Low Carbon Energy Conversion | Energy Systems | Nanostructured Energy Conversion Devices
Research overview
In order to stabilize carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere below a target level of ~500 parts per million, our energy supply infrastructure will need to approach zero carbon intensity targets in the second half of this century. My research focuses on enabling this long-term transition, by developing our understanding of and ability to surpass current technical barriers. I work at a systems level, making comparisons between different energy technologies based on empirical trends, physical limits, and natural resource limitations, and where possible determining unifying principles that can be applied to the development of a variety of technologies. Several projects explore technological solutions based on nanoengineering. My work utilizes tools from materials science and engineering systems analysis.
Current projects
Ongoing research involves analyzing empirical data to characterize the rates of development and descriptive functional forms of technology performance curves, and combining this with system modeling to study the effect of engineering design characteristics such as scale and modularity on rates of development of energy technologies. Another set of projects focus on quantifying design trade-offs-between characteristics such as surface area, direct transport paths, and porosity, as well as the cost of manufacturing-in nanostructured energy conversion devices, including solar cells, fuel cells and batteries. All projects feed into the development of a framework for studying the cost and carbon trajectories for energy technologies, and exploring a portfolio of possible near-zero carbon energy technology options for the second half of this century.