Planning Grant: I/UCRC for Next Generation Photovoltaics

项目主任推荐1238288田纳西诺克斯维尔大学杜舍尔田纳西诺克斯维尔大学计划加入名为下一代光伏中心的产业/大学合作研究中心，该中心是由德克萨斯大学奥斯汀分校和科罗拉多州立大学组成的多所大学中心。现有的中心专注于镉镉汞薄膜、热过程建模、成像和纳米晶体系统的发展。这项提案的目标是寻求NSF的资金，以便为田纳西诺克斯维尔大学举行一次规划会议，允许田纳西诺克斯维尔大学招募行业支持，使其能够加入现有的专注于下一代光伏(NGP)的I/UCRC中心。UTK的参与将扩大现有I/UCRC的范围，包括有机材料、薄膜硅材料和人工光合作用的研究。低成本、可靠的光伏将导致太阳能作为一种可再生能源被广泛采用。太阳能的利用对地球的未来至关重要。它也是未来科学家和工程师的极好培训场所，因为它是高度跨学科的，需要跨学科的沟通和互动。I/UCRC的工作还将与UTK、CSU和UTA的关键教育项目相结合，以及利用橡树岭国家实验室的能力。I/UCRC中的产业伙伴关系将对这一计划的成功至关重要。该中心将拥有一支不同性别、种族和民族的教职员工和学生团队。

PROGRAM DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATION IIP 1238288 University of Tennessee Knoxville (UTK) Duscher The University of Tennessee Knoxville is planning to join the Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (I/UCRC) entitled Center for Next Generation Photovoltaics which is a multi-university center comprised of the University of Texas-Austin (UTA) and the Colorado State University (CSU). The existing Center focuses on the advancement of CdTe & CIGS thin films, thermal process modeling, imaging, and nanocrystal systems. The goal of this proposal is to seek NSF funding to for a planning meeting to allow the University of Tennessee Knoxville to recruit industry support to allow it to join an existing I/UCRC Center focused on Next-Generation Photovoltaics (NGP). Participation by UTK will expand the scope of the existing I/UCRC to include research on organic materials, thin-film silicon materials and artificial photosynthesis. Low-cost, reliable photovoltaics would lead to widespread adoption of solar energy as a renewable energy source. Solar energy utilization is critically important to the future of the planet. It is also an excellent training arena for future scientists and engineers because it is highly interdisciplinary, necessitating communication and interaction across disciplines. The I/UCRC efforts will also be interfaced with key educational programs at UTK, CSU, and UTA, as well as leveraging capabilities at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The industrial partnerships in the I/UCRC will be vital to the success of this program. The Center will have a team of faculty and students that is diverse in gender, race and ethnicity.