Materials For Energy

Light and power by the roll

By Russell Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research and Technology Institute

Paul Drzaic, Chair of the MRS Bulletin Editorial Board, discusses the promise of thin organic devices for light and power in the Energy Quarterly section of MRS Bulletin.¹ In his article entitled “Thin films thick with promise,” Drzaic discusses progress in making organic light-emitting diodes and photovoltaic devices from organic thin films. The “promise” of the title is that low cost, flexible, and light-weight organic thin films can be produced using roll-to-roll technology and will revolutionize light and power applications in the future.

1. P. Drzaic, “Thin Films Thick With Promise”, Energy Quarterly, MRS Bulletin (2012), Volume 37, Issue 6, pp 549-549.

Methane changes the game for catalytic materials scientists

By Russell Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research and Technology Institute

In a Wall Street Journal article entitled “Chemical Makers Ride Gas Boom,” the emergence of low cost natural gas is changing the way chemical companies seek to synthesize their products. Currently petrochemicals are made from petroleum feed stocks, and the price of petroleum continues to rise. At the same time natural gas has become more abundant and the price has decreased significantly in the past several years. These facts have caused companies such as Dow Chemical to seek to switch to natural gas for their products. Dow, Shell, and Cononco have decided to build new plants for processing natural gas.

These events offer opportunities for catalytic materials scientists to develop new catalytic materials and processes focused on natural gas for chemical synthesis.

1. D. Gilbert, “Chemical Makers Ride Gas Boom”, Wall Street Journal, B1, April 19, 2012.

Lithium battery separator materials advance*

By Russell Chianelli,The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research and Technology Institute

Separator materials for construction of batteries made from lithium metal and cathode materials have been crucial to successful construction and commercialization of these batteries. The separator material must be stable at higher temperatures and provide insulation. Polyimides (PI) are currently successful materials for this application, having long-term stability in temperature ranges from 200–3000⁰C, along with other properties necessary for battery use.

A recent report¹ describes a “Technological Update of Polyimide Nanofibers LiB Separator.” A PI separator material called Energain was developed by DuPont in 2010. DuPont’s process produces continuous filaments with diameters between 200 and 1000 nm and reported power increases of 15 to 30%. Improved battery life of up to 20% and improved safety features at higher temperatures were also reported.

Readers of this blog will be aware of safety issues in electric vehicles requiring better battery materials.

1. *“Technology Update of Polyimide Nanofibers LiB Separator,” www.chemweek.com

Gas power plants: Higher temperatures, higher efficiencies

By Russell Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research Technology Institute

An article in the Energy Quarterly section of MRS Bulletin by Angela Saini entitled “High temperature materials increase efficiency of gas power plants” describes how higher temperatures for gas power plants yield higher efficiencies.¹ Going to a higher temperature requires better materials for turbine blades. Gas turbines are now reaching 60% efficiency and operating at 1430^°C using “superalloys.” Superalloys are preferentially Ni-based with various alloying metals, for example chromium for corrosion resistance and rhenium for high temperature strength. The development of better high temperature alloys is described as a challenge for metallurgists who must develop better synthetic methods that control grain size and their interactions. Life extension is also a critical challenge. It may be that future turbine blade materials will be ceramic in nature. Plenty of opportunity for materials scientists!

1. A. Saini, T. Pollock, “High-temperature materials increase efficiency of gas power plants,” Energy Quarterly, MRS Bulletin, 37 (6), 550 (2012).

Organic electronics: History and future

By Russell R.  Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research and Technology Institiute 

Ching W. Tang is considered by many to be the father of organic electronics. Dr. Tang describes his experiences with developing organic electronic materials at Kodak in the 1980s in an interview by Stephen Forrest and Nicole Moore in the Energy Quarterly section of MRS Bulletin.¹ His early development focused on the aggregate photoconductor, which consists of a polymer, an adsorbing dye, and a hole transport material that has two interpenetrating phases. One phase is an electron conductor and the other a hole conductor. While trying to increase the performance of the solar cells to compete with CdTe, he discovered that by using the same device structure, he could get light emission. Thus, his work moved to developing OLEDs (organic light-emitting diodes). After overcoming many issues in constructing heterojunction OLEDs, a successful potential product was developed. Dr. Tang goes on to discuss the positive picture he envisions for organic OLEDs and photovoltaic devices.

1. S. Forrest, N. Moore, “Energy efficiency with organic electronics: Ching W. Tang revisits his days at Kodak”, Energy Quarterly, MRS Bulletin, 37 (6), 552 (2012).

Advanced Materials for China’s Nuclear Resolve

By Russell R. Chianelli

In the Energy Quarterly section of MRS Bulletin, Angela Saini reported on China’s plan to develop a huge nuclear industrial base.¹ This plan includes the construction of at least 40 new plants over the next 10 years. Construction of these plants requires advanced materials for nuclear plants. These materials include stainless steel for reactor feed water, Ni superalloys for steam generator tubes, low–alloy steel for reactor vessels, and Zr cladding materials. Currently, China imports all of these materials, but plans call for developing their nuclear materials industry internally. These plans also include advanced materials research for better nuclear reactors and eventually fusion reactors.

