Research

The Chemistry and Nanoscience Center develops and demonstrates the key enabling science and technology for functional materials and processing for clean energy, as well as hydrogen at scale. For photovoltaics and other energy applications, NREL’s primary research in chemistry and nanoscience includes the following research areas.

Electrical Energy Storage

• Lithium-ion batteries
• Radical organic batteries

Hydrogen and Fuel Cells

• Fuel cells
• Testing and fabrication
• Hydrogen production
• H2@Scale
• Hydrogen storage
• HydroGEN Energy Materials Network
• ElectroCat Energy Materials Network
• Manufacturing

Photovoltaics

• Organic photovoltaics
• Perovskites
• Quantum dot solar cells
• Dynamic windows

Solar Photochemistry

• Excitons to charge carrier in molecular and nanoscale systems
• Quantum-confined semiconductors
• Solar fuels

Manufacturing for Energy Applications

• Roll-to-roll manufacturing
• Atmospheric processing tool

Quantum and Carbon Nanomaterials

• Carbon nanoscience
• Thermoelectric materials
• Center for Advanced Solar Photophysics
• Quantized perovskites

The Chemistry and Nanoscience Center is part of the Materials and Chemical Science and Technology directorate, led by Associate Laboratory Director Bill Tumas.