Materials Research Laboratory

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Professor Matthew Sheldon, Texas A&M University, "Shining a Light on Nanophotonic Heat Engines"

Event Type
Seminar/Symposium
Sponsor
Professor Prashant Jain, Physical Chemistry
Location
CLSL B102
Date
Apr 3, 2024   2:00 - 3:00 pm  
Contact
Randy Prince
E-Mail
rlprince@illinois.edu
Phone
217-333-2540
Views
53
Originating Calendar
Chemistry - Physical Chemistry Seminars

The ability to perform work using broad classes of energy conversion devices (e.g. batteries, solar cells, thermoelectric generators, fuel cells, etc.) depends on the energy provided by electrons as they transition from initial states to final states during a power cycle. Our laboratory investigates the performance of such heat engines when they are powered by non-equilibrium nanoscale optical phenomena, allowing us to reassess fundamental tenets in thermodynamics, photochemistry, and device physics. This talk will highlight several of our recent advances understanding and manipulating mechanical interactions between radiation and nanoscale systems, for the goal of optimizing a variety of heat engines that are powered by sunlight. 

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