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The '''Pearce Research Group at Michigan Tech in Open Sustainability Technology''' focuses on [[Applied_sustainability| open and applied sustainability]], which is the application of science and innovation to ensure a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting ecosystems.


Welcome to the home of the '''Pearce Research Group at Michigan Tech in Open Sustainability Technology'''. This research group focuses on [[Applied_sustainability| open and applied sustainability]], which is the application of science and innovation to ensure a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting ecosystems.
Specifically we are interested in exploring the way solar [[photovoltaic]] technology can sustainably power our society and how [[open-source hardware]] like [[open source appropriate technologies]] (or OSAT) and [[RepRap]] 3-D printing can drive decentralized local production and manufacturing (and maybe even social change)<ref>Rumpala, Y., 2016. A New Printing Revolution? 3D Printing as an Agent of Socio-Political Change. International Journal of Technoethics (IJT), 7(2), pp.105-123. </ref>. See [https://www.lulzbot.com/materials/case_studies/michigan-tech/michigan-tech_3d-printing_case-study_web-ready.pdf Advancing Open, Sustainable Technology with 3D Printing]


Specifically we are interested in exploring the way solar photovoltaic technology can sustainably power our society and how [[open-source hardware]] like [[open source appropriate technologies]] (or OSAT) and [[RepRap]] 3-D printing can drive decentralized local production and manufacturing.
We have a [[MOST open access policy|strong open access policy]].  
 
* [[:Category:MOST methods]] - Exactly how we do what we do - including detailed instructions for our open-source 3D printers and scientific equipment •''' [[MOST RepRap Primer| Want to build a MOST RepRap? - Start here!]]  • [[Delta Build Overview:MOST]] •  [[Athena Build Overview]] • [[Open-source metal 3-D printer|MOST metal 3-D printer]]
We have a [[MOST open access policy|strong open access policy]]. See [http://www.mse.mtu.edu/%7Epearce/Publications.html all recent publications organized by category].
 
* [[:Category:MOST methods]] - Exactly how we do what we do - including detailed instructions for our open-source 3D printers and scientific equipment
* [[:Category: MOST literature reviews]] - For background reading
* [[:Category: MOST literature reviews]] - For background reading
* [[:Category:MOST_completed_projects_and_publications|Complete List of Completed Projects]]
{{Pearce-pubs}}


== Current Research Projects ==
== Current Research Projects ==
Line 17: Line 15:
!   
!   
! Photovoltaic Materials, Electronic Device Physics, and Solar Photovoltaic Systems Projects
! Photovoltaic Materials, Electronic Device Physics, and Solar Photovoltaic Systems Projects
! Lead Members
!
! Open Source Distributed Manufacturing
|-
|-
| [[Image:Nanocolumns_ingan.jpg|200px]]  [[Image:MTU_MBE_Front.JPG|200px]]
| [[Image:Pvcash.jpg|200px]]
| Given the state of the art in solar photovoltaic (PV) technology and favorable financing terms it is clear that PV has already obtained grid parity in specific locations and as installed costs continue to decline, grid electricity prices continue to escalate, and industry experience increases, PV will become an increasingly economically advantageous source of electricity over expanding geographical regions.<ref> K. Branker, M.J.M. Pathak, J.M. Pearce, '''A Review of Solar Photovoltaic Levelized Cost of Electricity''', ''Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews'', '''15''', pp.4470-4482 (2011). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.104 DOI] and [http://mtu.academia.edu/JoshuaPearce/Papers/1540664/A_Review_of_Solar_Photovoltaic_Levelized_Cost_of_Electricity Open access]</ref>
| Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has already obtained grid parity in specific locations and as installed costs continue to decline, grid electricity prices continue to escalate, PV will become an increasingly economically advantageous source of electricity over expanding geographical regions.<ref> K. Branker, M.J.M. Pathak, J.M. Pearce, '''A Review of Solar Photovoltaic Levelized Cost of Electricity''', ''Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews'', '''15''', pp.4470-4482 (2011). [http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.07.104 DOI] and [http://mtu.academia.edu/JoshuaPearce/Papers/1540664/A_Review_of_Solar_Photovoltaic_Levelized_Cost_of_Electricity Open access]</ref>
| [[Image:Laserw.JPG|200px]]
| [[Open source hardware]] (OSH) consists of physical objects designed and offered in the same manner as [[free and open-source software]] (FOSS). MOST is working on [[open-source scientific hardware]] for [[Open source labs]] using [[Arduino]] microcontrollers and [[RepRaps]] in addition to our standard work in [[OSAT]].
|-
| [[Image:Nanocolumns_ingan.jpg|200px]][[Image:MTU_MBE_Front.JPG|200px]]
|


