"Nanoscale optics for energy efficiency and generation"
Optical nanomaterials offer the ability to bend, twist, guide, and confine light in nanoscale dimensions. There are numerous emerging applications for these nanoscale materials for light management in photovoltaics, optical and thermal management in building-integrated materials, and energy-efficient devices. For all of these technologies, however, new materials are needed with desirable optical properties that can be produced inexpensively, sustainably, and at scale. This talk will discuss three approaches we are pursuing. First, I will discuss new electrochemical materials for metamaterials and metasurfaces that exhibit significant optical modulation in response to applied voltage, making them attractive candidates for low-power, tunable optical devices. The second part will discuss a new approach to roll-to-roll manufacturing of metamaterials that uses entirely additive processing. The last part will discuss the implementation of light management strategies in photovoltaic devices, including in agrivoltaic installations in greenhouses.
