Technology Thrusts

Photovoltaics

Solar cells that convert sunlight to electric power are the basis of one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Up until now, they have mostly been made of silicon wafers. This dominance is being challenged by the development of newer types of solar cells, based on thin-film materials, nanocrystalline materials and conducting polymeric films. These approaches offer the potential for lower costs, higher efficiency and flexibility. E2TAC researchers are working on advancing all of these photovoltaic technologies as well as on improvements on solar cell manufacturing.

Fuel Cells

Fuel cells use catalysts and ionically conductive electrolytes to control the reaction between hydrogen and oxygen and produce electricity. E2TAC is developing new catalyst deposition methods, catalyst support materials and structures, catalyst coated membranes, lithography based fuel cells, MEMS-based relative humidity sensors, and materials to reduce contact resistance and improve water management in fuel cell stacks.

Power Electronics

Power electronics is the technology associated with the efficient conversion, control and conditioning of electric power from its available input form into the desired electrical output form. A key goal of power electronics is to provide power conversion with the maximum efficiency possible. It has been well known for some time that power semiconductor device performance can be enhanced at low temperatures, especially in the range of 77 K to 200 K, where extraordinary efficiency, switching speeds and power densities can be realized. In addition, device reliability is enhanced, since intrinsic device aging processes are slowed at lower temperatures. E2TAC works on the application and packaging of cryocooled MOSFETs and other devices for demanding applications such as shipboard propulsion electronics. In addition, E2TAC is exploring new device designs for enhanced power electronics performance both at cryogenic and ambient temperature.

Energy Efficiency

In partnership with Einhorn Yaffee Prescott - Architecture and Engineering, E2TAC is home to the National Institute of Sustainable Energy (NISE), which oversees joint R&D, workforce training, business advancement, and commercialization programs in sustainability and zero energy technologies. Activities include building information modeling, energy modeling, system monitoring and control, and sustainable new energy technology demonstrations such as an on-site energy test farm.

Electrochemical Double Layer Capacitors (EDLCs)

EDLCs-- also called supercapacitors -- are energy storage devices that produce energy through the adsorption and desorption of ions at the interface of an electrode and electrolyte. Charging and discharging take place at extremely high rates compared with batteries, thereby offering much greater power density than batteries but also much greater energy density than ordinary capacitors. EDLCs are valuable in applications where there is energy to be captured through repetitive motions and where the energy storage system demands an extended reliable lifetime. E2TAC is working to enhance the energy density of EDLCs by the use of nanotechnology in advanced electrodes and electrolytes.

Superconductors

High-temperature superconductors such as YBCO have significant opportunities for commercialization based on the practicality of operation at temperatures above liquid nitrogen. HTS conductors can save as much as 20% of electrical energy that is currently lost in transmission due to resistance. HTS also has applications in motors, generators, transformers and fault current limiters. To meet the needs of these applications and be economically practical, the critical current and current density of HTS conductors must be increased while their cost needs to be substantially reduced. E2TAC is focused on these improvements.

Thermoelectrics

Thermoelectric devices convert thermal energy into electrical energy or use electrical energy to move heat (i.e., warm or cool.) Thermoelectric generators are solid-state power sources that utilize the Seebeck effect, while thermoelectric coolers are solid-state heat pumps utilizing the Peltier effect. E2TAC researchers are using nanotechnology to engineer materials with enhanced thermoelectric performance for such potential applications as waste-heat recovery from vehicles.

Environmental Sensors

Integration of chemical sensors into system-on-a-chip technology platforms enables a cost effective and reliable solution for energy and environmental monitoring applications. E2TAC is developing field deployable, tailored sensing solutions for hydrocarbons, harsh environment and biological sensor systems through the use of optical, electrical or acoustical sensing platforms. A major research focus area for integrated chemical sensors is the development of materials with the required selectivity, specificity and reliability for the targeted sensing application. E2TAC utilizes a tailored design methodology using the unique properties of nanomaterials for the development of an optimized sensing platform.