We intend to further reduce the costs by developing an ultra-high efficiency indium gallium nitride (InGaN) [[solar cell]]. <ref>  D.V.P. McLaughlin & J.M. Pearce, "[http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11661-013-1622-1 Progress in Indium Gallium Nitride Materials for Solar Photovoltaic Energy Conversion]", Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A  44(4)  pp. 1947-1954 (2013). </ref> The band gap of InGaN can be tuned from 0.7eV-3.4eV by adjusting the ratio of indium and gallium in the film so a multi-layered cell covers the entire range of the solar spectrum. Thus, a well-designed InGaN solar cell can absorb and convert a much higher fraction of the sun’s light energy into electricity. The first stage of research will focus on the characterization and understanding of InGaN as a semiconducting material. The final stage of research will use the accumulated data and knowledge to determine the number of stacked layers and the relative concentrations of indium and gallium within each that maximizes light absorption and, more importantly, electricity generation.
We intend to further reduce the costs by developing an ultra-high efficiency indium gallium nitride (InGaN) [[solar cell]]. <ref>  D.V.P. McLaughlin & J.M. Pearce, "[http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11661-013-1622-1 Progress in Indium Gallium Nitride Materials for Solar Photovoltaic Energy Conversion]", Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A  44(4)  pp. 1947-1954 (2013). </ref> The band gap of InGaN can be tuned from 0.7eV-3.4eV by adjusting the ratio of indium and gallium in the film so a multi-layered cell covers the entire range of the solar spectrum. Thus, a well-designed InGaN solar cell can absorb and convert a much higher fraction of the sun’s light energy into electricity. In addition to band gap engineering, PV device performance can be improved by engineering the microstructure of the material to increase the optical path length and provide light trapping. For this purpose, nano-columns are candidates for the ideal microstructure as it has been shown that when their diameters  are optimized, resonant behavior is observed.
|| We are on the front lines of a [http://www.mtu.edu/research/archives/magazine/2014/stories/3d-revolution/ 3D Revolution] and made Open Source.com's list of "5 favorite 3D printing projects"<br>  [[Image:MOST delta2.JPG|200px]] [https://www.corbettreport.com/interview-1034-joshua-pearce-explains-the-3d-printing-revolution/ Joshua Pearce Explains the 3D Printing Revolution on Japan's Corbett Report]
| Open source 3-D printers ([[RepRap]]s), enable [[open source 3-D printing of OSAT| 3D printing of open source appropriate technologies]], which are easily and economically made from readily available resources by local communities to meet their needs. This project is developing solar powered self-replicating open-source 3-D printers - capable of making primary components of solar photovoltaic systems from recycled waste. The project investigates the technical and economic viability and environmental impact. Here is [https://www.academia.edu/1507915/3-D_Printing_of_Open_Source_Appropriate_Technologies_for_Self-Directed_Sustainable_Development the plan]. How would global society change if everyone had access to abundant low-cost renewable energy via solar electricity, [[Open_source_3-D_printing_of_OSAT| open source 3D designs]] and an affordable open source 3-D printer like the [http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page RepRap]?
|-
| [[Image:plasmonics_cell.png|200px]]
| This project aims to improve efficiencies of commercial solar cells using resonant plasmonic nanostructures. We are using wide-angle, polarization–independent, broadband [[Plasmonic Perfect Meta-Absobers for a-Si PV Devices|plasmonic perfect meta-absorbers]] capable of achieving absorption throughout the entire solar spectrum while reducing semiconductor absorber layer thicknesses, which reduces deposition time, material used, embodied energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately economic costs.
| [[image:Sparks1.jpg|200px]]
| We are further developing our <$2000 [[open-source metal 3-D printer]]. The metal 3-D printer is controlled with an open-source micro-controller and is a combination of a low-cost commercial gas-metal MIG welder and a derivative of the Rostock, a deltabot [[RepRap]]. We provided everything you need to make your own as we are climbing the ladder of sophistication together to give everyone the ability to print useful objects in steel and aluminum.
|-
| [[Image: SEARC OTF.jpg|200px]]
|An important factor in decreasing the costs of PV systems is implementing a proper system design which effectively utilizes the modules to their greatest efficiency. Here we are properly accounting for meteorological factors which affect the performance of PV modules, and to suggest best practices for reducing losses and increasing yields for PV systems. See: the [[OSOTF]] or some of our [[Effects of spectral albedo on photovoltaic devices|projects on snow and solar cells]]
| [[Image:Recyclebot-process.png|200px]]
| A [[RecycleBot]] is a waste plastic extruder - that can take household polymer waste and turn it into valuable 3-D printer feedstock. This project focuses on designing, building and testing an extruder for the RepRap that uses polymer waste as a feedstock.


