Scopes and Objectives of the Workshop

Quantum Energy refers to the design and control of the microscopic states of novel functional materials using quantum mechanics as the working principles, so as to maximize the macroscopic energy outputs for sustainable development of the society.

This annual workshop on quantum energy is designed to provide a forum for leading theoreticians and experimentalists working in different aspects of advanced materials for clean energy to gather and exchange ideas, visions, and latest research excitements. One particular emphasis is on predictive modeling and simulations of novel energy materials based on quantum mechanical approaches, and critical experimental tests of such theoretical predictions. Each year, the workshop will choose several thrust areas. For this year’s workshop, the thrust areas include solar cell materials, (photo) catalytic materials, and new methodology developments. In addition, latest breakthroughs in clean energy research will always be highlighted in every year’s program.

The overall objectives of the annual events are to facilitate synergetic collaborations between theory and experiment, and to catalyze important conceptual discoveries in fundamental energy science and innovations in energy device applications.

Background and Support of the Workshop

The 8^th International Workshop on Quantum Energy is preceded by Quantum Energy I-VII, held in Weihai, Shandong (2011); Yancheng, Jiangsu (2012); Zhengzhou, Henan (2013); Chengdu, Sichuan (2014); Hangzhou, Zhejiang (2015); Xiangtan, Hunan (2016) and Haikou, Hainan (2017). The initial motivation of the workshop was to provide a unique platform for the research teams funded by the Key Program on Energy Materials of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) to exchange ideas and progresses with their peers and a selected group of domestic and international speakers. With the awarding of the “111” project on Quantum Design of Novel Energy Materials based at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), the annual workshop has been significantly expanded to also include participants of the oversea and domestic members of the “111” team since 2014. Coincidentally, a high percentage of the oversea members from the United States were also former members of the Computational Materials Science Network on Predictive Modeling of the Growth and Properties of Energy-Relevant Thin Films and Nanostructures funded by the US Department of Energy (2005-2010).

The annual workshops will be mainly supported by the USTC-based “111” project, supplemented by funds from the International Center for Quantum Design of Functional Materials (ICQD) at USTC; and the Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Sciences at Fudan University. This year, the workshop will also receive partial support from the School of Physics and Astronomy of Yunnan University.

The “111” program is the nickname for the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities, which is jointly organized by the Ministry of Education and the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of China.