Notice 06-15

From: Subject: Notice 06-15 Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2006 14:49:23 -0700 MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="Windows-1252" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Content-Location: http://www.science.doe.gov/grants/FAPN06-15.html X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.2180 Notice 06-15

U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF
ENERGY
For this Solicitation the Office of Science = is using Grants.Gov for the electronic = submission=20 of applications. Please reference Funding Opportunity=20
DE-FG02-06ER06-15 when submitting applications for this = Solicitation.=20

For more information about the Office of Science Grant Program, = go to=20 the Office of=20 Science Grants and Contracts Web Site.=20

Office of = Science
Notice=20 DE-FG02-06ER06-15=20

Basic Research for Solar Energy Utilization=20

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Science Financial Assistance Program Notice=20
DE-FG02-06ER06-15: Basic Research for Solar Energy Utilization =

AGENCY: U.S. Department of Energy
= =20 Office of Science =

ACTION: Notice inviting grant applications.=20

SUMMARY:The Office of Basic Energy Sciences (BES) of the = Office=20 of Science (SC), U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), in keeping with = its=20 mission to assist in strengthening the Nation's scientific = research=20 enterprise through the support of fundamental science and the = experimental=20 tools to perform basic research, announces its interest in = receiving=20 applications for basic research in the area of solar energy = utilization.=20 This Notice solicits innovative basic research applications to = establish=20 the scientific basis that underpins the efficient capture, = conversion,=20 and utilization of solar energy in a cost-effective manner. We = seek to=20 support outstanding fundamental research programs that will lead = to key=20 discoveries and conceptual breakthroughs to make sunlight as the=20 practicable solution to meet our compelling need for clean, = abundant=20 sources of energy.=20

DATES: Potential applicants are REQUIRED to = submit a=20 brief preapplication. Preapplications referencing Program=20 Notice
DE-FG02-06ER06-15, must be received by DOE by 4:30 p.m., = Eastern=20 Time, June 5, 2006. Preapplications will be reviewed for = conformance with=20 the guidelines presented in this Notice and suitability in the = technical=20 areas specified in this Notice. A response to the preapplications=20 encouraging or discouraging formal applications will be = communicated to=20 the applicants by August 11, 2006. Complete guidance on the = content and=20 format of the preapplication is provided in the SUPPLEMENTARY = INFORMATION=20 section below.=20

Only those preapplicants that receive notification from DOE = encouraging=20 a formal application may submit a formal application. No other = formal=20 applications will be considered. Formal applications submitted = in=20 response to this notice must be received by 8:00 p.m., Eastern = Time=20 November 14, 2006.=20

ADDRESSES: Preapplications referencing Program Notice=20
DE-FG02-06ER06-15 should be sent as an Excel and PDF file = attachments=20 via e-mail to: solarenergy@science.doe.gov with = "DE-FG02-06ER06-15" as the=20 subject. No FAX or mail submission of preapplications will be = accepted.=20 Do not submit preapplications via grants.gov.

Formal Applications

This section pertains only to those applications that have = been=20 encouraged to submit a full proposal. Applications submitted = to the=20 Office of Science must be submitted electronically through = Grants.Gov to=20 be considered for award. The Funding Opportunity Number=20 is:
DE-FG02-06ER06-15 and the CFDA Number for the Office of = Science is:=20 81.049. Instructions and forms are available on the Grants.gov website. Please see = the=20 information below and also refer to the "Funding Opportunity=20 Announcement", Part IV - Application and Submission Information; = H. Other=20 Submission and Registration Requirements for more specific = guidance on=20 "Where to Submit" and "Registration Requirements." If you = experience=20 problems when submitting your application to Grants.gov, please = visit=20 their customer support website: http://www.grants.gov/Cust= omerSupport;=20 email: support@grants.gov; or call 1-800-518-4726.=20