|}


In addition to band gap engineering, PV device performance can be improved by engineering the microstructure of the material to increase the optical path length and provide light trapping. For this purpose, nano-columns are candidates for the ideal microstructure as it has been shown that when their diameters  are optimized, resonant behavior is observed.
== [[:Category:MOST_completed_projects_and_publications|Completed Projects]]==
| [[User:Jrozario| Joseph Rozario]], [[User:Chenlong|Chenlong Zhang]]


* [[:Category:MOST_completed_projects_and_publications|Completed Projects for all Years]]
{{Category:MOST completed projects and publications/Gallery2018}}
{{Category:MOST completed projects and publications/Gallery2017}}
{{Category:MOST completed projects and publications/Gallery2016}}


===Videos===
{|style="border:1px solid black; background-color: lightgreen; margin-left:.1em; margin-top:2px; -moz-border-radius:15px;" align="right" width="120px"
!<big>OSE tour of MOST lab 2</big>
|-
|-
| [[Image:plasmonics_cell.png|200px]]
|<center>{{#widget:YouTube|id=ampNVImbCUE}} </center>
| [[Plasmonic Perfect Meta-Absobers for a-Si PV Devices]]: Light impinging on a metal surface produces surface waves (Surface Plasmon Polaritons (SPP)) along the metal-dielectric interface when it interacts with the collective oscillations of free electrons in the metal.
|-
This research project aims to improve the efficiency of commercial thin film solar cells using resonant plasmonic nanostructures. The project proposes the use of a wide-angle, polarization–independent, broadband “perfect absorbers” capable of achieving absorption throughout the entire solar spectrum while reducing semiconductor absorber layer thicknesses, which reduces material deposition time, quantities of material used, embodied energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately economic costs. The proposed cell design uses silver (Ag) nanostructures to create a “black” perfect absorber that can be integrated into the manufacture of commercial hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) thin film PV devices.
|}
| [[User:Jgwamuri|Jephias Gwamuri]]


