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ABSTRACT: Some compound semiconductors such as GaAs and InGaAsP exhibit a high absorption coefficient in the photon energy of interest for solar energy conversion. As such, they are the materials of choice for solar cells of highest efficiencies in single and tandem devices [1]. Their commercial potential in terrestrial applications is reduced due to the scarcity (and thus high cost) of group III elements such as In and Ga. In this talk we present two approaches to render the use this kind of materials sustainable: a strong reduction in material use through nanostructures and the replacement of group III by group II such as zinc. We find nanostructures also provide a path to increase light collection [1]. We show how II-V compounds such as Zn3P2 exhibit one magnitude higher absorption coefficient than GaAs [2]. We explain how these materials can be fabricated with high crystal quality, opening the path for the creation of alternative and sustainable compound semiconductor solar cells [3,4]. 

References:
[1] B. Ehrler et al ACS Energy Lett. 5, 3029 (2020)
[2] P. Krogstrup et al Nature Photon 7, 306 (2013)
[3] M.Y. Swinkels et al Phys. Rev. Appl. 14, 024045 (2020)
[4] S. Escobar Steinvall et al Nanoscale Horizons 5, 274-282 (2020)
[5] R. Paul et al, Crys. Growth. Des. 20, 3816–3825 (2020)


BIOGRAPHY: Prof. Anna Fontcuberta i Morral PhD, Full Professor in Materials Science and Engineering and in Physics, associate Vicepresident for Centers and Platforms at EPFL. She is member of the EPFL-WISH foundation and former president, foundation whose goal is to support female students on accomplishing their professional dreams.

Prof. Anna Fontcuberta i Morral studied physics at the University of Barcelona till 1997. She then moved to Paris where in 2001 she obtained a PhD in Materials Science from Ecole Polytehcnique (France). She performed a postdoc at CalTech with Prof. Harry Atwater, with whom she also co-founded the start-up company Aonex Technologies. After a brief period as CNRS researcher at Ecole Polytechnique, she moved to TU Munich as a group leader. She has been professor at EPFL since 2008. Among the awards she has received are the Marie Curie Excellence Grant, ERC Starting Grant, the SNSF-backup schemes Consolidator Grant and the EPS Emy Noether prize.

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• CONTACTMazen E. Mero

Abstract:

As world population increases rapidly, we need to cope not only with lack of energy but also with lack of water and food (energy-water-food nexus). Since food production requires a lot of energy, it will be very important to produce food with minimal energy and water consumption in the future. Food self-sufficiency in cities has become a big issue due to the acceleration of urbanization, and it is getting more serious since COVID-19 pandemic. Regardingly, global companies like google and amazon are investing big money on vertical farming startups. Vertical farms require large amount of electrical and thermal energy for lighting, heating, cooling, CO₂ supply, and therefore, the efficient use and supply of energy is very important. Recently, fundamental and practical studies are being performed on building-integrated rooftop greenhouse in Europe and North America. Wasted energy from the building can be used as a source of heating and CO₂ for the greenhouse, and the rooftop greenhouse can reduce heating load of the building as a thermal barrier. Our group has been working on the sustainable energy system with distributed combined heat and power generation for urban agriculture, and this presentation will show you some of our latest results.

Bio:

Sang Min Lee is a principal researcher and the head of Clean Fuel & Power Generation Department at Korea Institute of Machinery & Materials (KIMM). Sang Min received his Ph.D. from Seoul National University in 2003, with a focus on soot formation characteristics in diffusion flames using laser diagnostics. He was a visiting scholar at Combustion Research Facilities (CRF) in Sandia National Laboratories in 2008. He worked on the development of practical combustors such as high pressure combustors for gas turbine and catalytic combustors for fuel cell. His current research interests cover low carbon, high efficiency and sustainable energy system for rural and urban agriculture including building-integrated vertical farm.

Registration link to join the webinar:

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• CONTACTEmmanuelle Sougrat

​ZOOM WEBINAR PRESENTATION

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Abstract: Epslog’s CoreDNA solution combines a selection of transdisciplinary, high resolution, non-destructive measurements on whole cores that enable an early yet objective and comprehensive description of cores and the rapid estimation of properties of formations a handful of days after opening core barrels. Whole cores, which may still be in their half-open liners, are mounted on one unique tabletop test bench and submitted to a battery of tests, all sharing the same depth reference and compatible resolution ranges. Technologies including ultra-high resolution pictures, pXRF elemental composition, grain size analysis, but also the direct measurement of geomechanical properties such as strength and acoustic velocities, are all deployed along the entire core on the same 3cm wide mini-slab surface.

Results of these fast tests (3ft per hour) are analysed real-time and turned into high resolution, continuous quantitative profiles of properties (petrophysical, geomechanical and geochemistry) fed into (unsupervised) machine learning algorithms for the automated identification of lithofacies, enabling the detailed understanding of reservoir architecture and the design of tailored plug selections and the programing of subsequent steps in core analysis programs, even remotely.

Such a detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the distributions of core properties under one unique format for all discipline eases interdisciplinary core analysis work, from the QCing of standard tests (Routine Core Analysis, Rock Mechanical Test) to the upscaling of core data and the calibration of robust predictive models from well logs. A number of case studies on reservoirs from different regions all underline the benefit of this disruptive technology in core analysis standards when run prior (i) taking any sample (plugs and preserved) and (ii) slabbing the cores.

Biography: Dr. Christophe Germay is a founder and managing director of Epslog since its creation in 2005. His current interests are with the development of technologies for the acquisition of high quality core based data. Germay holds a BSc degree of Engineering in Physics from the University of Liège, Belgium. He obtained a MSc degree in civil engineering from the University of Minnesota within the group that invented and patented the scratch test technology and a joint PhD degree from the University of Liège and University of Minnesota.

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• CONTACTDr. Thomas Finkbeiner
• EMAILthomas.finkbeiner@kaust.edu.sa