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Hatice Sengul

Graduate Student
EMAIL: hsengu2@uic.edu

B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey, 2003
M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, U.S., 2005
Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, Unıversıty of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, U.S., Candidate

Life cycle implications of quantum dot solar cells

Solar energy is the most viable alternative energy source to carbon-based energy sources. However, major technological breakthroughs must be achieved in order to reach the economic breakeven point at which solar energy is competitive with carbon-based energy sources. Nanophotovoltaics, in particular quantum dot solar cells, offer solutions to overcome the two barriers of solar technology: low efficiencies and high manufacturing costs. If realized, quantum dot solar cells can pave the way to large scale implementation of solar energy helping nations become energy independent. On the other hand, candidate materials as quantum dots for solar cell applications are mostly compound semiconductors such as cadmium selenide and lead sulfide which are toxic and for which renewable options are limited.  Toxic effects of these materials may be exacerbated by their nanoscale features. The life cycle of quantum dot solar cells are being investigated as part of our research to determine the environmental tradeoffs of applications of nanotechnology with special emphasis to its impacts in the manufacturing phase. Initial findings of cradle-to-gate life cycle inventory for the synthesis of cadmium selenide quantum dots indicate much higher waste-to-product ratios.  Further research is underway to quantify life cycle implications of quantum dot solar cells and the infrastructure required for their large scale implementation, and to predict to what extent they can suppress negative environmental impacts of carbon-based energy sources as well as other renewables such as carbon dioxide and mercury emissions from power plants, process energy consumption of conventional silicon photovoltaic panels, resource depletion of cadmium telluride photovoltaic panels, or nitrogen and phosphorus loads of biobased energy.