Semiconductor nanowires, by definition, typically have cross-sectional dimensions that can be tuned from 2–200 nm, with lengths spanning from hundreds of nanometers to millimeters. After more than two decades of research, nanowires can now be synthesized and assembled with specific compositions, heterojunctions and architectures. This has led to a host of nanowire photonic and electronic devices. Because of their unique structural, chemical and physical properties, these nanoscopic one-dimensional nanostructures can also play a significant role in terawatt-scale energy conversion and storage. Currently the amount of energy required worldwide is on the scale of terawatts, and the percentage of renewable energy in the current energy portfolio is quite limited. Developing of cost-effective clean energy technology becomes imperative. I will discuss two examples from my group, approaching this problem in two different directions. The first relates to saving energy, by developing nanostructured silicon thermoelectrics to do waste heat recovery; and the second is to develop nanostructures for solar energy conversion, especially converting CO2 to liquid fuels through artificial photosynthesis.

Semiconductor nanowires for energy conversion

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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