Registration Requirements: There are several one-time = actions=20 you must complete in order to submit an application through = Grants.gov=20 (e.g., obtain a Dun and Bradstreet Data Universal Numbering System = (DUNS)=20 number, register with the Central Contract Registry (CCR), = register with=20 the credential provider and register with Grants.Gov). See http://www.grants.gov/GetStarte= d.=20 Use the Grants.gov Organization Registration Checklist to guide = you=20 through the process. Designating an E-Business Point of Contact = (EBiz POC)=20 and obtaining a special password called an MPIN are important = steps in the=20 CCR registration process. Applicants, who are not registered with = CCR and=20 Grants.gov, should allow at least 14 days to complete these = requirements.=20 It is suggested that the process be started as soon as possible.=20

VERY IMPORTANT - Download PureEdge Viewer: In order to = download=20 the application package, you will need to install PureEdge Viewer. = This=20 small, free program will allow you to access, complete, and submit = applications electronically and securely. For a free version of = the=20 software, visit the following Web site: http://www.grants.gov/Downl= oadViewer.=20

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric A. Rohlfing, = Office of=20 Basic Energy Sciences, Chemical Sciences, Geosciences and = Biosciences=20 Division, SC-22.1, telephone: (301)903-8165, E-mail:=20 eric.rohlfing@science.doe.gov or Aravinda Kini, Office of Basic = Energy=20 Sciences, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, SC-22.2, = telephone:=20 (301) 903-3565, E-mail: aravinda.kini@science.doe.gov.=20

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In April 2005, BES sponsored = a=20 workshop to identify basic research needs for effective solar = energy=20 utilization. Over 200 workshop participants, from academia, = national=20 laboratories, government and industry in the US and abroad, = critically=20 assessed the state-of-the-art and limitations of current = technologies for=20 producing a significant fraction of our primary energy source from = sunlight. The workshop report, entitled Basic Research Needs = for Solar=20 Energy Utilization (=20 http://www.sc.doe.gov/bes/reports/files/SEU_rpt.pdf) detailed = a broad=20 array of key scientific challenges and research avenues to address = these=20 challenges. This Notice solicits innovative basic research = proposals to=20 establish the scientific basis that underpins the efficient = capture,=20 conversion, and utilization of solar energy in a = cost-effective=20 manner. We seek to support outstanding fundamental research = programs that=20 will lead to key discoveries and conceptual breakthroughs to make = sunlight=20 as the practicable solution to meet our compelling need for clean, = abundant sources of energy. As in the workshop report, three broad = areas=20 that encompass many of the priority research directions will be = the=20 subject of this solicitation. They are:=20

1. Solar to Electric Conversion
2. Solar Fuels = Production=20
3. Solar Thermal Energy Utilization

The following provides further information under each of these = three=20 areas to illustrate the scope of applications solicited under the = Notice.=20

Solar to Electric Conversion

The challenge in converting sunlight to electricity via = photovoltaic=20 solar cells is to dramatically reduce the cost/watt of delivered = solar=20 electricity by dramatically improving the conversion efficiency. = Devices=20 that operate above the existing performance limit will require the = discovery of new materials and new pathways for solar to electric=20 conversion. Revolutionary approaches will be needed to minimize=20 thermalization and recombination of photo-generated carriers. = These=20 breakthroughs will come from a broad range of research activities = in both=20 materials and topologies, which includes research in single- = crystal,=20 polycrystalline, amorphous, and nanostructured inorganic and = organic=20 materials; an understanding of the electronic structure of these=20 materials; and their implementation in single and multiple = junction solar=20 cells. These cells could potentially take advantage of optical = frequency=20 shifting, multiple exciton generation, and hot carrier generation. = Basic=20 research is essential for identifying new materials and processes = to make=20 efficient solar generated electricity a reality. High priority = research=20 directions include:=20

