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Fuel from the Sun: Solar Energy Conversion [S-15-29]

The sun provides ample, clean energy for the increasing demands of Earth’s growing population. Solar energy conversion is the process of transforming light from the sun into usable forms of energy in an economically feasible way. Over the past half-century, chemistry and materials science have made enormous strides in this area. In this presentation, we will explore the history of solar power, the basic chemistry and physics involved in its function, and the future of the field.

Adam Hill is Assistant Professor of Chemistry at St. Lawrence University, where he teaches about the chemistry of metals. He received his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and now studies artificial photosynthesis: developing man-made materials that mimic the behavior of plants. These materials use metal atoms to convert solar energy into chemical fuels.

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