2019 Saint-Gobain Materials Science Lecture

 

    • May 7, 2019 at 4 pm
      Boston University, 8 Saint Mary’s Street Room 906
    • Wine and cheese reception to follow. Coffee available at 3pm.
    • Host: Professor Lawrence Ziegler, Chemistry Chairman
      Sponsors: Saint-Gobain, Division of Materials Science & Engineering, Boston University
    • Event program

     

Harry Atwater

Howard Hughes Professor of Applied Physics and Materials Science
California Institute of Technology

Light as Fuel

Abstract: Research in nanophotonics is opening conceptually new paths to address the grand challenge of using light as a chemical fuel. This is the challenge of direct synthesis of energy-dense chemical fuels from solar energy, including hydrogen and products from reduction of carbon dioxide. I will discuss recent advances in nanophotonics to enable efficient and selective photocatalysis and light-driven photoelectrocatalysis.

A second grand challenge for nanophotonics is the use of light as a rocket fuel. This is the challenge of designing light-propelled spacecraft capable of reaching the stars beyond our solar system, since light itself is the only fuel capable of propelling spacecraft to the relativistic speeds needed to achieve interstellar travel. Recently, the Breakthough Starshot initiative has captured scientific imagination and motivated thinking about conceptual prototypes for light-driven spacecraft that could reach nearby stars within a human lifetime. I will describe how this audacious concept may be closer than we imagine, if advances in materials and nanophotonics can enable key concepts for spacecraft propulsion, instrumentation and communications.

Please RSVP by April 30th