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Polymer/Carbon Spheres Composites for Device Applications
Polymer/Carbon Spheres Composites for Device Applications
Aug 21, 2017

Polymer/Carbon Spheres Composites for Device Applications

Idalia Ramos, University of Puerto Rico at Humacao

Intellectual Merit: Carbon-based materials have attracted scientific interest due to their promise to revolutionize the electronics industry. Carbon Spheres (CS) were produced via hydrothermal carbonization of sucrose. A Schottky diode was fabricated using a composite of the highly conduct
Partnering to Develop Photovoltaic Research
Partnering to Develop Photovoltaic Research
Aug 18, 2017

Partnering to Develop Photovoltaic Research

The University of Texas at El Paso and the University of California, Santa Barbara have joined forces to create a research and education program that, according to UTEP, “will combine materials science and engineering research to develop new materials for photovoltaic applications, or solar panels.”
Integrated 3D printing with in-situ functionalization of piezoelectric nanocomposites
Integrated 3D printing with in-situ functionalization of piezoelectric nanocomposites
Apr 5, 2017

Integrated 3D printing with in-situ functionalization of piezoelectric nanocomposites

Yirong Lin (University of Texas at El Paso)

Our research supported by the NSF PREM project studied the synthesis, fabrication, and characterization of advanced materials for sensing, energy harvesting, and storage. Our integrated 3D printing with in-situ functionalization of piezoelectric nanocomposite enabled us design nanocomposit
New Fullerene Derivatives for Electron Transporting Materials in Inverted Planar Perovskite Solar Cells
New Fullerene Derivatives for Electron Transporting Materials in Inverted Planar Perovskite Solar Cells
Apr 5, 2017

New Fullerene Derivatives for Electron Transporting Materials in Inverted Planar Perovskite Solar Cells

Luis A. Echegoyen (University of Texas at El Paso)

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs), have shown a remarkable increase in photoconversion efficiency (PCE), from 3.8%  in 2009, to 22.1% in 2016. The good electron transporting and solution processable properties of most fullerene derivatives make them the most popular electron transporting mater
Development of chemical and biological sensors: Synthesis of Plasmonic Nanoparticles and Multispectral Imaging Nanostructures
Development of chemical and biological sensors: Synthesis of Plasmonic Nanoparticles and Multispectral Imaging Nanostructures
Jul 6, 2016

Development of chemical and biological sensors: Synthesis of Plasmonic Nanoparticles and Multispectral Imaging Nanostructures

Students: Melissa Kerr, Faculty Advisor:  Fei Yan

How? Synthesizing and isolation of ultra-small gold nanoparticles with a specific shape or structure. We have developed a facile approach for shape-controlled synthesis of gold nanoparticles using KBr and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) as the reducing agent. 
What happens to photogenerated charges in semiconductor nanowires?
What happens to photogenerated charges in semiconductor nanowires?
Jul 6, 2016

What happens to photogenerated charges in semiconductor nanowires?

Students: Mizrain Ramirez, Kleyser Agueda Lopez, Malik Ko Faculty Advisor:  M. Wu 

How? We use optical microscopy to determine the dynamics of photo-generated charges in individual semiconductor nanowire hetero-structures.
Investigation of Indium Free Transparent Conducting Oxides for Application in Photovoltaics
Investigation of Indium Free Transparent Conducting Oxides for Application in Photovoltaics
Sep 11, 2015

Investigation of Indium Free Transparent Conducting Oxides for Application in Photovoltaics

Dr. Ramana Chintalapalle Research Group

Transparent conducting oxide play a key role in photovoltaic (PV) devices. There has been much recent interest in finding alternative indium (In) free TCOs and even better performing alternative candidates to substitute for standard ITO.  The driving factors are: scarcity, unintended inter
Synthesis of Fullerene Derivatives for Potential Applications in OPV Devices
Synthesis of Fullerene Derivatives for Potential Applications in OPV Devices
Sep 11, 2015

Synthesis of Fullerene Derivatives for Potential Applications in OPV Devices

Dr. Luis Echegoyen's Research Group

We have separated Sc3N@D5h-C80 from Sc3N@C68 based on their chemical reactivity differences using the p-toluenesulfonyl tosyl hydrazone of phenyl butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). We also performed for the first time the synthesis and characterization of five PCBM methano
Investing in diversity - Material science partnership awards broaden participation, strengthen research
Investing in diversity - Material science partnership awards broaden participation, strengthen research
Sep 4, 2015

Investing in diversity - Material science partnership awards broaden participation, strengthen research

With an eye toward improving material science through increased diverse perspectives, the National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded six Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM) awards this year, in its fifth such competition since 2004.
Humacao PREM visits Rural Schools
Humacao PREM visits Rural Schools
Aug 5, 2015

Humacao PREM visits Rural Schools

Idalia Ramos, UPR-Humacao

In March-April 2015, approximately 50 PREM students, faculty and other volunteers visited six rural schools in the towns of Yabucoa and San Lorenzo, Puerto Rico. The activities included short talks and hands-on demonstrations from the Nanodays (NISENet) kits and others developed by our pro