Nico Hotz | Scholars@Duke

Nico Hotz
Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science

Nico Hotz specializes in interfacial transport phenomena and thermodynamics in energy technology. His research focuses on heat, mass, and charge transfer on nano-scale surfaces for solar thermal applications, catalytic fuel reforming, hydrogen generation, fuel cells, and electrolysis.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Assistant Professor of the Practice in the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering 2017
Faculty Network Member of The Energy Initiative, Duke University Energy Initiative, Initiatives 2012

Contact Information

303 Hudson Hall, Mems Department, Durham, NC 27708
303 Hudson Hall, Mems Department, Durham, NC 27708-0300
nico.hotz@duke.edu (919) 660-5118
http://www.duke.edu/~nh66/

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 2008
Duke Appointment History
- Assistant Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science, Pratt School of Engineering 2010 - 2016
Recognition
In the News
- APR 28, 2017
  
  Energy Initiative Awards Seven New Seed Grants
- APR 16, 2014
  
  Energy Initiative Provides First Round of Research Seed Funding
- FEB 10, 2014 Duke Research Blog
  
  Duke Labs Produce 2 Intel Talent Search Finalists
- MAY 21, 2013
  
  New Method for Producing Clean Hydrogen
Awards & Honors
Research
Selected Grants
- University Training Program in Biomolecular and Tissue Engineering awarded by National Institutes of Health 1994 - 2017
- Novel Flexible Quantum Dot Solar Cell for Space Applications awarded by Space Grant 2013 - 2014
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Book Sections
  - Hotz, N. "Hierarchical nanostructures for fuel cells and fuel reforming." 84-106. January 1, 2015.
- Conference Papers
  - Hotz, N, Mohanty, AK, and Misra, M. "Investigating operating conditions and mechanical performance of co-injected polylactic acid and polycaprolactone." January 1, 2015.
  - Lim, E, Visutipol, T, Peng, W, and Hotz, N. "Flame-made CuO/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst for methanol steam reforming." December 1, 2013. Full Text
  - Real, D, and Hotz, N. "Novel non-concentrated solar collector for solar-powered chemical reactions." December 1, 2013. Full Text
  - Shodiya, T, Peng, W, and Hotz, N. "Novel nano-scale Au/α-Fe2O3 catalyst for the preferential oxidation of CO in biofuel reformate gas." December 1, 2013. Full Text
  - Hotz, N. "Non-concentrated solar collector for solarthermal chemical reactions." January 1, 2013. Full Text
  - Hotz, N. "Flame-made catalyst for bio-methanol steam reforming." January 1, 2013. Full Text
  - Hotz, N. "Nano-structured catalytic material for solar-powered biofuel reforming." December 1, 2012. Full Text
  - Real, DJ, Studtmann, C, and Hotz, N. "Hydrogen production from biofuel under sunlight: A hybrid approach." August 19, 2012. Link to Item
  - Hotz, N. "Hydrogen production from biofuel under sunlight: A hybrid approach." March 25, 2012. Link to Item
  - Hotz, N, and ASME, . "HYBRID SOLAR SYSTEM FOR STATIONARY ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION." 2012. Link to Item
  - Hotz, N, and ASME, . "SOLAR-POWERED REFORMED METHANOL FUEL CELL SYSTEM." 2012. Link to Item
  - Hotz, N. "Micro- and nano-structured catalytic reactor for biofuel reforming in a solar collector." January 1, 2012. Full Text
  - Hotz, N. "Hybrid solar system for stationary electric power generation." 2011.
