Sustainable Energy

? Sustainable Energy


	Increasing demand for cheap fossil energy has lead to substantial increases of the carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere.


	Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dioxide)

	Because CO₂ concentrations are correlated with atmospheric temperature, there is the possibility that CO₂ will induce significant increases in the global temperature in the near future (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

	To reduce the risks associated with this trend, the development of carbon-neutral renewable energy sources is of great importance. Currently, renewable energy production only makes up a small fraction of the total global energy production (less than 8%).


	Current Sources of Energy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_development)

	Among carbon free renewable energy sources (Wind, Hydropower, Biomass, Geothermal, Solar), only Solar Energy has the potential to meet the world’s demand for energy. The sunlight that strikes Earth in just one hour provides 4.3x10²⁰ Joules, enough to satisfy the human energy demand of one entire year (4.1x10²⁰ Joules in 2001). [Lewis, N. S.; Nocera, D. G., PNAS 2006, 103, (43), 15729-15735. http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0603395103]

	On Earth’s surface, the solar power equals 1000 W/m². About 45% of this power is distributed in the visible region of the spectrum (400-800 nm), 5% in the ultraviolet (<400 nm), and 50% in the infrared (heat).

	Solar Irradiance and Solar Flux Fraction Below ?. (http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/spectra/)

	In order to use this abundant resource of renewable power, new inexpensive technologies for converting sunlight into electricity and fuel will need to be developed.


	The following references provide additional information on these topics.

	Solar Fuels
	Photocatalytic Water Splitting Biomass Conversion Plasmon Enhanced Photovoltaics

	Powering the Planet by Nathan Lewis
	YouTube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1sYmBX7rNA Powerpoint Presentations: http://nsl.caltech.edu/energy.html Article: Lewis, N. S.; Nocera, D. G., PNAS 2006, 103, (43), 15729-15735.

	The Materials Chemistry of Energy Conversion
	Chemistry of Materials Special Issue (2010, 22(3), 585-1270).

	Solar Cells
	Wiley Interscience Virtual Issue.

	Artificial Photosynthesis and Solar Fuels
	Accounts of Chemical Research Special Issue (2009, 42(12), 1859-2029).

	Renewable Energy
	Chemical Society Reviews Special Issue (2009, 38, 1).

	Hydrogen
	Chemical Reviews Special Issue (2007, 107(10), 3899-4435).

	Harnessing Materials for Energy
	MRS Bulletin thematic issue (2008, 33(4)).

	Advanced Inorganic Materials for Photovoltaics
	MRS Bulletin thematic issue (2007, 32(3)).

	Organic–Based Photovoltaics
	MRS Bulletin thematic issue (2005, 30(1)).

	Photovoltaic Materials
	Photovoltaic Materials Virtual Special Issue (2010).

^ Back to Top

.
.	The Osterloh Research Group is part of the University of California, Davis Department of Chemistry.

Feedback