Research Groups
Research Group 4: Complex Architecture and Self-Architected Absorbers
RG Leader: Paul Braun
Affiliated PIs: Paul Alivisatos, Harry Atwater, Jennifer Lewis, Nathan Lewis, Ralph Nuzzo, Albert Polman, John Rogers, Xiang Zhang
(clockwise from upper left) Spanning ITO microelectrodes (J. Lewis, UIUC); light-directed pattern formation (N. Lewis, Caltech); growth of 3D optoelectronic III-V photonic crystal (P. Braun & J. Rogers, UIUC); Si microwire array photovoltaics (H. Atwater & N. Lewis, Caltech)
New synthetic methods have enabled complex three-dimensional solar absorber architectures that were previously not possible to make. As an example, arrays of high aspect ratio semiconductor structures such as photonic crystals and Si microwire arrays give rise to unusual optical properties not found in conventional bulk or thin film solar absorbers. Other complex architecture absorbers being explored by RG-4 researchers include three-dimensional compound semiconductor photonic crystals. Perhaps the ultimate method to control light absorption in materials is to utilize light absorption itself to regulate material growth, another area of current LMI-EFRC focused research. In this way, light can be used as tool to control the spatial scale for ordering in complex absorbers.
RG-4 Research Projects include:
- Light trapping in Si wire arrays (Atwater, N. Lewis)
- Single Crystal GaAs 3D Photonic Crystals (Braun, Rogers)
- Transparent Conductive and Metallic Microelectrodes (J. Lewis)
- Light-driven synthesis and pattern formation (N. Lewis, Atwater)
- Magnetic Alignment of High-Aspect Ratio Microstructures (N. Lewis)
- Superstructured Tungsten Oxide (N. Lewis, Braun)
- Limiting photon entropy increase to maximize efficiency in solar cells (Atwater, Polman)
