NET-Symposium on nanotechnology approaches, nanomaterials and thin films for energy technologies

Posted: July 17, 2008
NET-Symposium on nanotechnology approaches, nanomaterials and thin films for energy technologies
(Nanowerk News) A symposium titled "NET-Symposium on Nanotechnology Approaches, Nanomaterials and Thin Films for Energy Technologies" will be held during NanoSMat2008 in Barcelona-Spain, October 21-24, 2008.
Most areas of nanotechnology are at an early stage of their development. Research in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology will contribute to the achievement of fundamental breakthroughs in nanomaterials and processes in energy systems.
In the near future nanotechnology will contribute to efficient and low-cost systems for generating, storing, and transporting energy. Materials and structures that are designed and fabricated at the nanoscale level offer the potential to enhance efficiencies and reduce costs in solar photovoltaic systems, solar thermal systems, fuel cells and other energy technologies.
Nanostructured materials and thin films offer the potential for significant improvements in energy technology and photo-electronic properties based on improvements in physical, chemical and nanomechanical properties resulting from reducing microstructural features by decreasing the grain size of a material to the nanometer range compared to current technological materials. For example, efficient solar photothermal conversion benefits from spectrally selective absorber nanostructured graded surfaces.
This symposium on nanotechnology for energy technologies was designed to bring together different disciplines of energy technology and to discuss the possible benefits of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in their R&D efforts.
Besides other energy areas, nanotechnology's potential impact on solar energy, fuel cells and storage in particular will be addressed at the symposium. The symposium will also review the current state of knowledge in the field of nanomaterials, functional surfaces and nanostructured coatings for efficient energy systems as well present novel applications and current challenges and opportunities.
"We expect that this symposium could be also a gate way for high tech ideas and to find partners in innovative research proposals for the new 7PQ of the European Commission" Says Prof. Vasco Teixeira, the conference chair. "Attending this symposium, scientists, engineers and industrial technicians will have the opportunity to interchange their knowledge, research experience, technology and applications of the field of Nanotechnology, Nanomaterials and Thin Films for Energy Technologies. We also encourage participating to young scientists and engineers as well technicians and experts from nanomaterials and coatings industry."
Both academic and industrial presentations are welcome at the symposium.
Main Topics covered
The abstract submissions are now being accepted. Proposed topics include, but are not be limited to production, characterization and modeling of:
Functional Surfaces and Nanostructured Coatings for Energy Systems Nanotechnology for Efficient Energy Conversion Selective Nanostructured Absorbers for Thermal Collectors Photovoltaic Materials and Technologies Thin Film and Organic Solar Cells Radically Novel Concepts in Plastic Solar Cells Bioenergy, Biovoltaics Technologies Nanomaterials for Fuel Cell Technologies Large-scale Nanomaterials Production Nanomaterials for Hydrogen Production and Storage Photocatalytic Nanomaterials and Surfaces Advances in Smart Materials and Devices Envolving Energy Electrochemical Conversion and Storage Fuel Sources, Exploration and Refinement Portable or Miniaturized Energy Sources Industrial Solutions and New Energy Products Clean Technology Policies and Venture Capital
Some of the confirmed invited speakers for NET Symposium are:
"Thin film solar cell technology in Germany", Wolfgang Diehl, Volker Sittinger, Bernd Szyszka,Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films IST,Germany "Thin film nano solar cells - from device optimization to upscaling",Peter Lund, Minna Toivola, Helsinki University of Technology, Finland "Nanomaterials and Thin Solid Films for Advanced Window Applications",Panayiotis Yianoulis, University of Patras, Greece "Industrial process for a-Si thin film solar cells fabrication", Jordi Andreu, T Solar S.A., Spain "Nanoscale Materials and Thin Coatings Architectures for Energy Applications", Joaquim Carneiro,Vasco Teixeira, University of Minho, Portugal "From Amorphous to Nanocrystalline Silicon: a nanoestructured path for thin film solar cells", Hugo ?guas, Sergej Filonovich, Iwona Bernacka-Wojcik, Elvira Fortunato and Rodrigo Martins, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal "Carbon based electrodes for energy applications", Enric Bertran, Barcelona University, Spain
and more others about other energy topics. Please check previous 2007 NET invited speakers at: http://vteixeira.com.sapo.pt/Nanomaterials_for_Energy_Technologies.htm
Symposium Organizer contact
Prof. Vasco Teixeira Editor-in-chief: Journal of Nano Research, JNanoR http://www.jnanor.com/ University of Minho Physics Department Campus de Azurém P-4800-058 Guimarães- PORTUGAL phone: +351 - 253 510400/65 fax: +351 - 253 510 401 email: [email protected]
Extended Abstract deadline: 25 July 2008

Source: Prof. Teixeira, University of Minho