SNM: Integration of Organic Solar Cells with Engineered Nanostructures for Scalable Manufacturing of Energy Conversion and Storage Devices

目标：该项目的目标是了解和开发可扩展的基于纳米材料的湿法涂层工艺，以实现高通量、高成本效益的卷对卷有机太阳能电池的生产，该电池与同时收集和存储太阳能的复合超级电容器集成在一起。建议的设备和工艺有可能通过大幅降低成本和增加太阳能的使用、减少对化石燃料的依赖和最大限度地减少气候变化来改变能源应用。智力上的优点：智力上的优点是对使用低温、高通量、湿法涂层工艺生产高性能聚合物太阳能电池/纳米线电极和超级电容器有更深的理解。从基础材料水平到制造工艺水平的跨学科研究人员的系统方法为该项目提供了智力基础。解决了高性能有机太阳能电池、纳米线电极和复合超级电容器的障碍，将这些重要组件聚集在一个集成设备中。设备中涉及的材料和工艺都经过了优化和/或开发，以符合成本效益的卷到卷生产。广泛的影响：更广泛的影响与教育和技术有关。从工艺开发中获得的知识将为许多其他纳米材料和一系列设备的成本效益解决方案加工提供基础，这些设备超出了拟议工作中研究的范围，包括有机发光二极管、可穿戴电子设备、柔性传感器和柔性显示器。这一计划还将增强本科生/研究生课程的纳米材料和纳米制造，以及开发新的课程和研讨会。它将通过实践研究机会接触到高中生。

Objective: The objective of this program is to understand and develop scalable nanomaterial-based wet-coating processes that enable high-throughput, cost-effective roll-to-roll production of an organic solar cell integrated with a composite supercapacitor that simultaneously harvests and stores solar energy. The proposed device and processes have the potential to transform energy applications by dramatically decreasing costs and increasing the adoption of solar energy; lowering dependence on fossil fuels and minimizing climate change.Intellectual merit: The intellectual merit is a deeper understanding of producing high-performance polymer solar cells/nanowire electrodes and supercapacitors with low-temperature, high-throughput, wet coating processes. A systematic approach with interdisciplinary researchers from the basic materials level to the manufacturing process level provides the intellectual basis for the project. Barriers to high performance organic solar cells, nanowire electrodes and composite supercapacitors are addressed to bring these important components together in an integrated device. The materials and processes involved in the devices are all optimized and/or developed to be compatible with cost-effective roll-to-roll production.Broader impacts: The broader impacts are related to both education and technology. The knowledge gained from the process development will provide a base for cost-effective solution processing of numerous other nanomaterials and an array of devices beyond those studied in this proposed work, including; organic light-emitting diodes, wearable electronics, flexible sensors, and flexible displays. This program will also enable nanomaterials and nanomanufacturing enhancements to undergraduate/graduate courses as well as the development of a new course and workshop. It will reach high school students through hands-on research opportunities.