New concepts in solar electric conversion.=20 Nano-structured architectures that can efficiently absorb the = full=20 spectrum of wavelengths in solar radiation offer the potential = to=20 revolutionize the technology used to produce solar electricity. = New=20 phenomena, such as multiple exciton generation offer the = potential for=20 photovoltaic (PV) cells to go beyond the Shockley-Queisser = limit.=20 Structures that are defect tolerant or have the capability to = self=20 repair are desired. The use of these materials in multiple = junction=20 cells can lead to dramatic advances in PV conversion = efficiencies.=20 Advances in nanoscale characterization using electron, neutron, = and=20 x-ray scattering and spectroscopy and integration of these = probes with=20 studies of photo-induced charge separation and transport will be = essential to understand the structure/property relationships in = these=20 materials.=20
Organic and hybrid organic/inorganic conversion=20 systems. The current state-of- the-art organic = efficiency is=20 considerably less than inorganic based systems. Significant = challenges=20 must be overcome to introduce novel cell designs and organic = components=20 that create highly efficient and durable solar cells. In order = to make=20 advances, the fundamental problems of light absorption and = charge=20 separation and transport in organic complexes must be addressed = for the=20 organic environment of these solar cells. To increase the = operational=20 understanding of these solar cells, new experimental approaches = will be=20 needed to correlate the chemical and physical properties of the = active=20 components and layers with their performance in operating PV = devices.=20 The combination of organic and inorganic materials could also = provide=20 new opportunities for the fabrication of high efficiency PV = cells. Many,=20 but not all, of these hybrids are materials systems that, along = with=20 organic solar cells, contain complex interfaces e.g. organic = metal and=20 organic/semiconductor. The interfaces create additional = challenges that=20 require advanced molecular design and an understanding of = electronic=20 interactions at an organic/inorganic interface.=20
Photoelectrochemical solar cells. The=20 photoelectrochemical configuration of photo-excited = semiconductor with a=20 redox medium is simple in form and fabrication, but the = exploitation of=20 photoelectrochemical cells for electrical power production = awaits=20 breakthrough advances in photoelectrode lifetimes and the = employment of=20 novel, low-cost solids and electrolytes. Breakthroughs in = combinations=20 of sensitizers and redox couples are needed to move into higher = solar=20 conversion efficiencies. Enhanced absorption in the infra-red = spectrum=20 by sensitizing dyes and quantum dots will be necessary. It is = also=20 necessary to understand the relation between the efficacy of the = regenerating agent and the configuration of the mesoporous = semiconductor=20 network. Novel mesoscopic electrode designs, derived from = nanostructured=20 and nanoporous solids, are also needed. New surface chemistries = and=20 unique designs for assembling these mesoporous solids at low=20 temperatures are sought where the electrode retains a high = conductivity.=20 Highly ordered interdigitated passageways for charge transport = may be=20 possible as are self-assembled forms of these solid networks.=20
Novel nanoscale and self-assembled materials. = New=20 techniques, tools, and design principles are needed to allow = optimized,=20 photovoltaic materials and photonic structures to be fabricated = over=20 large-area substrates. Studies of nucleation and growth of novel = materials can involve kinetically or thermodynamically driven=20 self-assembly of tailored building blocks, or they may rely upon = construction of the active layers and devices using carefully = controlled=20 vapor or solution-based deposition methods.=20
Theory, modeling, and simulation. Solar energy = systems=20 exploit complex and multi-scale phenomena associated with = molecules,=20 materials, and their interplay with the system architecture. New = theoretical, modeling, and computational tools which span many = decades=20 in space, time and structure are required to guide and interpret = experiment and assist in the design of molecules, materials and = systems.=20 Improved theory and methods for electron transfer and charge = separation,=20 excited- states, their properties and their potential energy = surfaces=20 need to be developed and validated. Enhanced capabilities for = excited=20 states must enable accurately predicted band-gaps, lifetimes and = band=20 offsets generally, but especially in materials that are = realistic=20 candidates for solar energy systems.

