Gemstone Team Research

Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://hdl.handle.net/1903/9070

The Gemstone Program at the University of Maryland is a unique multidisciplinary four-year research program for selected undergraduate honors students of all majors. Under guidance of faculty mentors and Gemstone staff, teams of students design, direct and conduct significant research, often but not exclusively exploring the interdependence of science and technology with society. Gemstone students are members of a living-learning community comprised of fellow students, faculty and staff who work together to enrich the undergraduate experience. This community challenges and supports the students in the development of their research, teamwork, communication and leadership skills. In the fourth year, each team of students presents its research in the form of a thesis to experts, and the students complete the program with a citation and a tangible sense of accomplishment.

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Author: search.filters.author.Conley, MarkSubject: search.filters.subject.solar energy

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    The potential of natural, photosynthetic pigments to improve the efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells
    (2011) Barnoy, Eran; Conley, Mark; Gan, A. Stephen; Gefen, Yoni; Lovell, Jana; Mann, Katherine; Shuchatowitz, Adin; Tobin, Christine; Sullivan, Joseph
    Current photovoltaic cells incorporate silicon or synthetic dyes; however, these cells are expensive and the dyes are toxic. Our product uses natural, photosynthetic pigments to sensitize an alternative design solar cell, the dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC). Research has shown that plant pigments are suitable sensitizers for these cells, but there is presently no good rationale to determine which pigment combinations may be most effective. Our research goal was to develop and test an absorption index for pigment selection that would increase the output of DSSCs. Our results demonstrated a positive correlation between spectral absorption of the sensitizing dye and power output of the cell. Certain pigment combinations were more effective sensitizers based on combined absorption capabilities, but resolving the mechanisms of the exact relationship requires further research and likely further development of the algorithm used to choose optimal pigment combinations.