The course is taught in English. Aim of this course is to give an overview of the worldwide energy panorama, and to show how nanotechnologies are successfully employed 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 (0.5 ECTs) The energy challenge: overview of the worldwide panorama, discussion of the IEA and EU documents roadmaps, potential applications of nanotechnologies. ENERGY HARVESTING (2.5 ECTs) Photovoltaics: the basic principles and the characterization techniques. Solar cells:p-n junctions and thin films, nanotechnologies for 1st and 2nd generation, Dye sensitized, Organic and Perovskites solar cells. Piezoelectric Materials and Devices; Thermoelectrics; Fuel cells; Microbial fuel cells. Blue Energy   ENERGY STORAGE (1.5 ECTs) Supercapacitors for electrochemical storage; Solar water splitting for H2 production. EXPERIMENTAL LABORATORIES (1.5 ECTs) Safety rules in a lab; fabrication and characterization of photovoltaic devices; fabrication and characterization of supercapacitors

The course involves class lectures and few class exercises (for a total of 4.5 ECTs). Class exercises include simple problem solving activities, with strict connections to theoretical lectures. The experimental laboratory activity (1.5 ECTs) consists of an experimental "hands-on" session at Nanoscience Lab. of DISAT – Department of Applied Science and Technology, 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

Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria;

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam;

... The written exam will consist in answering to two open questions on the subjects developed during the course. The duration will be 1h. The maximum obtainable mark in the written part is 26/30. The laboratory activity (as described in the report and as discussed during the oral) will give additional points (maximum 4 points) to the mark obtained in the written part. The oral is MANDATORY. It will consist in a (brief) discussion of the written answers and of the report on the lab activity (for the students that have not followed the labs, the discussion will be on the homework). Also the oral can give additional points to the mark obtained in the written part

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.