2015 Materials Research Society Spring Meeting
Abstract
Symposium FF: Defects in Semiconductors: Relationship to Optoelectronic Properties: This symposium brought together materials scientists with expertise in synthesis and processing of semiconductors, characterization of defects and interfaces, structure-property correlations and modeling to address critical issues in energy related materials needed for next-generation systems. With increasing demands of energy consumption, development of new renewable energy technologies is a necessary step to drastically reduce carbon emission from fossil fuels. Materials hold the key to advanced renewable energy technologies including solar cells, batteries, fuel cells, and catalysis. Semiconductor materials including oxides can provide future high efficiency sources of visible light, visual displays, photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion devices and of a large variety of sensors and power control systems for energy generation, conservation, and distribution. Furthermore, characteristics of defects and their control in these materials are crucial for the performance, reliability, and lifetime of energy related devices and systems. For example, among renewable energy technologies, solar energy is a limitless source of energy, and photovoltaic energy conversion is one of the most efficient ways to produce electricity directly from the Sun. The key issue there is to further reduce the cost of photovoltaic energy conversion. Cost reduction of PV can be achieved through reduction of material cost and/or improvement in conversion efficiency. The focus of this symposium was on the identification, manipulation, and elimination of various defects in energy related materials. These defects can be formed during material growth or introduced via various methods during device processing that relate to and influence particular electrical and/or optical properties of materials. As devices are getting smaller, a better control of defects will play a critical role. In addition, if these defects can be made stable, they can be used to play and active useful role, as opposed to detrimental role. Symposium GG: Foundations of Bio/Nano Interfaces-Synthesis, Modeling, Design Principles, and Applications: This symposium focused on the fundamental understanding of biological/biomimetic-solid interfaces as well as their implementation into ordered nanoscale assemblies for drug delivery, tissue replacements, catalysis, sensors, electronics, and photonics applications. The symposium built on invited talks from thought leaders in the field of bionanointerfaces and included state-of-the-art experimental as well as modeling contributions that were balanced to cross-fertilize related research communities. Research reported in this symposium supported the development of new intelligence systems, biologically strong and lightweight materials, advanced electronics, and sustainable catalysts. The symposium consisted of 9 half day sessions and comprised 18 invited talks, 64 contributed talks, as well as 48 poster presentations, totaling 130 contributions. The symposium topics had broad significance for developments across the materials and defense research community. Hierarchical organization from the nanoscale to the macroscale helps achieve greatest specificity and functional diversity of materials and structures, and the integration of laboratory studies with ever-increasing computational methods offers many benefits. The symposium was opened to all attendees of the MRS Spring Meeting and included broad participation from graduate students, post-docs, as well as senior researchers from academia, government, and industry. Opportunities for collaboration as well as career opportunities among the participants and their institutions were explored. ARO funds were allocated to support registration and travel for invited speakers, early-career researchers and graduate students and post-doctoral candidates who participated in the two symposia.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1510106
Entities
People
- J. Ardie Dillen
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- Materials Research Society
- United States Army