{|style="border:1px solid black; background-color: lightgreen; margin-left:.1em; margin-top:2px; -moz-border-radius:15px;" align="right" width="120px"
!<big>OSE tour of MOST lab 1</big>
|-
|<center>{{#widget:YouTube|id=R1CVXm2oNzs}} </center>
|-
|-
| [[Image: SEARC OTF.jpg|200px]]
|An important factor in decreasing the costs of PV systems is implementing a proper system design which effectively utilizes the modules to their greatest efficiency. Thus the motivation of this project is to properly account for meteorological factors which affect the performance of PV modules, and to suggest best practices for reducing losses and increasing yields for PV systems. See: [[OSOTF]] and [[Effects of spectral albedo on photovoltaic devices]]
| [[Rob Andrews]]
|}
|}


{| class="wikitable"
{|style="border:1px solid black; background-color: lightgreen; margin-left:.1em; margin-top:2px; -moz-border-radius:15px;" align="right" width="120px"
!<big>Michigan Tech Owning Open Hardware</big>
|-
|-
|<center>{{#widget:YouTube|id=oyEo2VHZYY4}} </center>
! Open Source Distributed Manufacturing
! Lead Member
|-
|-
| [[Image:Reprap.JPG|200px]]
|}
| The technological evolution of the 3-D printer (or rapid prototyper), widespread internet access and inexpensive computing has made a new means of open design capable of accelerating self-directed sustainable development. We are on the front lines of a [http://www.mtu.edu/research/archives/magazine/2014/stories/3d-revolution/ 3D Revolution]. Open source 3-D printers, such as the [[RepRap]], enable the use of designs in the public domain to fabricate [[open source 3-D printing of OSAT]], which are easily and economically made from readily available resources by local communities to meet their needs. There is potential for open source 3-D printers to assist in driving sustainable development. This project is developing solar powered self-replicating open-source 3-D printers and [[waste plastic extruder]]s - capable of making primary components of solar photovoltaic systems from recycled waste. The project has both technical components in actually designing and building the devices, but also concerns questions of life cycle analysis. - specifically - Does this approach make sense from an ecological footprint, emissions, and embodied energy perspectives?


See the plan: J. M Pearce, C. Morris Blair, K. J. Laciak, R. Andrews, A. Nosrat and I. Zelenika-Zovko, “[http://www.ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/jsd/article/view/6984 3-D Printing of Open Source Appropriate Technologies for Self-Directed Sustainable Development]”, ''Journal of Sustainable Development'' '''3'''(4), pp. 17-29 (2010).
{|style="border:1px solid black; background-color: lightgreen; margin-left:.1em; margin-top:2px; -moz-border-radius:15px;" align="right" width="120px"
 
!<big>Why do we make such a big deal about open source hardware? Watch this movie</big>
How would global society change if everyone had access to abundant low-cost renewable energy via solar electricity, [http://www.thingiverse.com/ open source 3D designs] and an affordable open source 3-D printer like the [http://reprap.org/wiki/Main_Page RepRap]?
|  [[User:J.M.Pearce| Dr. Pearce]]
|-
|-
| [[Image:dogbone.png|200px]]
|<center>{{#widget:YouTube|id=SGJ5cZnoodY}} </center>
| The purpose of this project is to determine mechanical properties of polymer components printed with the open-source 3-D printers like the [[RepRap]]. The results of the mechanical testing will be used for engineering analysis of parts designed to be created with the RepRap. See :[[Mechanical testing of polymer components made with the  RepRap 3-D printer]]
| [[User:Bmtymrak|Brennan Tymrak]]
|-
|-
| [[Image:Recyclebot1.png|200px]]
| Shenzhen - The Silicon Valley of Hardware (Full Documentary) - Future Cities - WIRED
| A [[RecycleBot]] is a waste plastic extruder - that can take household polymer waste and turn it into valuable 3-D printer feedstock. This project focuses on designing, building and testing an extruder for the RepRap that uses polymer waste as a feedstock. The Recyclebot v.2 is based off of the [[Waste_plastic_extruder| Waste plastic extruder]] and [[Open_source_controller_for_polymer_extruder| Open source controller for polymer extruder]] We are also investigating [[Life cycle analysis of distributed polymer recycling]], [[Development and feasibility of applications for the RepRap 3-D printer]]
| [[User:AGlover|Allie Glover]],[[User:Wijnen|Bas Wijnen]]
|-
|-
| [[Image:Laserw.JPG|200px]]
| [[Open source hardware]] (OSHW) consists of physical artifacts of technology designed and offered in the same manner as [[free and open-source software]] (FOSS). MOST is working on open-source scientific hardware using [[Arduino]] microcontrollers and [[RepRaps]] in addition to our standard work in [[OSAT]].
| [[User:Wijnen|Bas Wijnen]]
|}
|}


