of the kinds of societal problems (e.g. energy sustainability) that science has the potential to solve.