Physical Sciences Perspective

equences from a Physical Sciences Perspective

The Sun is the largest exploitable resource

1 hour of sun to Earth = all of mankind's yearly energy.

Basic Science: How to capture and store?

The Essential Role of catalysis in conversion of solar energy to liquid fuels

The overall efficiency for the production of solar fuels

Biology’s CO2 Catalysts

Aerobic bacterium: O. Carboxidovorans

Anaerobic Bacterium: C. Hydrogenoformans

Synthesis gas from CO2, H2O, and Sunlight

1) Satus QUO

2) New Insights

Electrocatalysts: Greatly increases efficiency and reaction speed using inorganic complex

Nanorod Photovoltaic Array: High surface area, improved transport, lower cost fabrication

3) Solar Fuel Achievement

Main Achievement: Solar Fuel

4) Quantitative Imact

Nanorod semiconductor arrays - improved solar energy conversion efficiency

Electrocatalyst: Conversion efficiency - 80%

Superconductor-Energy Research

Experimental research in the energy sector is carried out in three areas: Superconductivity, Magnetism, Thermoelectric power generation and cooling

Discovery of Superconductivity

1908: Liquified helium

1911: Observed that electrical resistance of mercury vanishes below

Tc: Superconductivity critical temperature

1913: Nobel prize in Physics

Origin of Superconductivity

Metal: Periodic arrangement of positively charge ions “gas” of mobile negatively charged conduction electrons

Normal State: Scattering of electrons by:

1) Thermal Motion of Ions

2) Impurities

3) Other Electrons

Superconducting State: Electrons with opposite momentum are paired. Electron pairs move in concert through lattice without scattering

Markets

Hgher power destinies, better efficiencies, smaller size

Power cables

Motors, generators and sychronous consenders

MagLev trains

Fault current limiters

Magnetic separation

Accelerator and research magnets

Energy Considerations

iPhone used more energy than your fridge

More energy to stream a video than to manufacture and ship a CD

10% of energy consumption is on wireless

The Problem

Information technology is approaching a crisis

Integrated circuit power densities are already equivalent to those inside a nuclear reactor

The electronics are generating too much heat

The Idea

We propose to develop conceptually new excitonic signal processing where excitons are used in place of electrons

Excitonic signal processing is seamlessly coupled to optical communication thus providing a strong advantage compared to modern technology

Nature already exploits excitions in photosynthesis, which has been optimised for billion years and relies on excitonic devices in absorbing and concentrating energy

The Approach

In contast to electrons, excitons are neutral. We have found a way to control such neutral particles by using indirect excitons to carry the signal.

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