  - Hotz, N. "Porous media for catalytic renewable energy conversion." 2011. Full Text
  - Hotz, N. "Novel porous composite material containing catalytic nanoparticles for hydrogen production from biofuel." 2011. Full Text
  - Hotz, N, Lee, M-T, Grigoropoulos, CP, Zimmerman, R, Rosengarten, G, and Poulikakos, D. "Exergetic analysis of a solar-heated fuel cell system fed by methanol." 2010. Full Text
  - Hotz, N, Pan, H, Grigoropoulos, CP, and Ko, SH. "Exergetic analysis of solar-powered hybrid energy conversion and storage scenarios for stationary applications." 2010. Full Text
  - Ko, SH, Pan, H, Hotz, N, Yeo, J, and Grigoropoulos, CP. "Nanoparticle selective laser sintering for large area flexible electronics fabrication with a scanning mirror." 2010.
  - Ko, SH, Pan, H, Hotz, N, and Grigoropoulos, CP. "Large area flexible electronics fabrication by selective laser sintering of nanoparticles with a scanning mirror." 2010.
  - Ko, SH, Pan, H, Hotz, N, and Grigoropoulos, CP. "Large area flexible electronics fabrication by selective laser sintering of nanoparticles with a scanning mirror." 2009.
  - Hotz, N, and Schicho, A. "High-Pressure Electrolysis for Efficient Compressed Hydrogen Production." 2015 MRS Fall Meeting. Boston MA. November 30, 2015 - December 4, 2015.
  - Lee, MT, Hotz, N, Greif, R, and Grigoropoulos, CP. "Transport Phenomena in a Nanocatalytic Solar thermal Steam-Methanol Reformer." International Conference on Hydrogen Production. Seoul, South Korea. June 24, 2012 - June 27, 2012.
  - Peng, W, Lim, E, Dumanyan, I, and Hotz, N. "In-Situ Fabrication of a Porous Nano-Catalyst Reactor for H2 Production by Methanol Steam Reforming." 2014 MRS Spring Meeting. San Francisco. April 21, 2014 - April 27, 2014.
  - Real, D, Dumanyan, I, and Hotz, N. "Hydrogen Production by Solar-driven Methanol Steam Reforming." 8th International Conference on Energy Sustainability and 12th Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference (ASME ESFuelCell2014). Boston, MA. June 29, 2014 - July 2, 2014.
  - Real, D, Dumanyan, I, and Hotz, N. "Nanocatalyst for Hydrogen Production by Solar-Driven Methanol Steam Reforming." 2014 MRS Fall Meeting. Boston, MA. November 30, 2014 - December 5, 2014.
  - Schicho, A, and Hotz, N. "High-pressure Electrolysis Experiments up to 5000 psi." 8th International Conference on Energy Sustainability and 12th Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference (ASME ESFuelCell2014). Boston, MA. June 29, 2014 - July 2, 2014.
  - Shodiya, T, Barnes, J, Dumanyan, I, and Hotz, N. "Plasmon-enhanced Photocatalytic Hydrogen Generation from Biofuels." 2015 MRS Spring Meeting. San Francisco, CA. April 6, 2015 - April 10, 2015.
  - Shodiya, T, Real, D, and Hotz, N. "Nanocatalysts for Integrated Solar-powered Fuel Cell System Combining Fuel Reforming, Reformate Post-processing, and Fuel Cell." 2015 MRS Spring Meeting. San Francisco, CA. April 6, 2015 - April 10, 2015.
  - Shodiya, T, Real, D, and Hotz, N. "Integrated Solar-Powered Fuel Cell System." 2015 MRS Fall Meeting. Boston, MA. November 30, 2015 - December 4, 2015.
  - Shodiya, T, Schmidt, O, Peng, W, and Hotz, N. "Particle Size Modeling of Novel Au/α-Fe2O3 Catalysts for Preferential Oxidation of CO for Fuel Cell Applications." 2014 MRS Spring Meeting. San Francisco. April 21, 2014 - April 25, 2014.
  - Shodiya, T, and Hotz, N. "Preferential Oxidation of Carbon Monoxide Integrated with Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cell." 8th International Conference on Energy Sustainability and 12th Fuel Cell Science, Engineering and Technology Conference (ASME ESFuelCell2014). Boston, MA. June 29, 2014 - July 2, 2014.
