Research
Areas | Labs & Facilities | Business
Assistance
The activities at the Center for Future
Energy Systems are initially concentrated on two main themes;
Energy Efficiency and New Energy Sources. Within these themes,
four technology areas: Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, Renewable Energy,
Smart Lighting, and Smart Displays, are currently being investigated.
However, the CFES constantly monitors technology developments,
marketplace opportunities and industry needs to set priorities
and adjust focus.
Current Areas of Research
- Smart Lighting
- Smart Displays
- Fuel Cells and Hydrogen
- Renewable Energy
Smart Lighting is a new paradigm in photonics
in which the basic properties of light (spectral emission characteristics,
color temperature, polarization, etc.) can be adjusted to specific
circumstances and applications. Additionally, the efficiency of
solid state lighting is dramatically higher that traditional incandescent
and fluorescent lighting used today. While LED lighting sources
have made inroads in certain applications, significant energy and
cost savings are possible as these new solid state lighting sources
make there way into the mainstream marketplace.
Research at the CFES ranges from crystal
growth and material development, such as phosphor and reflectors,
to application specific lighting system design, such as street
signs and retail displays. By offering such a comprehensive range
of expertise, the CFES can help solve a wide array of technology
problems that a company may have.
Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs)
offer tunable properties and compatibility with mechanically
flexible substrates. CFES researchers at Cornell have pioneered
OLEDs based on transition metal complexes, which are more reliable
and more practical to manufacture. Within the framework of the
CFES, Cornell researchers are assisting their industry partners
in moving these devices from the laboratory to the manufacturing
stage.
Fuel Cells
The focus of the fuel cell effort is to create
advanced fuel cell components and systems through design, synthesis,
and engineering of novel high-performance materials.
CFES researchers at Rensselaer have extensive
experience in developing high temperature membranes that do not
rely on water for their operation. While some of these membranes
have already reached the market, research on the membranes continues
to improve their performance and tailor them for specific applications.
At Cornell, CFES researchers are using high
throughput methods for the development of new materials for fuel
cell catalysts. This activity will allow for significant numbers
of catalyst compositions to be created and tested to determine
there viability for use on fuel cells.
Hydrogen
The promise of fuel cell technology hinges
on the cost effective production, storage and transportation of
hydrogen. Researchers at the CFES are working to develop the materials
and systems to create, store and move hydrogen efficiently.
Finding sustainable source of energy is
critical to meeting the worlds ever increasing demands for energy.
Renewable technologies such and solar, wind and biomass offer such
solutions.
Solar
The conversion of solar power into usable
energy is one of the main segments of research in the renewable
area. Research activities include the use of recent advances in
nanocrystalline materials, quantum dots, and nanostructured conducting
polymers to design far more efficient solar cells as well as thermophotovoltaic
systems that can convert heat to electricity. The CFES is also
working with a team of Rensselaer researchers which is developing
a Dynamic Shading Window System. This system, which is integrated
into the façade of a building, uses unique solar devices
that track the sun to concentrate and convert sunlight into both
electricity and heat.
Wind
Researchers at the CFES are working to make
wind energy more efficient and more affordable. This work is specifically
in the area of power conversion and power conditioning that not
only makes wind turbines more efficient, but also allows for better
integration with the electric utility grid.
Biomass
Researchers the CFES are working to
find alternatives to fossil fuels used in vehicles and for heating.
Biodiesel, a fuel derived from vegetable oil, which can be used
in any diesel vehicle offers the potential to not only reduce
our dependence on fossil fuels, put also dramatically reduces
emissions in diesel vehicles. Researchers are working with companies
to improve the process used to convert oil to make it more affordable
and to achieve a consistent, high quality product.
Back to Top
|