== [[:Category:MOST_completed_projects_and_publications|Completed Projects]]==
{|style="border:1px solid black; background-color: lightgreen; margin-left:.1em; margin-top:2px; -moz-border-radius:15px;" align="right" width="120px"
{{Category:MOST completed projects and publications/Gallery2014}}
!<big>طابعات ثلاثية الابعاد لطباعة الفولاذ - 4Tech </big>
{{Category:MOST completed projects and publications/Gallery2013}}
 
{|style="border:1px solid black; background-color: lightgreen; margin-left:.1em; margin-top:2px; -moz-border-radius:15px;" align="right" width="240px"
!<big><big>MOST Applications of 3-D Printing</big>
|-
|<center>{{#widget:YouTube|id=CFOzZ8xdy8o}} </center>
|-
|-
 
|<center>{{#widget:YouTube|id=eVvCNr3mGrY}} </center>
|}
{|style="border:1px solid black; background-color: lightgreen; margin-left:.1em; margin-top:2px; -moz-border-radius:15px;" align="right" width="240px"
!<big><big>[http://abc10up.com/michigan-tech-creates-3-d-printer/ Open-source 3-D Printing on ABC News]</big>
|-
|-
|<center>{{#widget:YouTube|id=HIsUre-D890}} </center>
| BBC Arabic visits MOST
|-
|-
|}
|}
<br>
----
<br>


==Group Links==
==Group Links==

Revision as of 05:55, 4 February 2018

The Pearce Research Group at Michigan Tech in Open Sustainability Technology focuses on open and applied sustainability, which is the application of science and innovation to ensure a better quality of life for all, now and into the future, in a just and equitable manner, whilst living within the limits of supporting ecosystems.

Specifically we are interested in exploring the way solar photovoltaic technology can sustainably power our society and how open-source hardware like open source appropriate technologies (or OSAT) and RepRap 3-D printing can drive decentralized local production and manufacturing (and maybe even social change)[1]. See Advancing Open, Sustainable Technology with 3D Printing

We have a strong open access policy.

Current Research Projects

Photovoltaic Materials, Electronic Device Physics, and Solar Photovoltaic Systems Projects Open Source Distributed Manufacturing
Pvcash.jpg Solar photovoltaic (PV) technology has already obtained grid parity in specific locations and as installed costs continue to decline, grid electricity prices continue to escalate, PV will become an increasingly economically advantageous source of electricity over expanding geographical regions.[2] Laserw.JPG Open source hardware (OSH) consists of physical objects designed and offered in the same manner as free and open-source software (FOSS). MOST is working on open-source scientific hardware for Open source labs using Arduino microcontrollers and RepRaps in addition to our standard work in OSAT.
Nanocolumns ingan.jpgMTU MBE Front.JPG

We intend to further reduce the costs by developing an ultra-high efficiency indium gallium nitride (InGaN) solar cell. [3] The band gap of InGaN can be tuned from 0.7eV-3.4eV by adjusting the ratio of indium and gallium in the film so a multi-layered cell covers the entire range of the solar spectrum. Thus, a well-designed InGaN solar cell can absorb and convert a much higher fraction of the sun’s light energy into electricity. In addition to band gap engineering, PV device performance can be improved by engineering the microstructure of the material to increase the optical path length and provide light trapping. For this purpose, nano-columns are candidates for the ideal microstructure as it has been shown that when their diameters are optimized, resonant behavior is observed.

