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A new grant from the Ohio Research Scholars Program (ORSP) will support progress toward creating the next generation of photovoltaics—the
direct conversion of sunlight to electricity—as well as the next generation of fuels and energy-efficient lighting, now being
developed by BGSU and the University of Toledo.
Both universities have been deeply involved in the alternative energy arena for many years; the grant strengthens the “photovoltaics
cluster in the region by leveraging existing research activities at the universities,” according to the Ohio Third Frontier
Commission.
BGSU researchers Drs. Felix Castellano and Pavel Anzenbacher, chemistry and photochemical sciences, will use the $1.7 million
they will receive of the overall $8.9 million ORSP grant to bring two research professors to their labs for the five-year
duration of the program, and to assist with other associated operating expenses.
An important goal of the program is attracting talented scientists to campuses and reversing the exodus of talent from the
state. “That’s how you grow,” Anzenbacher said.
“The program is directed at energy-relevant projects: producing and utilizing energy more efficiently,” Castellano said. “The
grant builds on existing strengths and infrastructure.” BGSU, UT and Ohio State University are all sites of the Center for
Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization (PVIC). The center is “very infrastructure-heavy,” providing the state-of-the-art
hardware and facilities, according to Castellano and Anzenbacher. The Northwest Ohio Innovators in Thin Film Photovoltaics
grant gives support for personnel and operating costs.
Castellano’s research centers on energy-relevant technologies including photovoltaics, and methods of utilizing solar energy
to produce chemical fuels such as hydrogen from renewable sources.
Anzenbacher’s research group focuses on developing organic, light-emitting materials, which use energy much more efficiently
than traditional incandescent and phosphorescent tubes. “We’re working on solid-state technology to produce less expensive
general lighting,” Anzenbacher explained of the more environmentally conscious technology. “Because a substantial portion
of U.S. energy consumption is used for lighting, more efficient light sources lead to a lower demand for energy,” he said.
The lead faculty member on the grant is UT’s Dr. Robert Collins, the Nippon Electric Glass Endowed Chair in Silicate and Materials
Science in the physics and astronomy department. Dr. Sylvain Marsillac, also a physics faculty member, is the co-lead at UT
and assisted with critical aspects of the proposal, identifying the mechanisms through which new personnel can link to and
collaborate with the Ohio photovoltaics industry.
With the new funding, UT will be adding three new faculty members to PVIC for fall 2009. “The Ohio Department of Development
is putting its confidence in us that we help to support and expand the solar industry in Ohio,” Collins said, pointing out
that overall funding for the photovoltaics center is $18.6 million, with nearly $30 million in cost-share commitments.
The BGSU and UT teams have partnered many times before. “There’s a long history of working together and individual expertise
we can take advantage of,” Castellano said.
Because of complementary work on different aspects of photonics, or how light interacts with molecular and solid-state systems,
Collins said, “there’s a nice overlap and opportunity to collaborate.” The BGSU-UT collaboration was one of only two proposals
from Ohio to “get the green light from both the National Academy of Science and the Ohio Department of Development,” he noted.
“BGSU is doing world-leading scientific research but it also links well into the regional strengths in glass and polymers
and promotes regional economic development,” Collins said.
As part of the Third Frontier project, the ORSP provides grants to strengthen and increase the number of clusters of research
excellence, led by Ohio's academic institutions that support regional economic priorities. Jointly funded and administered
by the department of development and the chancellor of the board of regents, the program will achieve this through “aggressive
investment in the attraction of senior research talent and related facilities and equipment, and promotion of unique collaborations
needed to build and sustain scientifically and commercially promising lines of research.” The ORSP is placing high priority
on building a critical mass of research scientists and engineers in five targeted technology/research focus areas.
“It’s great to be working in a state that is actually investing in these technologies,” Castellano said, noting that Ohio
is somewhat unusual in that regard.
The BGSU-UT collaboration grant is one of 10 funded by the program for more than $143 million.
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