Colloidal Quantum Dots and Photosystem -I Composite

1. Colloidal Quantum Dots and Photosystem-I Composite Investigators: MitraDutta (ECE) and Michael Stroscio, ECE & BioE Primary Grant Support: ARO, AFOSR • Organic-inorganic hybrid structures enable integration of useful organic and inorganic characteristics for novel applications such as solar cell, chemical sensors, and fluorescent biotags. • Energy transfer in the composite of inorganic quantum dots (QDs) and photosystem I (PS-I) is not understood although it is very important and well studied for photosynthesis. QDs QDs+PS1 Glass Glass • Synthesis of the composite of inorganic CdSe QDs and organic PS-I • Experimental measurement of the energy transfer between QDs and PS-I • Investigation of structural, optical and transport properties by means of photoluminescence, time-resolved photoluminescence, absorption, capacitance-voltage and current-voltage measurements • Observed energy transfer from CdSe QDs to PS-I by optical and electrical measurements. • Photoluminescence data and absorption data show that the energy of excited carriers of CdSe QDs to PS-I by means of radiative emission, FRET, and electron/hole transfer between the inorganic-organic system. • I-V measurement data are sensitive to incident light in the composite CdSe QDs/PS-I material. • Further studies continue to identify each energy transfer method.

2. Next-Generation Power Electronics Investigator: Sudip K. Mazumder, Electrical and Computer Engineering Prime Grant Support: NSF, DOE (SECA and I&I), PNNL, CEC, NASA, Ceramatec, Airforce (award pending), TI, Altera • To achieve reliable interactive power-electronics networks • To design and develop power-management electronics for residential and vehicular applications of renewable/alternate energy sources (e.g., fuel and photovoltaic cells) • To achieve higher power density and realize systems on chip • Stability and Stabilization of Power-Electronics Networks: • a) Global stability analysis of stochastic and functional hybrid system • b) Stabilization using wireless networked control • Optimal Fuel Cell based Stationary and Vehicular Energy Systems • a) Resolving interactions among energy source (such as fuel cells), power electronics, and balance of plant. • b) Fuel-cell power-electronics inverter design that simultaneously meet criteria of cost, durability, and energy efficiency • Robust and efficient power devices and smart power ASIC • a) High-speed, EMI immune, wide-bandgap power devices • b) Integration of low- and high-voltage electronics on the same chip • First, wireless distributed control dc/dc and multiphase converters and three-phase induction motor control • First, zero-ripple, multilevel, energy-efficient fuel cell inverter • First, photonically-triggered power transistor design for power electronics • First, nonlinear VRM controller for next-generation Pentium processors • Comprehensive solid-oxide-fuel-cell (SOFC) spatio-temporal system model

3. MURI: Analysis and design of ultrawide-band and high-power microwave pulse interactions with electronic circuits and systems Investigators: P.L.E. Uslenghi (P.I.), S. Dutt, D. Erricolo, H-.Y. D. Yang, ECE in collaboration with Clemson University, Houston University, Ohio State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Michigan Prime Grant Support: AFOSR High Power EM fields • Understand and predict the effects of the new electromagnetic threat represented by high power microwave (HPM) and ultrawide band (UWB) pulses on digital electronic systems found inside fixed or moving platforms. • Develop recommendations for performing field tests/measurements External EM Source (Impulse Radiating Antenna) Illuminated target • Apply electromagnetic topology to predict the effects of HPM/UWB aggressor signals • Apply recently developed fast and accurate computer simulation tools. • Further extend the capabilities of the computer simulation tools to obtain a better understanding of the overall problem. • Fast computer codes are under development at UH, UIUC, UM and OSU. • Topology studies are underway at CU. Analysis of devices and of processor faults are being conducted at CU and UIC. • Validation tests for codes are being developed at CU, OSU, and UIC.