Sustainable (Solar) Energy and Electronics need Sustainable Materials
Date:
Colloquia
Time: 11:00-12:15
Location: Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture Hall
Lecturer: Prof. David Cahen
Abstract: To reach real sustainability for today’s preferred ‘sustainable’ types of ... Read more To reach real sustainability for today’s preferred ‘sustainable’ types of energy, viz. electrical ones as solar (photovoltaic, PV, & wind; thermal solar & hydroelectric, which also store) and chemical ones as reduced CO2 [food], H2 & batteries, also the enabling materials need to be sustainable. Alas, mostly they are not, and that is a problem. As sustainability implies long life spans, it is thought to be incompatible with modern society’s pillars of continuing growth & consumerism. This is a serious issue that, while outside the scope of this lecture, adds to the science & technology challenge to return to repairable devices, and repair-friendly designs, with as best option self-healing,** the most relevant option for micro- and macro-electronic device materials. The sustainable materials challenge is reminiscent of the sustainable energy one, i.e., we need to go from science fiction to reality. Starting with bio-solar conversion, via ionics and organic material self-healing, we get to inorganic light ßà electricity conversion compounds. Emphasis will be on PV materials, as in hindsight those already provide (confirm) some material self-healing criteria. Once (many) more experimental properties data will become available (& accessible), deep learning may guide further discovery.Close abstract
