Materials for Energy and Environmental Sustainability

Catalog description

This course will cover the fundamental materials science issues central to the design of sustainable energy technology. The goal of this course is to expose students to the emerging advances in materials science and materials chemistry that underpin technologies for energy conversion (fuel cells, thermoelectrics, photovoltaics, wind energy etc..), storage (biofuels, artificial photosynthesis, batteries etc) and distribution (smart grids and hydrogen and methane economy concepts etc..) and to place these in a real world context. This class will emphasize concepts in "green materials and green engineering practices" that are emerging with a global focus on "Sustainable Technology." "Sustainability is defined as meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs." Engineering materials and processes at all scales; molecular/nanometer, micro, and the macro-scale are critical to developing the tools society required to meet the growing needs for energy and sustainable materials for the built environment. This course is appropriate for graduate students and advanced undergraduates in Penn's Material Science Programs. Core MSE curriculum components in thermodynamics, structure, electronic & ionic transport, mechanics, polymers and optical materials will be expected, and exposure to the preparation in basic Chemistry and Physics will be advantageous in this highly interdisciplinary course.