Solar Fuels Production=20

Because of the day/night variation of the solar resource, the = practical=20 use of solar energy faces two overarching technological = challenges:=20 economically converting sunlight into useful energy, and storing = and=20 dispatching that converted energy to end users in an economical,=20 convenient form. There must be a means to cost-effectively convert = this=20 energy into forms useful for transportation, residential and = industrial=20 applications. The ability to use sunlight to produce CH4 or H2 = from=20 abundant, non-toxic resources such as CO2 and water would = revolutionize=20 the economical, environmentally sound production of fuels. There = are two=20 key challenges in cost-effective formation of solar fuels. One is = to=20 replicate the essential components of the photosynthetic machinery = to=20 store chemical energy outside of a natural organism or plant. The = other is=20 to construct entirely man-made chemical components that, as an = assembly,=20 absorb sunlight and convert the energy into chemical fuels such as = CH4 and=20 H2. Examples of topical areas in which innovative research is = needed=20 include:=20

Natural photosynthetic systems. The resolution = of=20 fundamental structural design principles in natural = photosynthesis=20 provides a means to accelerate the discovery of synthetic = architectures=20 that embody mechanistic principles used in biology. Design = principles=20 must be established for known and new natural photosynthetic = systems in=20 order to maximize the efficiencies of solar energy capture, = conversion,=20 and storage and enable the assembly of efficient biomimetic = systems.=20 Meeting these challenges will involve the understanding and = control of=20 the weak intermolecular forces governing molecular assembly in = natural=20 photosynthesis as well as the determination of the rules that = underlie=20 the biological mechanisms for repair and photoprotection.=20
Bioinspired molecular assemblies. The = challenge in=20 bioinspired systems is to use the principles and architectures = found in=20 natural photosynthetic systems to prepare molecular assemblies = that=20 integrate light absorption, charge separation, and transport in = an=20 effective way. This innovation will involve the construction of = tailored=20 environments, composed of polymers, membranes, and gels, for=20 organization of the antenna and donor-acceptor reaction center=20 components (smart matrices). Bioinspired molecular systems with = a=20 pathway for fuels production must couple these single photon = events to=20 multiple redox equivalents in order to accumulate = photon-initiated redox=20 equivalents at particular molecular site. A resolution of the = structural=20 and electronic dynamics will be required over the full time = scale of=20 energy capture and conversion, which will involve the use of = ultrafast=20 spectroscopies and atomic level microscopies as well as new, = emerging=20 methods for dynamic molecular structure determination. Advanced = tools=20 and techniques that are available (or being conceived) at = DOE-BES=20 supported synchrotron and neutron facilities and Nanoscale = Science=20 Research Centers may be useful in this regard.=20
Defect tolerant and self-repairing conversion. = To=20 ensure that complex biomimetic systems maintain their efficiency = over=20 long lifetimes, it is necessary to understand the repair and=20 photoprotection mechanisms in photosynthesis and to be able to = translate=20 these mechanisms into a structure and an operating mechanism for = biomimetic photosystems. Within an artificial photosynthetic = system, the=20 structural features of the protein matrix provide for redundancy = as well=20 as enhanced stability of photoreactants. A challenging and = general=20 approach to self- repair will require the design of smart = molecules that=20 seek out damage sites within a modular artificial photosynthetic = system,=20 recognize the damage site, and execute a structural repair. This = approach requires building into molecules the self- autonomous = features=20 that are common in biology, but have not yet been developed for=20 non-living systems. These investigations may also impact the = development=20 of defect-tolerant organic and inorganic PV materials.=20
Solar hydrogen production. = Photoelectrochemical water=20 splitting for hydrogen production represents an advanced = alternative to=20 combining PV cells with an electrolysis system. Discovery of=20 photoelectrodes that have appropriate light absorption = characteristics,=20 are stable in aqueous solutions, and possess catalytic activity = for=20 multi-electron reactions is essential to produce hydrogen. = Combinatorial=20 or high-throughput methods and advanced computational methods = will be=20 useful in this regard. Emphasis must also be placed on the = configuration=20 of discovered electrodes for optimal light absorption by use of=20 visible-absorbing dyes, carrier collection and electrocatalysis = by band=20 gap engineering, and optimizing interfaces.=20
Photocatalytic fuels formation. Practical = solar fuel=20 formation requires construction of catalytic systems for the = formation=20 of energy rich fuels, such as the reduction of CO2 to CH4. The=20 performance of the current generation of catalysts is far from = that=20 required for a solar fuels production system of the desired = breakthrough=20 efficiency goals, so that development of a new generation of=20 fuel-forming catalysts is necessary. All methods for producing = solar=20 fuels must involve coupling of photo-driven single electron = steps with=20 fuel forming multi- electron transfer processes. A greater = understanding=20 is required, therefore, of the mechanisms of complex coupled = reactions,=20 excited-state bond making and breaking processes, and = proton-coupled=20 electron transfer reactions. These events can also occur in = catalytic=20 reactions at interfaces and surfaces. Experimental efforts must = be=20 coupled with theoretical investigations of the rates and = mechanisms of=20 multi-electron/multi-atom transfer reactions. Discovery of = highly=20 efficient, non-noble metal catalysts is also highly desirable.=20
Theory, modeling, and simulation. Significant=20 theoretical challenges are raised by the complex nature of=20 supramolecular assemblies with their varied host architectures = and their=20 relation to light-initiated electronic and nuclear dynamics in = the=20 photosystem. New, multi-scale theoretical/computational methods = are=20 critically needed to account for the complexities of = excited-state=20 energetics applied across multiple spatial length scales = relevant to=20 supramolecular structures within complex host architectures and = on the=20 range of time scales encompassing solar-energy capture, = conversion, and=20 storage. New theoretical methods are essential for establishing=20 predictive methods to accelerate the design of efficient systems = for=20 solar fuels production.

