Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Abstract
Center for Soft PhotoElectroChemical Systems (SPECS)
We propose a new Energy Frontier Research Center—the Center for Soft Photo-Electro-Chemical
Systems (SPECS). The SPECS mission is to understand the factors controlling charge and matter
transport processes at femtosecond-to-minute timescales, occurring at atomic-to-meso length scales in
soft materials, specifically π-conjugated polymers. SPECS will integrate: i) a molecular-scale
understanding of charge transfer and interfacial chemical and electrochemical events that underpin
efficient energy conversion and energy storage; and ii) the factors that control durability for these low
cost and readily scalable materials. The team of proven, diverse, and engaged researchers includes
established synthetic, computational, and experimental experts accompanied by state-of-the-art
spectroelectrochemical and operando microscopy capabilities in our laboratories and at DOE synchrotron
facilities.
The SPECS EFRC is a direct response to DOE BES initiatives and Basic Research Needs (BRNs) in the
Science for Clean Energy reports (i.e. Liquid Solar Fuels and Next Generation Electrical Energy Storage),
Directing Matter and Energy: Five Challenges for Science and the Imagination (December 2007) and
Challenges at the Frontiers of Matter and Energy: Transformative Opportunities for Discovery Science
(November 2015) reports. By offering a new entry point into energy conversion and energy storage
technologies that complements approaches based on mainly inorganic materials interfaced to molecular
catalysts, we anticipate that SPECS will synergistically associate with other DOE-funded major programs,
e.g.: Center for Hybrid Approaches in Solar Energy to Liquid Fuels (CHASE), Joint Center for Energy
Storage Research (JCESR), Bioinspired Light-Escalated Chemistry (BioLEC), and existing multi-PI programs
in Solar Photochemistry and Materials Chemistry.
Status | Active |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 8/1/22 → 7/31/25 |
Funding
- University of Arizona: $474,988.00
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