Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid
The mission of the Ultra Materials for a Resilient, Smart Electricity Grid (Ultra EFRC) is to understand fundamental phenomena in ultra-wide band gap (UWBG) materials – including synthesis, defect and impurity incorporation, electronic structure at interfaces, the interaction of electrons and phonons at high fields to achieve extreme electrical properties, and phonon phenomena that affect thermal transport. We will establish a Future Grid Co-Design Ecosystem enabling communication across all levels of the science and technology.The need for higher power and higher switching frequency electronics is apparent as we move towards an electrified economy and more energy efficient interconnected society. The knowledge gained by the Ultra EFRC will provide the necessary scientific basis and a co-design ecosystem for a new power electronics economy with ultra high voltage and current capabilities, high frequency switching for highly efficient energy conversion, and efficient thermal transport. Together these advances will enable substantial downscaling in the size of energy conversion systems.