Electrical generators in nano format
Kiel nanosciences honours international visionary in nanotechnology and talented early career researchers
The priority research area Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science (KiNSIS) at Kiel University (CAU) awarded its Diels-Planck Lecture for the sixth time: The award went to Professor Zhong Lin Wang of the Georgia Institute of Technology, USA, for his pioneering contributions to the development of nanogenerators and self-powered systems - microscopically small electrical generators, which could operate mobile devices with energy derived from the smallest movements. The award is made every year by the roughly 100 KiNSIS members to honour internationally-renowned scientists from the field of nano, surface and interface science. In addition, the priority research area yesterday honoured the best dissertations from nano and surface research of the past year. The award ceremony took place in the framework of the "Intelligent Materials" conference in Kiel from June 17-19, 2019.
Pioneer in nanotechnology
"We are very proud to be able to welcome one of the pioneers in Nanotechnology here today," said CAU President Professor Lutz Kipp at the opening of the event. Wang, Director of the Center for Nanostructure Characterization at Georgia Tech and a member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is a leader in the development of zinc oxide nanostructures, in particular nanogenerators. They can generate cost-effective and decentralised electricity from small mechanical movements. This technology has influenced science and industry as “energy harvesting”. This refers to the use of energy which already exists in the environment, such as body and water movements, air currents or temperature differences. In addition to powering mobile devices, there are also potential biomedical applications in sensors, or uses for portable electronics in smart textiles.
"Wang is a pioneer in nanotechnology, whose visionary work not only established new research fields, but also coined such key terms such as ‘piezotronics’," said Rainer Adelung, professor of functional nanomaterials at the CAU, in his laudation. Wang has also developed important fundamentals for nano-scientific investigation methods such as scanning transmission electron microscopy. He is one of the world's five most cited scientists in the field of nanotechnology, has published more than 660 scientific articles and holds 28 patents.
The ocean as a source of renewable energies
With the idea of ‘blue energy’, Wang described a new way of using the ocean, for example, as a source of renewable energy. "This goes way beyond solar and wind energy: a network of nanogenerators, which converts the movements of the waves into electricity, could make a significant contribution to the power supply. After all, the ocean covers about 70 percent of the earth, and there are waves day and night, regardless of the weather," said the physicist, underlining the potential of his technology, in a lecture held during the award ceremony. Wang's so-called triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) work by means of two layers of material, which are repeatedly connected with each other and separated. Within the contact of these layers electrical charges are built up, which can be used for the generation of electricity, which is called the triboelectric effect. "This principle represents a new approach to meeting the energy challenges of our time like Big Data or the Internet of Things," continued Wang.
Talented young nanoscientists honoured
In the second part of the evening, the best young scientists in Kiel’s nano and surface research were honoured for their outstanding achievements. The results of their doctoral theses have given rise to new areas of research, innovative materials and initial patents, they have successfully advanced large-scale research projects at the CAU, or they have already been published in prestigious journals and cited frequently. The awards, endowed with €1,000, were made in the categories of Nano Physics, Nano Engineering, Nano Chemistry and Nano Life Sciences.
The prizes are an integral part of the promotion of early career researchers at KiNSIS. "Young scientists are key to the future of the research location of Schleswig-Holstein," emphasized KiNSIS spokesperson Professor Jeffrey McCord. "With the KiNSIS doctoral prizes, we want to promote Kiel’s excellent young talents in the nanosciences, and support them on their way - not least through opportunities for exchanges with such high-calibre colleagues as our guests tonight."
Information about all award winners:
https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/details/news/198-dpl/
Photos are available to download:
http://www.uni-kiel.de/de/pressemitteilungen/2019/198-DPL-1.jpg
Caption: Professor Lutz Kipp, President of Kiel University (left) and Professor Jeffrey McCord, spokesperson of KiNSIS (middle), gave Professor Zhong Lin Wang, Georgia Institute of Technology, the Diels-Planck-medal.
© Julia Siekmann, CAU
http://www.uni-kiel.de/de/pressemitteilungen/2019/198-DPL-2.jpg
Caption: The priority research area KiNSIS of Kiel University honoured Wang as an outstanding nano scientist with this year’s Diels-Planck-Lecture.
© Julia Siekmann, CAU
http://www.uni-kiel.de/de/pressemitteilungen/2019/198-DPL-3.jpg
Caption: In his laudation Professor Rainer Adelung appreciated Wang as one of the pioneers of nanotechnology.
© Julia Siekmann, CAU
http://www.uni-kiel.de/de/pressemitteilungen/2019/198-DPL-4.jpg
Caption: In his lecture Wang explained the principle of self-powered nanogenerators.
© Julia Siekmann, CAU
http://www.uni-kiel.de/de/pressemitteilungen/2019/198-DPL-5.jpg
Caption: In addition to that the best dissertations of the nano sciences in Kiel have also be honoured: Professor Lutz Kipp, President of Kiel University (left), KiNSIS spokesperson Prof. Dr. Kai Rossnagel, Dr. Emre Kizilkan, Dr. Nadja Stucke, Dr. Thomas Knaak, Dr. Tobias Dornheim, Dr.-Ing. Fabian Schütt, Dr.-Ing. Michael Timmermann and KiNSIS-spokesperson Prof. Dr. Jeffrey McCord.
© Julia Siekmann, CAU
Contact:
Julia Siekmann
Science communication
Priority research area Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science (KiNSIS)
Kiel University
Tel.: +49 (0)431/880-4855
E-mail: jsiekmann@uv.uni-kiel.de
Web: http://www.kinsis.uni-kiel.de
Weitere Informationen:
https://www.uni-kiel.de/en/details/news/198-dpl/