About Nano Power Labs
In 2001, the Rochester Institute of Technology established the NanoPower Research Labs (NPRL). The mission of these labs is to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities that nanomaterials and/or nanostructured devices offer in the area of power generation and storage. NPRL was created specifically to address future energy and power needs through nanomaterials and nanotechnological approaches to energy conversion, energy storage, and power systems development. NPRL has been working with issues related to power conversion and storage using new materials such as carbon nanotubes and quantum dots.
The NPRL have grown from an initial 1,100 square foot facility to encompass 6 separate laboratories with a combined total of over 6,000 square feet of research space. Dr. Ryne P. Raffaelle, Director of the NanoPower Research Labs, has been instrumental in promoting the vision of the NPRL both nationally and internationally. He is internationally recognized expert on solar cells and has co-authored four books on the subject. He has also been instrumental in RIT's development of the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, and currently serves as its the Academic Director.
Nano Power’s Focus
NPRL’s focus is on these key areas:
- Feasibility and practical limits of chemical energy conversion on the nanoscale.
- Novel micro and nano scale energy conversion and storage approaches (i.e., thermal, light, and RF/vibrational energy harvesters, radioisotope power supplies, single wall carbon nanotube enhanced ultracapacitors, lithium ion batteries, and PEM fuel cells).
- Integration of various power generation and storage components with microsensors and microactuators.
- Simulated environmental and solar testing capabilities.
- Teaching and training of the next-generation of highly skilled scientists and engineers.
- Provide an R&D backbone for industrial collaborators and enhance technology transfer to industry.