Material structures of small sizes can improve response of energy absorbing/converting/transforming systems to physical stimuli such as radiation, heat, pressure, vibration, etc.  Studying the physical and chemical properties of these materials using first principle numerical simulations is a focus of the ECO Lab. In particular, nano-size textured materials are of interest in thin film photovoltaic technology. We strive to understand the relationship between photo-electric characteristics of textured semiconductor and dielectric nano-structures and their geometry and composition through state-of-the art theoretical and numerical techniques.