Nanotechnology for environmental and energy applications: from nanoscale to urban scale
Alexander Orlov, Ph.D.
Stony Brook University
Abstract:
Developing novel nanostructures for environmental and energy application is an immensely exciting and rewarding area of research. Tuning shape and size of nanoparticles/nanostructures can produce new catalysts with the most striking properties. This can become even more promising when the size of the catalysts is reduced to sub-nanometer dimensions. In the area of sustainable energy we have demonstrated that such approach can produce catalysts with order/orders of magnitude higher activities as compared to that of traditional catalysts. More specifically we studied gas phase/ liquid phase oxidation/reduction reactions activated by light. In particular, the sub-nm range of noble metal nanoparticles (e.g., Au and Pt) supported on oxides and sulfides was explored. Several other projects studied new nanostructures for environmental applications both in terms of air quality and water quality. We have also explored some of the concepts of responsible use of nanotechnology and nanosafety, especially from a point of view of scaleup and utilization of composite materials.
Biosketch:
Dr. Alexander Orlov is an Assistant Professor of Materials Science and Engineering at State University of New York, Stony Brook, USA. He is also a faculty member of the Consortium for Interdisciplinary Environmental Research and affiliate faculty of Chemistry Department. In addition Dr. Orlov is serving as the European Research Council (EU) and National Science Foundation (US) funded Visiting Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. His major research and teaching activities are in development of novel materials for energy generation, structural applications and environmental protection. Dr. Orlov’s research is supported by the NSF, the State of New York, the US Department of Education, the US Department of Transportation, the NIST and Industry (totaling $3 million as PI or co-PI for the previous 4 years). He was awarded the National Science Foundation CAREER Award, the National Endowment for Science Technology and Arts CRUCIBLE award (UK). He was also selected to National Academy of Engineering Frontiers of Engineering Program and to a Fellowship of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK). Dr. Orlov has 5 degrees from various European and the US institutions, including: Doctoral and Master’s degrees in Chemistry from the University of Cambridge (UK) and Master’s degree in Engineering from the University of Michigan (US).