Specialized iNANO Lecture: Prospects of Nanostructured Materials for Sustainable Energy Solutions
Senior research scientist Vitalie Stavila, PhD, Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, California, USA
Info about event
Time
Location
AUD I (1514-213), Langelandsgade 140, 8000 Aarhus C
Vitalie Stavila, PhD
Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore
California, USA
Prospects of Nanostructured Materials for Sustainable Energy Solutions
The world has a tremendous appetite for energy which is only expected to grow in the foreseeable future. The intense development of transportation, internet, communications has dramatically extended the range of human activities, and this is starting to cause problems with sustainability, climate change, and pollution. For example, if every person of the current world population of 7.5 billion was to live by European or US standards of life, we would need 4 (four!) planets the size of Earth to satisfy all their needs in minerals, energy, food and water. Continued population growth and improvements in the quality of life requires a supply of inexpensive energy that is not sustainable with current fossil fuel based energy resources.
In the (hopefully not so distant) future it is expected that renewables will power everything, from industrial power grids to personal vehicles. In the United States, renewable energy for electric power, transportation, industrial, residential and commercial purposes is the fastest-growing energy sector, increasing 62 percent from 2000 to 2016. In the transportation sector, hydrogen fuel cells and solid-state batteries are likely to be a part of the future, and possibly an important part.
This talk will discuss the main challenges facing the field of nanostructured materials for sustainable energy solutions, including the major technological breakthroughs needed in renewable energy production, storage, conversion and distribution. A summary of recent advances in Dr. Stavila’s group in the area of nanostructured metal hydrides, catalysts, and solid-state ionic conductors will be also presented.
Vitalie Stavila is a Senior Research Scientist at Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore, California (USA), where his research focuses on experimental aspects of materials science geared toward energy storage and nanoscale materials. His current research interests and projects include the development of nanostructured materials for hydrogen fuel cell and solid-state battery applications, as well as active components in catalysis and chemical sensing. Dr. Stavila has edited 3 books, published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals, and was awarded 16 U.S. and international patents.
Host: Associate professor Torben Rene Jensen, iNANO & Department of Chemistry, Aarhus university