SOLAR BREAKTHROUGH: ONE STEP CLOSER

An Australian and Chinese research team has succeeded in growing the nanocrystals researchers the world over have been trying to grow. Using titanium, they have grown inorganic materials that can mimic the photosynthetic processes of organic plants.

Max Lu, professor, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)/University of Queensland (UQ): "We have grown the world's first titanium oxide single crystals with large amounts of reactive surfaces, something that was predicted as almost impossible…The crystals absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity."

The implications of this breakthrough are enormous. Such crystals have been lab-grown using very expensive substances like platinum and very rare materials like rubenium. Neither will do to create a “paint-on” solar substance cheap and plentiful enough to turn every common surface into a source of solar energy-generated electricity. Titanium, as an oxide, would do it.

Professor Lu: "One could paint these crystals on to a window or a wall to purify the air in a room…The potential of applications of this technology in water purification and recycling are huge."

One last, important point: It will likely take 5 to 10 years for this breakthrough to reach the marketplace.

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Australian, Chinese researchers make breakthrough in renewable energy materials
Amber Yao, May 29, 2008 (Xinhua)
and
Crystals shed light on solar energy
May 28, 2008 (The Age)

WHO
Max Lu, professor, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)/University of Queensland (UQ) and a team of UQ researchers;
Huiming Cheng, professor, Chinese Academy of Sciences and a team of Academy of Science researchers

More of the basic chemistry. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
The Lu and Cheng groups have successfully grown nano solar crystals using titanium oxides.

WHEN
Water and air pollution control applications are 5 years away. Solar energy conversion applications are 5 to 10 years off.

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WHERE
Findings published in the latest edition of scientific journal Nature.

WHY
- Nano solar materials mimic the highly efficient photosynthetic activity of plants but can be used without the need for plant “care”and the energy produced can be harvested rather than left for the plant’s sustenance.
- Such materials have been grown from oxidized expensive and rare materials but only cheap and common materials (tin, iron, titanium, potassium, strontium), oxidized, would allow nano solar materials to be used in “terawatt” volume.

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QUOTES
Max Lu, professor, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN)/University of Queensland (UQ): "Titania nano-crystals are promising materials for cost-effective solar cells, hydrogen production from splitting water, and solar decontamination of pollutants…"