RESEARCH AREAS

Michael J. Pellin

Michael J. Pellin Division Director, Materials Chemistry Programs Argonne National Laboratory P: 630-252-3510 E: pellin@anl.gov Energy Systems Division B.S., Northwestern University, 1974; Ph.D., University of Illinois, 1978

Biographical Sketch

Dr. Michael J. Pellin is the Acting Division Director responsible for the Materials Chemistry Programs of the Materials Science Division at Argonne National Laboratory.  He is author of over 200 peer reviewed publications.

Research Statement

Pellin directs a world class research effort in understanding the surface chemistry of materials that includes operation of the world’s most sensitive trace analysis facility.  Studies include basic research into the mechanisms of directed energy interactions with surfaces, such as sputtering and laser desorption. His trace analysis instruments are used in the analysis of pre-solar grains, providing insights into stellar nucleosynthesis and in the study of Genesis flight coupons, allowing the most accurate determination to date of the abundance of the elements in the solar system.

We are currently exploring Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) as a materials facile synthesis method for functionalizing nanoporous and nanostructured materials. This work has driven new synthetic routes for synthesizing active materials such as transparent conducting oxides, oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) catalysts, activated nanoporous membranes, superconducting rf cavities, and ISOLDE target fabrication.  Stabilized sub-nanometer transition metal catalysts have been synthesized with high ODH activity which, depending on the formulation, activate alkane C-H bonds (for propene formation) specifically or C=C bonds specifically (for epoxidation).  ALD has also led to ZnO nanotube photovoltaic cells with the highest reported photovoltage.  Further photovoltaic synthesis studies have lead to facile synthesis methods for two completely new photovoltaic cell architectures. These architectures provide new insights into the electron transport properties in wide band gap semiconductor mesoscopic structures.

Publications

• “Atomic Layer Deposition of TiO2 on Aerogel Templates: New Photoanodes for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells,” T. W. Hamann, A. B. F. Martinson, J. W. Elam, M. J. Pellin and J. T. Hupp J. Phys. Chem. C 112 (27), 10303-10307 (2008).
• “New Architectures for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells,” A. B. F. Martinson, T. W. Hamann, M. J. Pellin and J. T. Hupp, Chem-Eur J. 14(15), 4458-4467 (2008).
• “Conformal ZnO coatings on high surface area silica gel using atomic layer deposition,” J. A. Libera, J. W. Elam and M. J. Pellin,  Thin Solid Films 516, 6158-6166  (2008).