Solar Thermal Energy Utilization

High efficiency thermoelectric and thermophotovoltaic = converters=20 coupled to solar concentrators have the potential to generate = electricity=20 with significant increase in conversion efficiency. Currently, = terrestrial=20 thermoelectric and thermophotovoltaic systems are based on = combustion=20 heat, with the novel area of solar-based thermoelectric and=20 thermophotovoltaic being little explored. Fundamental research is = needed=20 in the following areas:=20

Thermoelectrics. Thermoelectric materials that = can=20 independently reduce phonon transport without deteriorating = electronic=20 transport offer great promise in significant enhancement in=20 thermoelectric conversion efficiency. Bulk materials that = exhibit=20 nanoscale sub-structure and nanocomposites may offer a = revolutionary=20 approach to achieving high performance thermoelectricity. A=20 comprehensive understanding of the role of interfaces in = low-dimensional=20 systems is needed to provide theoretical guidance on designing = new=20 generations of thermoelectric materials with significant ZT = enhancement=20 through quantum- confinement effects. Novel theory, modeling and = simulation efforts are especially sought to provide the = theoretical=20 framework to assist the design of advanced thermoelectric = materials that=20 decouple electron transport from phonon transport.=20
Thermophotovoltaics. One of the major = challenges of=20 spectral control for thermophotovoltaics (TPV) system is given = by the=20 high operating temperatures. Metallic and dielectric materials = with low=20 diffusion rates and evaporation rates are needed. New device = concepts=20 should be explored, such as microgap TPV. Novel materials and = approaches=20 in photonic crystals, plasmonics, phonon-polariton interactions, = and=20 coherent thermal emission are sought to exploit the spectral = design and=20 control required in TPV systems.=20
Thermal storage. Thermal storage materials = require=20 high latent heat density and sufficiently high thermal = conductivity for=20 enhanced thermal energy charge and discharge processes. Present = thermal=20 storage materials are limited by the lack of reversibility of = structural=20 transformations in extended solids. The unique characteristics = of=20 solid-solid structural transformations in nanoscale materials = offer=20 great promise in overcoming the barriers. Basic research is = needed to=20 develop a comprehensive understanding governing the hysteresis = and=20 kinetics of the structural transitions in nanoscale materials = with the=20 goal of designing thermal storage materials and transitions that = will=20 perform under the appropriate conditions for solar thermal = applications.=20

Program Funding

It is anticipated that up to $20 million annually will be = available for=20 multiple awards for this notice. Initial awards will be in Fiscal = Year=20 2007, and applications may request project support for up to three = years.=20 All awards are contingent on the availability of funds and = programmatic=20 needs.=20

