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Project

Modulating the energy efficiency of model thin film energy materials by active strain (SUSTRAINABLE)

A grand challenge of the 21st century is to meet the ever-increasing global energy demand. With the advent of (i) metal halide perovskite and (ii) metal thin films, (i) solar light can today be transformed into electricity and (ii) electric energy stored into chemicals, yet, with significant energy losses. Therefore, pushing the energy efficiency of these functional energy materials beyond current limits is of ultimate importance. 
Today's efforts have however mainly focused on advanced synthesis protocols to design the next-generation of functional energy materials. Here, in contrast, we explore a radically different, nanomechanical approach based on elastic deformation of the metal (halide perovskite) thin films – an approach still in its infancy. In particular, controlled and dynamic expansion of the crystal lattice will be exploited to tailor the bulk and surface properties of metal (halide perovskite) thin films. Our vision is that delivering strain as an active, external ‘stimulus’ will open an unparalleled way of application-tailored tuning of the performance, not achievable by rational materials design.
This WEAVE project will exploit an interdisciplinary and synergetic methodology by combining and advancing (i) a unique nanomechanical test platform (UCL) from materials engineering to strain (ii) thin film functional energy materials (UGent, KUL), (iii) probed by state-of-the-art optical (KUL), X-ray (UGent) and electron-based (UCL) characterization.

Date:1 Jan 2023 →  Today
Keywords:increasing global energy demand, nanomechanical approach, materials engineering to strain thin film functional energy materials
Disciplines:Microfabrication and manufacturing, Photodetectors, optical sensors and solar cells, Spectroscopic methods, Heterogeneous catalysis, Surface and interface chemistry