Freundlich Part of Team Receiving $18.5 Million Grant
A 葫芦影业 physicist is part of a multi-institution team that has received an $18.5 million grant to develop new technologies to harness solar power more efficiently and economically.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have jointly funded the establishment of a new national Engineering Research Center (ERC), which will oversee the research and development of advanced solar photovoltaic technologies that can provide a large-scale, affordable and domestic sustainable energy source.
The ERC includes researchers from 11 universities, including UH鈥檚 Alex Freundlich, an expert and pioneer in the field of quantum and nano-architectured photovoltaics. Arizona State University is the lead institution and some 50 companies also will be involved in the project with additional technical and financial support to help the ERC meet its objectives faster.
The ERC for Quantum Energy and Sustainable Solar Technologies, or QESST, is charged with accelerating the United States鈥� commercialization of solar energy technologies through cutting-edge research, partnerships with industry and expanding educational opportunities in energy engineering.
QESST鈥檚 overarching goals are ambitious: Develop affordable photovoltaic technologies that can provide a majority of new electricity generation in the U.S., as well as provide power for up to 1.5 billion people around the world who have little or no access to it.
Photovoltaics (PV) is a method of generating electrical power by converting sunlight into direct current electricity using semiconductors. Photovoltaic cells and panels are typically made of silicon.
Researchers will use advanced materials and quantum mechanics, one of the greatest discoveries of the 20th century, to overcome existing technological barriers to generating more solar energy. Quantum mechanics is used to make devices smaller (thinner), more efficient and multi-functional.
鈥淎ll of the academic affiliates in this project have established themselves as key players in the solar photovoltaic arenas,鈥� said Freundlich, the QESST principal investigator at UH. 鈥淚n tackling the grand challenge of making solar energy more affordable, the center will build its research and development efforts on three vertically integrated thrusts that will address barriers from basic science to devices all the way to terawatt scale manufacturing.鈥�
Freundlich, who is with UH鈥檚 Center for Advanced Materials, will address the project鈥檚 fundamental science and material engineering aspects. In particular, Freundlich and his team will explore novel device concepts and nano-materials that could lead to breakthroughs in the efficiency and cost of PV devices, which could revolutionize the PV industry.
Freundlich has a strong track record in technology transfer to industry. Several of his patents are actively licensed to industry, generating significant revenues for UH.
鈥淓RCs are the crown jewel of the National Science Foundation鈥檚 science and engineering program,鈥� Freundlich said. 鈥淲hat鈥檚 unique about QESST is that this is the first ERC to be jointly funded by the NSF and DOE and it鈥檚 the first pure solar ERC in the nation.鈥�
The grant will fund the ERC for five years. Freundlich鈥檚 share totals about $1 million.
The UH team also will support the educational goals by reaching out to K-12 students and providing research training for undergraduates and high school teachers.
For more information about QESST, visit: .
- Laura Tolley, UH Communication