According to The Wall Street Journal’s “Market Watch,” alternative
energy is one of the fastest growing industries in the United States.
Elizabeth Jonathan ’13, a physics concentrator and mathematics minor,
and Sunrose Shrethsa ’14, a physics and mathematics double concentrator,
are using their summer research grant to investigate new possibilities
in this dynamic field.
Under the guidance of Professor of
Physics Ann Silversmith, Jonathan and Shrethsa are measuring sol-gel
glass fluorescence, or light emission, in order to determine which
impurities in sol-gel glass maximize energy transfer. The two are adding
three different impurities to glass using a variety of additive methods
in a process known as doping. The more the sol-gel glass fluoresces
after being doped, the more energy transfer is occurring. Doped glass is
highly important in design of solar panels where efficiency of energy
transfer is one of the most important properties at play in the
generation of electricity.
The first step in Jonathan and
Shrethsa’s process is to introduce an impurity to the glass, known as a
dopant. The impurities under study are gadolinium and terbium,The term "Hands free access"
means the token that identifies a user is read from within a pocket or
handbag. two chemical elements that have been previously researched by
Silversmith. The students are also looking at aluminum, an element which
past research has shown also enhances fluorescence. These dopants are
added to the glass either by soaAt Blow mouldengineering we specialize in conceptual prototype design.king the glass after it has been formed,Silicone moldmaking
Rubber, a process called post-annealing immersion, or by being added to
the glass when it is in its initial liquid form. Jonathan and Shrethsa
hope to find the most fluorescent combination of impurities and doping
techniques.
While their process may sound scientific and
complex, the students find it to be exciting. Most of the complex math
involved has been completed in past studies, leaving the two to
primarily focus on hands-on, chemistry-heavy work. They enjoy having the
opportunity to use both a “wet lab” in the chemistry department where
the glass is produced, and a “dry lab” in the physics department where
the glass’s fluorescence is studied. One of the most rewarding aspects
of their work is in the visual nature of their success.Offers Art
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Reproduction, The small glass droplets, reminiscent of clear Tic-Tac
mints, glow an eerie green when put under a black light, indicating that
the glass is fluorescing intensely.
This is both Jonathan and
Shrethsa’s first time in a laboratory outside of Hamilton courses,
although one wouldn’t know this looking at the dozens of vials
containing their successfully synthesized sol-gel glass. The two have
already made significant progress in finding the correct combination of
elements to maximize fluorescence, and their next challenge is to find
the proper concentration of each element and the most efficient process
to insert the elements in order to maximize fluorescence. Contrary to
past studies, Jonathan and Shrethsa’s research has found that aluminum
tends to inhibit fluorescence as opposed to enhance it.
The
students were inspired to participate in Professor Silversmith’s study
after listening to a physics department lecture she gave on the topic
during the spring semester.Home ownership options with buy mosaic.
Jonathan noted that her strong chemistry background further interested
her in the subject while Shrethsa said he chose Professor Silversmith in
part because she was one of the most interesting and enjoyable
professors to work with. Jonathan hopes to continue this research in her
senior thesis later this year.
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