The course is taught in English.
Aim of this course is to show how nanotechnologies are successfully employed across the whole energy sector (sources, conversion, distribution, storage, and use), allowing decisive technological breakthroughs and making substantial contributions to sustainable energy supply. Selected examples in the different sectors will be examined, with particular focus on advanced energy harvesting and storage systems and their impacts on energy efficiency and reduction of emissions. The students will receive interdisciplinar theoretical and methodological tools on materials, technologies, characterization and design techniques for innovative micro/nano-structures and devices for energy issues.

To acquire basic understanding of the nanotechnology systems and materials which are relevant for energy applications, in particular of:
- the methods for synthesis and growth of the nano-materials, their physical-chemical properties
- the basic principles of the devices, the evaluation and the comparison of their performances, the technological steps for their fabrication
- the principal characterization techniques for materials and devices

- General physics (mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetisms, optics)
- Fundamentals of chemistry, electronics and materials science

INTRODUCTION: Nanotechnologies for the energy challenge
ENERGY HARVESTING (2.5 cfu)
- Photovoltaics: dye sensitized, perovskites and organic solar cells
- Piezoelectric Materials and Devices
- Thermoelectrics
- Fuel cells and microbial fuel cells
- Blue Energy

ENERGY STORAGE (1.5 cfu)
- Solar water splitting for H2 production
- Biofuels production from waste
- Supercapacitors and batteries for electrochemical storage

ENERGY SUSTAINABILITY (1 cfu)
- Bio-inspired energy processes and devices (plantoid robots,c)
- Green Nanofabrication
- Nanomaterials for Energy saving (thermal insulation, efficient lighting systems)

EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORIES (1 cfu)

The course involves class lectures, class exercises, as well as experimental laboratories.
Class exercises include simple problem solving activities, with strict connections to theoretical lectures. In addition to visits to research laboratories, an experimental "hands-on" session at Nanoscience Lab. of DISAT – Department of Applied Science and Technology is scheduled during the course, where students, in small groups and under professor supervision, will implement simple experiments on nanomaterials growth, on dye sensitized solar cells/supercapacitors assembly and characterizations of materials and devices

Lecture notes and selected scientific papers given by the teacher

Suggested books:
- J.Garcia-Martinez Nanotechnology for the energy challengeg,Ed. Wiley, 2013
- F.L. De Souza, E.R. Leite Nanoenergy: Nanotechnology Applied for Energy Productionh, Ed. Springer, 2014
- J.Lambauer, A. Voss, U. Fahl, Nanotechnology and Energy: Science, Promises and Limitsh, Pan Stanford Publ., Taylor & Francis, 2012

Written test completed by a brief oral exam.
Possible homeworks in substitution of the written exam