  - Shodiya, T, and Hotz, N. "Plasmon-Enabled Photothermal Hydrogen Generation in Cold Reactor." 2015 Fall MRS Meeting. Boston MA. November 30, 2015 - December 4, 2015.
- Journal Articles
  - Real, D, Dumanyan, I, and Hotz, N. "Renewable hydrogen production by solar-powered methanol reforming." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 41, no. 28 (July 2016): 11914-11924. Full Text
  - Lim, EO, Visutipol, T, Schicho, A, Peng, W, and Hotz, N. "Flame-made nanoparticles for catalytic methanol steam reforming (Submitted)." (2015).
  - Peng, W, Dumanyan, I, Lim, E, and Hotz, N. "In-situ fabrication of a porous nano-catalyst methanol steam reformer for H2 production (Submitted)." (2015).
  - Real, D, Dumanyan, I, and Hotz, N. "Hydrogen production by solar-powered methanol reforming." (2015).
  - Schicho, A, and Hotz, N. "High-pressure electrolyzer for efficient energy generation (Submitted)." (2015).
  - Shodiya, T, Barnes, J, Xiong, G, Dumanyan, I, Ngo, H, Fales, A, VoDinh, T, and Hotz, N. "Plasmon-assisted photothermal catalytic reactor for hydrogen generation (Submitted)." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of USA (2015).
  - Real, D, Johnston, R, Lauer, J, Schicho, A, and Hotz, N. "Novel non-concentrating solar collector for intermediate-temperature energy capture." Solar Energy 108 (October 2014): 421-431. Full Text
  - Shodiya, T, Schmidt, O, Peng, W, and Hotz, N. "Novel nano-scale Au/α-Fe₂O₃ catalyst for the preferential oxidation of CO in biofuel reformate gas." Journal of Catalysis 300 (2013): 63-69. Full Text
  - Hotz, N. "Hybrid solar system for decentralized electric power generation and storage." Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Transactions of the ASME 134, no. 4 (2012). Full Text
  - Ko, SH, Lee, D, Hotz, N, Yeo, J, Hong, S, Nam, KH, and Grigoropoulos, CP. "Digital selective growth of ZnO nanowire arrays from inkjet-printed nanoparticle seeds on a flexible substrate." Langmuir 28, no. 10 (2012): 4787-4792. Full Text
  - Kullmann, C, Schirmer, NC, Lee, M-T, Ko, SH, Hotz, N, Grigoropoulos, CP, and Poulikakos, D. "3D micro-structures by piezoelectric inkjet printing of gold nanofluids." Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 22, no. 5 (2012). Full Text
  - Yeo, J, Hong, S, Lee, D, Hotz, N, Lee, M-T, Grigoropoulos, CP, and Ko, SH. "Next generation non-vacuum, maskless, low temperature nanoparticle ink laser digital direct metal patterning for a large area flexible electronics." PLoS ONE 7, no. 8 (2012). Full Text
  - Hotz, N. "Hydrogen production on the rooftop from sunlight and biofuel." SPIE Newsroom (November 2011). (Academic Article) Full Text
  - Rickenbach, JV, Nabavi, M, Zinovik, I, Hotz, N, and Poulikakos, D. "A detailed surface reaction model for syngas production from butane over Rhodium catalyst." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 36, no. 19 (2011): 12238-12248. Full Text
  - Hotz, N, Zimmerman, R, Weinmueller, C, Lee, M-T, Grigoropoulos, CP, Rosengarten, G, and Poulikakos, D. "Exergetic analysis and optimization of a solar-powered reformed methanol fuel cell micro-powerplant." Journal of Power Sources 195, no. 6 (2010): 1676-1687. Full Text
  - Ko, SH, Chung, J, Hotz, N, Nam, KH, and Grigoropoulos, CP. "Metal nanoparticle direct inkjet printing for low-temperature 3D micro metal structure fabrication." Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering 20, no. 12 (2010). Full Text