Preapplication

The preapplication should consist of a description of the = research=20 proposed to be undertaken by the applicant and a clear explanation = of its=20 relevance and impact on improved utilization of solar energy. The=20 preapplication must be submitted electronically to=20 solarenergy@science.doe.gov as two files:=20

(1) A cover page in Excel format downloadable from: http://www= .science.doe.gov/bes/Solar_preapp_cover.xls.=20 The information to be entered on the cover page includes: Program=20 Announcement Number; Lead Principal Investigator name, address, = email=20 address, telephone number, and fax number; project title; name and = institution of all co-Principal Investigators and/or senior = collaborators=20 (excluding postdocs and graduate students); selection of one = primary and=20 multiple secondary submission categories (see below); budget = request for=20 each project year; and total budget request for the project. = Please do not=20 alter the overall format of the cover- page Excel file, i.e., do = not move=20 or merge cells, as this will significantly slow the processing of = the=20 preapplication.=20

(2) A PDF file containing a narrative section not to exceed 3 = pages=20 (including text and figures) describing the research objectives,=20 approaches to be taken, the institutional setting, and a = description of=20 any research partnership if appropriate; and brief, one-page, = vitae for=20 each Principal Investigator.=20

As noted above, the preapplication must identify primary and = secondary=20 submission categories for the purposes of appropriate peer review. = Applicants should identify their preapplication by indicating the = number=20 and title of the primary and secondary submission categories on = the cover=20 page. The submission categories are:=20

Solar Research Submission Categories:=20

1. New concepts in solar electric conversion
2. Organic = and=20 hybrid organic/inorganic conversion systems
3. = Photoelectrochemical=20 solar cells
4. Natural photosynthetic systems
5. = Bioinspired=20 molecular assemblies
6. Defect tolerant and self-repairing = conversion=20
7. Solar hydrogen production
8. Photocatalytic fuels=20 formation
9. Solar thermal energy utilization
10. Novel = nanoscale=20 and self-assembled materials
11. Theory, modeling, and = simulation

Each preapplication must indicate a single primary research = category=20 from among this list; the applicant(s) may also check any number = of=20 secondary research areas.=20

The purpose of this self-identification into research = categories is=20 solely for the purposes of grouping like proposals for peer = review.=20

Formal Application

The Department of Energy will accept Formal Applications by = invitation=20 only, based upon the evaluation of the preapplications. After = receiving=20 notification from DOE concerning successful preapplications, = applicants=20 may prepare formal applications. The Project Description must not = exceed=20 20 pages, including tables and figures, but exclusive of = attachments. The=20 application must contain an abstract or project summary, short = vitae, and=20 letters of intent from collaborators if appropriate. DOE is under = no=20 obligation to pay for any costs associated with the preparation or = submission of applications.=20

Merit Review

Applications will be subjected to scientific merit review (peer = review)=20 and will be evaluated against the following evaluation criteria = listed in=20 descending order of importance as codified at 10 CFR Part 605.10 = (d):=20

The external peer reviewers are selected with regard to both = their=20 scientific expertise and the absence of conflict-of-interest = issues.=20 Non-federal reviewers may be used, and submission of an = application=20 constitutes agreement that this is acceptable to the = investigator(s) and=20 the submitting institution.=20

Submission Information

Other information about the development and submission of = applications,=20 eligibility, limitations, evaluation, selection process, and other = policies and procedures including detailed procedures for = submitting=20 applications from multi-institution partnerships may be found in = 10 CFR=20 Part 605, and in the Application Guide for the Office of Science = Financial=20 Assistance Program. Electronic access to the Guide and required = forms is=20 made available at: http://www.science= .doe.gov/grants/grants.html.=20

The Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) number for = this=20 program is 81.049, and the solicitation control number is ERFAP 10 = CFR=20 Part 605.=20

Martin Rubinstein
Director
Grants and Contracts = Division=20
Office of Science=20

Posted on the Office of Science Grants and Contracts Web Site =
March=20 21, 2006.=20