Alternative Energy Devices and Systems: From Phosphor-Free Solid State Lighting to Solar-Powered Artificial Photosynthesis

全球能源市场和环境正处于巨大变化的边缘，这是由贪婪的需求和对化石燃料供应有限和环境恶化的日益认识推动的。在这种背景下，我们建议研究先进的纳米半导体及其在有效利用和可持续生产能源方面的应用。基于我们最近使用InGaN纳米线阵列实现了世界上最高效的无磷白光LED，我们将首先开发效率超过200流明/瓦的无磷固态灯，而目前的效率约为100流明/瓦。这样一种创新的照明技术将为大规模照明行业提供范式转换，并为加拿大制造业占据世界领先地位提供一个非同寻常的机会。此外，据设想，目前的能源和环境问题可以通过开发能够模拟自然系统的人工光合作用在很大程度上得到解决，在自然系统中，只有阳光、二氧化碳和水作为能源生产的原材料。在这方面，前面提出的InGaN纳米线非常适合于人工光合作用。因此，我们的中期目标是开发高质量、多波段的InGaN纳米线基光催化剂，这种催化剂可以吸收大部分太阳光谱，并能够驱动高效(&gt；15%)太阳能制氢。从长远来看，我们建议使用这种宽带纳米线阵列来展示在直接太阳照射下高效地将二氧化碳光化学还原为甲醇。显然，该计划还将为全球变暖这两个问题提供创新的解决方案，包括捕获和储存温室气体，以及直接从二氧化碳和水中生产可再生燃料。这一连贯的研究计划扎实地基于我们在工程纳米材料开发方面的开创性工作，例如InGaN纳米线阵列，并将为快速发展的可再生能源、照明、制造和纳米技术行业的学生和博士后培训提供难得的机会。

The worldwide energy market and environment is on the cusp of immense change, driven by a voracious demand and an increasing awareness of the limited supply and degrading environment of fossil fuels. In this context, we propose to investigate advanced nanoscale semiconductors and their applications in the effective utilization and sustainable production of energy. Based on our recent achievement of the world's most efficient phosphor-free white LEDs using InGaN nanowire arrays, we will first develop phosphor-free solid state lamps with an efficiency of over 200 lumens/watt, compared to the current ~100 lumens/watt. Such an innovative lighting technology will provide a paradigm shift for the massive lighting industry and an extraordinary opportunity for the manufacturing industry in Canada to take on the leading position in the world. Additionally, it has been envisioned that the current energy and environment issues can be largely addressed by developing artificial photosynthesis that can mimic the natural system, wherein only sunlight, CO2 and water are used as the raw materials for energy production. In this regard, the afore-proposed InGaN nanowires are ideally suited for artificial photosynthesis. Therefore, our intermediate term objective is to develop superior quality, multi-band InGaN nanowire based photocatalysts that can absorb a large part of the solar spectrum and can drive high-efficiency (>15%) solar hydrogen production. In the long term, we propose to demonstrate high efficiency photochemical reduction of CO2 into methanol under direct solar irradiation using such broadband nanowire arrays. Evidently, this program will also provide innovative solutions to the twin problems of global warming, including the capture and storage of greenhouse gases and the production of renewable fuels directly from CO2 and water. This coherent research program is solidly based on our pioneering work in the development of engineered nanomaterials, e.g. InGaN nanowire arrays and will provide an exceptional opportunity for training students and postdocs in the rapidly evolving renewable energy, lighting, manufacturing, and nanotechnology industries.