Thin Films for Sustainable Energy and Energy--Intensive Technologies

提出的研究旨在发展先进的薄膜无机纳米结构（纳米复合材料和纳米颗粒），并通过相对新颖的脉冲电子束烧蚀（PEBA）技术评估工艺沉积方面，并以可持续性为基础框架。所研究的材料体系包括一类特殊的金属硫化物/磷化物，即FeS2、Cu2S、CZTS（铜锌锡硫化物）和Zn3P2，以及金属氧化物，即CuO、Cu2O、Co:ZnO、Fe:ZnO和Cu/Cu2O。这些材料具有一系列非常吸引人的特性，使它们成为未来能源技术中纳米催化剂和太阳能电池材料的潜在候选者。它们资源丰富，价格低廉，坚持从摇篮到摇篮的方法，对环境无害，使它们成为可持续发展的材料。这种制备方法，PEBA，基于等离子体技术，满足基本的可持续性标准，如成本效益、低能源预算、多功能性、操作灵活性、大规模生产的可扩展性和低环境足迹。提出的研究计划包括基础和应用两个方面。基础研究包括通过分析手段制备、处理和表征/测试纳米结构，并通过建模、计算工具和实时诊断分析其制备过程。预计该研究将通过解决沉积、加工、结构和性能之间的复杂关系，在获得对感兴趣的材料的基本理解方面取得重要进展。该项目的目标纳米结构在能源密集型化学过程中找到了有效的纳米催化剂，如液态烃生产（费托）、通过固氮生产绿色氮肥（博世-哈伯）、储氢和减少有害物质。它们也是未来领先的太阳能光转换技术的优秀候选者。这项研究是跨学科的，并提供了很好的培训机会，通过各种分析工具和方法的第一手经验，参与计算工作，以及与合作者的互动，获得可转移的技能。对获得的技能有高需求的主要经济部门包括增值纳米制造、工艺强化、能源转换和节约、环境保护、消费品和技术咨询。这项研究将加强Laurentian大学战略研究计划中确定的材料科学和纳米技术的机构研究能力。由于不断增长的社会需求，以及它们对该省和加拿大的经济和社会繁荣、能源安全和可持续性以及技术竞争力的影响，目标应用具有战略重要性。

The proposed research is aimed at the development of advanced thin-films inorganic nanostructures (nanocomposites and nanoparticles) and assessment of process deposition aspects via the relatively novel pulsed electron beam ablation (PEBA) technique with sustainability as the underlying framework. The material systems of interest consist of a special group of metal sulphides/phosphides, namely, FeS2, Cu2S, CZTS (copper zinc tin sulphide) and Zn3P2, and metal oxides, namely, CuO, Cu2O, Co:ZnO, Fe:ZnO, and Cu/Cu2O. These materials have a set of very attractive properties making them potential candidates as nanocatalysts and solar cell materials in future energy technologies. They are earth abundant and inexpensive, adhere to the cradletocradle approach, and are environmentally benign, making them sustainable materials. The preparation method, PEBA, is based on plasma technology and fulfills fundamental sustainability criteria such as cost-effectiveness, low energy budget, versatility, flexibility of operation, scalability for mass production, and low environmental footprint. The proposed research program encompasses both fundamental and applied aspects. Fundamental investigations include the preparation, processing, and characterization/testing of the nanostructures by analytical means and the analysis of their preparation process by modeling, computational tools, and real-time diagnostics. It is anticipated that the research will result in important strides towards gaining a fundamental understanding of the materials of interest by addressing the intricate relationships between deposition, processing, structure, and properties. The nanostructures targeted by this program find niches as effective nanocatalysts in energy-intensive chemical processes such as liquid hydrocarbon production (Fischer-Tropsch), production of green nitrogen fertilizers via nitrogen fixation (Bosch--Haber), hydrogen storage, and abatement of noxious substances. They are also excellent candidates for future leading solar light conversion technologies. The research is quite interdisciplinary and offers excellent training opportunities via the acquisition of transferable skills through firsthand experience with a variety of analytical tools and methods, involvement in computational work, and interactions with collaborators. Major sectors of the economy in high demand for the gained skills include value-added nanomanufacturing, process intensification, energy conversion and conservation, environment protection, consumer products, and technical consulting. The research will enhance institutional research capacity in materials science and nanotechnology as identified in the Laurentian University Strategic Research Plan. The targeted applications are of strategic importance due to increasing societal demands, and to their impact on the province's and Canada's economic and social prosperity, energy security and sustainability, and technology competitiveness.