Nanostructured Functional Materials for Energy Efficient Refrigeration, Energy Harvesting and Production of Hydrogen from Water.

该计划是关于使用纳米结构材料来解决能源相关应用的关键领域。该提案将通过雄心勃勃的薄膜和厚膜开发和分析提供世界级的材料科学，该提案的目标是通过纳米工程实现EPSRC的能源和纳米科学战略领域。该计划赠款将提供机会，整合目前相互独立运作的三个成熟的研究领域，并将建立一个新的活动联盟。它们共同提供了推动这一特定领域向前发展的基本要素。计划的工作方案是及时的，因为建模能力，精密多层氧化物生长专业知识和纳米纤维设施的融合。该计划赠款的总体愿景是集中在能源。在该计划中，我们的目标是找到减少能源消耗的方法，例如通过使用电和磁热冷却方式;通过使用纳米级整流天线产生能量，并最终通过光催化分解水中的氢来储存能量。我们的计划分为两个主题领域：1）纳米结构氧化物的节能制冷与2个项目领域电热磁热2）纳米结构氧化物的能源生产和储存与2个项目领域太阳能收获光催化这项研究将使：-新材料的发展，新材料架构和新的设备概念的能源制冷和能源收获。一系列计划的协同作用，特别是材料理论，建模和表征的基础活动，将使这些重要领域更接近应用。这项研究还将建立一个新的论坛，由英国和欧洲的科学家和工业家代表参加，以便进行广泛的讨论，推动这些领域的发展。我们非常重视培训、推广和知识转移。需要解决的研究挑战是：-设计接近不稳定性的物理系统，以便来自磁场或电场、光或热激发的微小外部扰动将系统推向新的基态-优化控制薄膜氧化物（厚度为10 nm或更小）中的（应变、缺陷、掺杂不均匀性、无序）和第一层效应，以便我们能够利用定向建模和有针对性的生长控制来调整氧化物的带隙。

This program is about using nanostructured materials to address key areas in energy related applications. This proposal will deliver world class materials science through ambitious thin and thick film development and analysis and the proposal targets the EPSRC strategic areas Energy and Nanoscience through nanoengineering. The programme grant will provide the opportunity to integrate three well established research areas that currently operate independently of each other and will establish a new consortium of activities. Collectively they offer the essential ingredients to move this particular field forward. The planned program of work is timely because of the convergence of modelling capability, precision multilayer oxide growth expertise and nanofabrication facilities. The overall vision for the Programme Grant is focussed on Energy. Within the Programme we aim to find means of reducing energy consumption for example by using electro and magnetocaloric means of cooling; generating energy by use of nanoscale rectifying antennas and finally storing energy by photocatalytic splitting of hydrogen from water. Our program is divided into two themed areas:1) Nanostructured oxides for Energy Efficient Refrigeration with 2 project areasElectrocaloricsMagnetocalorics2) Nanostructured oxides for energy production and storage with 2 project areasSolar HarvestingPhotocatalysisThis research will enable :- The development of new materials, new material architectures and new device concepts for energy refrigeration and energy harvesting. The synergy across a range of programs particularly the underpinning activities of materials theory, modelling and characterisation will move these important fields closer to application.- The research will also enable a new forum to be established, with representation from UK and European scientists and industrialists so that broad discussions can be held to enable moving these fields forward. We place a significant emphasis on training, outreach and knowledge transfer.The research challenges that need to be addressed are:- Designing physical systems that are close to an instability so that small external perturbations from magnetic or electric fields, optical or thermal excitation will tip the system into a new ground state- Optimising control over (strain, defects, doping inhomogeneity, disorder) and first layer effects in thin film oxides (with thicknesses of the order of 10nm or less) so that we can develop the capability to tune the band gap of the oxide using directed modelling and targeted growth control.