We are on the front lines of a 3D Revolution and made Open Source.com's list of "5 favorite 3D printing projects"
MOST delta2.JPG Joshua Pearce Explains the 3D Printing Revolution on Japan's Corbett Report
Open source 3-D printers (RepRaps), enable 3D printing of open source appropriate technologies, which are easily and economically made from readily available resources by local communities to meet their needs. This project is developing solar powered self-replicating open-source 3-D printers - capable of making primary components of solar photovoltaic systems from recycled waste. The project investigates the technical and economic viability and environmental impact. Here is the plan. How would global society change if everyone had access to abundant low-cost renewable energy via solar electricity, open source 3D designs and an affordable open source 3-D printer like the RepRap?
Plasmonics cell.png This project aims to improve efficiencies of commercial solar cells using resonant plasmonic nanostructures. We are using wide-angle, polarization–independent, broadband plasmonic perfect meta-absorbers capable of achieving absorption throughout the entire solar spectrum while reducing semiconductor absorber layer thicknesses, which reduces deposition time, material used, embodied energy, greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately economic costs. Sparks1.jpg We are further developing our <$2000 open-source metal 3-D printer. The metal 3-D printer is controlled with an open-source micro-controller and is a combination of a low-cost commercial gas-metal MIG welder and a derivative of the Rostock, a deltabot RepRap. We provided everything you need to make your own as we are climbing the ladder of sophistication together to give everyone the ability to print useful objects in steel and aluminum.
SEARC OTF.jpg An important factor in decreasing the costs of PV systems is implementing a proper system design which effectively utilizes the modules to their greatest efficiency. Here we are properly accounting for meteorological factors which affect the performance of PV modules, and to suggest best practices for reducing losses and increasing yields for PV systems. See: the OSOTF or some of our projects on snow and solar cells Recyclebot-process.png A RecycleBot is a waste plastic extruder - that can take household polymer waste and turn it into valuable 3-D printer feedstock. This project focuses on designing, building and testing an extruder for the RepRap that uses polymer waste as a feedstock.

Completed Projects

Category:MOST completed projects and publications/Gallery2018 Category:MOST completed projects and publications/Gallery2017 Category:MOST completed projects and publications/Gallery2016

Videos

OSE tour of MOST lab 2
Error in widget YouTube: Unable to load template 'wiki:YouTube'
OSE tour of MOST lab 1
Error in widget YouTube: Unable to load template 'wiki:YouTube'
Michigan Tech Owning Open Hardware
Error in widget YouTube: Unable to load template 'wiki:YouTube'
Why do we make such a big deal about open source hardware? Watch this movie
Error in widget YouTube: Unable to load template 'wiki:YouTube'
Shenzhen - The Silicon Valley of Hardware (Full Documentary) - Future Cities - WIRED
طابعات ثلاثية الابعاد لطباعة الفولاذ - 4Tech
Error in widget YouTube: Unable to load template 'wiki:YouTube'
BBC Arabic visits MOST




Group Links

References

  1. Rumpala, Y., 2016. A New Printing Revolution? 3D Printing as an Agent of Socio-Political Change. International Journal of Technoethics (IJT), 7(2), pp.105-123.
  2. K. Branker, M.J.M. Pathak, J.M. Pearce, A Review of Solar Photovoltaic Levelized Cost of Electricity, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15, pp.4470-4482 (2011). DOI and Open access
  3. D.V.P. McLaughlin & J.M. Pearce, "Progress in Indium Gallium Nitride Materials for Solar Photovoltaic Energy Conversion", Metallurgical and Materials Transactions A 44(4) pp. 1947-1954 (2013).

Subcategories

This category has the following 22 subcategories, out of 22 total.

Pages in category "MOST"

The following 200 pages are in this category, out of 1,206 total.

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Media in category "MOST"

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