  - Lee, M-T, Werhahn, M, Hwang, DJ, Hotz, N, Greif, R, Poulikakos, D, and Grigoropoulos, CP. "Hydrogen production with a solar steam-methanol reformer and colloid nanocatalyst." International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 35, no. 1 (2010): 118-126. Full Text
  - Weinmueller, C, Tautschnig, G, Hotz, N, and Poulikakos, D. "A flexible direct methanol micro-fuel cell based on a metalized, photosensitive polymer film." Journal of Power Sources 195, no. 12 (2010): 3849-3857. Full Text
  - Hotz, N, Koc, N, Schwamb, T, Schirmer, N, and Poulikakos, D. "Catalytic porous ceramic prepared in-situ by sol-gelation for butane-to-syngas processing in microreactors." AIChE Journal 55, no. 7 (2009): 1849-1859. Full Text
  - Raberger, NB, Stutz, MJ, Hotz, N, and Poulikakos, D. "Simulation of the postcombustor for the treatment of toxic and flammable exhaust gases of a micro-solid oxide fuel cell." Journal of Fuel Cell Science and Technology 6, no. 4 (2009): 0410021-04100211. Full Text
  - Schirmer, NC, Schwamb, T, Burg, BR, Hotz, N, and Poulikakos, D. "Controlled free-form fabrication of nanowires by dielectrophoretic dispension of colloids." Applied Physics Letters 95, no. 3 (2009). Full Text
  - Weinmueller, C, Hotz, N, Mueller, A, and Poulikakos, D. "On two-phase flow patterns and transition criteria in aqueous methanol and CO₂ mixtures in adiabatic, rectangular microchannels." International Journal of Multiphase Flow 35, no. 8 (2009): 760-772. Full Text
  - Bieberle-Hütter, A, Beckel, D, Infortuna, A, Muecke, UP, Rupp, JLM, Gauckler, LJ, Rey-Mermet, S, Muralt, P, Bieri, NR, Hotz, N, Stutz, MJ, Poulikakos, D, Heeb, P, Müller, P, Bernard, A, Gmür, R, and Hocker, T. "A micro-solid oxide fuel cell system as battery replacement." Journal of Power Sources 177, no. 1 (2008): 123-130. Full Text
  - Hotz, N, Osterwalder, N, Stark, WJ, Bieri, NR, and Poulikakos, D. "Disk-shaped packed bed micro-reactor for butane-to-syngas processing." Chemical Engineering Science 63, no. 21 (2008): 5193-5201. Full Text
  - Hotz, N, Stutz, MJ, Loher, S, Stark, WJ, and Poulikakos, D. "Syngas production from butane using a flame-made Rh/Ce_0.5Zr_0.5O₂ catalyst." Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 73, no. 3 (2007): 336-344. Full Text
  - Hotz, N, Lee, M-T, Grigoropoulos, CP, Senn, SM, and Poulikakos, D. "Exergetic analysis of fuel cell micropowerplants fed by methanol." International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer 49, no. 15-16 (2006): 2397-2411. Full Text
  - Hotz, N, Senn, SM, and Poulikakos, D. "Exergy analysis of a solid oxide fuel cell micropowerplant." Journal of Power Sources 158, no. 1 (2006): 333-347. Full Text
  - Stutz, MJ, Hotz, N, and Poulikakos, D. "Optimization of methane reforming in a microreactor - effects of catalyst loading and geometry." Chemical Engineering Journal 118, no. 3 (2006): 4027-4040. Full Text
  - Shodiya, T, Real, D, McFadded, K, Schmidt, A, Lee, GJ, Conlon, T, and Hotz, N. "CO preferential oxidation reactor integrated into PEM fuel cell system (In preparation)."
Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses
Scholarly, Clinical, & Service Activities
Service to the Profession

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

In the News

Awards & Honors

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Book Sections

Conference Papers

Journal Articles

Recent Courses

Service to the Profession