Team: 24
School: La Cueva High
Area of Science: Chemistry
Proposal: Solar panel cells are key to generating power, especially in space vehicles. The cells are mostly only efficient in the visible light spectrum, however. In space, there is a much higher presence of ultraviolet (UV) light than on Earth, but UV light waves are difficult to harvest, and even degrade the panels. One solution is to apply the concept of downshifting molecules, which is absorbing high energy photons and emitting them at a lower energy. By downshifting molecules, UV light can be absorbed and emitted as visible light for the solar panels to harness, yet the extent of its efficiency is still uncertain. The purpose of this project is to determine how adding different combinations of halogens to a specific molecule can increase the solar cells’ efficiency. The potential impact of these efforts is that they can broaden the range of wavelengths that the solar cells can utilize and protect solar panel interiors in space, which will in turn increase efficiency and reduce frequency or costs of solar array maintenance. My plan is to make simulations of different potential molecules to analyze absorption and emission wavelengths and their correlations.
Mentors: Thomas Peng and William Bricker
Team Members:
Sponsoring Teacher: Creighton Edington