1. A. Saini, Q. Feng, “China’s nuclear resolve,” Energy Quarterly, MRS Bulletin, 37 (6), 554 (2012).

Reinventing the Auto Industry

By Dr. Russell Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research and Technology Institute

We are all familiar with the recent difficulties experienced by the U.S. auto industry. In an interview in the Energy Quarterly section of the March issue of MRS Bulletin, GM’s Alan Taub talks with David S. Ginley and Arthur L. Robinson about the future of the auto company, and the significant role that advanced materials will play in a reinvigorated GM. Taub talks about the changing customer demand, especially the emerging market in China.

Part of the process in developing solutions to new market trends was to make the isolated GM research laboratories more aware of emerging consumer demands. This process involved co-operative research with universities, national laboratories and other organizations. Fundamental research was particularly emphasized in collaborations with universities. This process also involved globalization of research, with GM opening laboratories outside the United States.

Taub particularly emphasizes new methods that are available to materials scientists, such as computer simulation of materials design at the atomic and molecular levels. Novel materials for energy storage are also a focus. This approach is consistent with GM’s desire to make advances in vehicles that use renewable energy. Hydrogen storage materials, fuel cells and catalysts are high on the list of important materials areas. Biofuels are also discussed in detail. The interview is highly recommended for materials scientists who want to impact next generation of transportation.

Novel Materials Increase Energy Storage Capacity

By Dr. Russell Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso. Materials Research and Technology Institute

Most reports on materials for energy storage concentrate on batteries. However, capacitors that are key to many applications, and products based on them, are receiving more attention. Novel composite materials such as organic/inorganic hybrid nano-materials are increasing the ability of capacitors to store energy. Mitch Jacoby discusses some of these materials in an article in a recent edition of Chemical & Engineering News.¹

Simple capacitors know as dielectrics have been studied since the days of Benjamin Franklin. Today better capacitors are needed by the Navy, for example, for aircraft launch systems that require large bursts of power. Materials such as highly branched copper phthalocyanine polymers are showing promise as high-energy storage capacitors. They are also examples of university research leading to start-up technology: Wolverine Energy Solutions & Technology, a start-up in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is advancing these materials for military, medical, and automotive applications.

Other high-energy-storage materials are hybrids that combine an organic polymer with inorganic nanoparticles. Nanoparticles of ZrO₂ attached to polyvinylidene fluoride are a recent example described in Jacoby’s article. There is almost an endless number of possible new materials to be investigated. The article quotes materials science Professor Tobin J. Marks of Northwestern University as saying, “Let’s wipe the blackboard clean and use our imaginations, synthetic talents, and materials processing skills to make new generation of advanced materials.” Good advice from a master materials scientist!

1. M. Jacoby, "Why Quantum Dots Blink", Chemical & Engineering News, Dec. 1, 2011, ISSN 0009-2347.

Solving China’s Energy Needs Coal Liquefaction

By Dr. Russell Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research and Technology Institute

Every day we read news reports of the rising price of liquid hydrocarbon fuels used for transportation and other energy needs. Part of the cause of the increasing price of fuels such as gasoline is the rapidly increasing demand caused by China’s expanding economy. China lacks major sources of petroleum and is therefore pursuing the liquefaction of its plentiful coal resources. In the Energy Quarterly section of the March issue of MRS Bulletin, Rocco Fiato addresses this subject in an article entitled “China and South Africa pursue coal liquefaction.”[1] The situation in China is reminiscent of that in South Africa during the period when apartheid reigned. This policy led to a world embargo on petroleum and petroleum products that forced South Africa, which has large deposits of coal, to develop liquefaction technology. South Africa is currently the world leader in this field. Though at present South African coal liquefaction technology releases CO₂ into the air, China has expressed interest in capturing the CO₂ to produce biofuels. The article is an interesting overview of where coal liquefaction is heading and how it will affect world fuel supplies.

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[1] MRS BULLETIN • VOLUME 37 • MARCH 2012 • www.mrs.org/bulletin • Energy Quarterly, “China and South Africa pursue coal liquefaction”, Rocco Fiato, with Prachi Patel Feature Editor, pages 204-205.

Computation, Experiment, and Data Combine to Accelerate the Rate of Developing New, Energy Efficient Materials

By Dr. Russell Chianelli, The University of Texas at El Paso, Materials Research and Technology Institute

In the December issue of MRS Bulletin “Energy Quarterly,” an article by Prachi Patel, “Materials Genome Initiative and Energy,” describes a new approach designed to accelerate the discovery of new energy efficient materials. The Materials Genome Initiative (MGI), a federal program instituted in 2011, is based on a concept called Integrated Computational Materials Engineering (ICME), which combines computational tools, experimental tools, and digital data to accelerate the discovery and design of new energy efficient materials. In this respect, it is similar to the combinatorial chemistry techniques used in the pharmaceuticals industry to accelerate the pace of drug discovery.

Ford Motor Company used a similar process to accelerate the development of materials for more energy efficient automobile engines. This system, virtual aluminum casting, saved Ford a large portion of development costs (25%) for new engine castings. The MGI encourages the development of ICME systems in other areas of materials for energy. This approach is generally applicable and is becoming crucial in the field of research and development for materials for energy.