WWU continues breakthrough work on LSC technology

Supported by a grant from the Murdock Charitable Trust, Western Washington University is partnering with three other primarily undergraduate institutions to develop new approaches for converting sunlight into hydrocarbon fuels.  Based on breakthrough luminescent solar concentrator technology developed by WWU and the University of Washington, student researchers are collaborating to explore new catalyst materials and chemical reactor designs capable of transforming carbon dioxide into liquid fuels, powered entirely by sunlight.

 According to WWU’s David Patrick, “Although presently the main application of solar energy is for the production of electricity – think roof-mounted solar panels – most energy used by society is actually not in the form of electricity.  Therefore, looking to the future, it will be important to find ways to convert sunlight into other useful forms of energy too, such as liquid fuels to power transportation.”  

In this photograph, WWU undergraduate Douglas Baumgardner is assessing a sample of luminescent quantum dots, which are used to absorb and trap sunlight for conversion.