Samuel Márquez Gonzalez’s analysis might assist enhance the effectivity of photo voltaic cells — gadgets that convert daylight into electrical energy and are utilized in photo voltaic panels.
Credit score:
NIST
After I was a toddler, I cherished video video games. I used to spend hours taking part in them on my previous laptop and my Nintendo DS. My dad and mom restricted my hours so I’d focus extra on my lessons. However I all the time discovered a approach to proceed taking part in in secret.
I cherished Pokémon. After I was taking part in, I needed to understand how a lot energy I had and the way I might use math to take out my enemies. Understanding the power of my assaults and the enemy’s defenses, I attempted to calculate how a lot injury I might do. I used to be by no means in a position to completely predict the quantity of harm, however this mindset received me into math and taking part in with numbers.
My childhood give attention to video video games helped me get to the place I’m in the present day — doing analysis at NIST as a part of the Professional Research Experience Program (PREP).
‘Thrilling’ Analysis
My analysis venture at NIST focuses on gadgets often called transistors, which amplify electrical energy in our digital devices. I particularly work with natural transistors, that are product of carbon-based semiconductors. Principally, carbon-based semiconductors have the potential to make our digital gadgets extra vitality environment friendly. It’s fascinating and complicated work.
I’m investigating a course of that may happen in natural semiconductors, often called singlet fission. Earlier than we will perceive singlet fission, we have to find out about the important thing character (or characters) in our story — an exciton. An exciton is a pairing of an electron and a “gap,” a spot the place an electron might be however isn’t.
Singlet fission occurs when an natural semiconductor molecule absorbs mild. Through the course of, one exciton turns into two excitons, however the two excitons solely have half the vitality of the unique exciton. Finally, these excitons break down into particular person electrons and holes, changing into a part of the electrical present.
Understanding singlet fission may be helpful for rising the effectivity of solar cells — gadgets that convert daylight into electrical energy and are utilized in photo voltaic panels. In photo voltaic cells, singlet fission can assist mild flip into electrical energy with larger effectivity. Singlet fission might also be helpful for quantum computing and different types of quantum info.
In my venture, we use an electromagnet to alter the variety of excitons produced throughout singlet fission, which might imply extra vitality is produced. At NIST, this course of has lately been used to make a tool that measures magnetic fields. We’re working to grasp these ideas higher to extend the efficiency of natural transistors.
If we’re profitable, we might make photo voltaic cells extra highly effective or enhance quantum computing. So, this subject is “thrilling” in additional methods than one!
Along with the thrilling analysis alternatives, I’ve met so many inspiring people at NIST. Notably, my mentors, Katelyn Goetz and Emily Bittle, have supplied invaluable steerage as I navigate the preliminary phases of my analysis profession.
Physics and Perseverance
I moved from my residence in Venezuela to Brazil in 2016, once I was 13. It was scary for me to start out a brand new life in a distinct place, however I tailored rapidly.
My native language, Spanish, and Brazil’s official language, Portuguese, are very comparable. So, it was simple for me to be taught the language and adapt to Brazilian tradition.
Credit score:
NIST
In Brazil, I had the chance to fulfill superb lecturers in highschool who launched me to arithmetic and physics. I do not forget that, in the identical method that I used to play with numbers, I began to play with physics after college. I used to make up questions like, “How sturdy ought to a drive be to push a six-floor constructing across the equator in 16 seconds?” These questions made no sense, however they had been enjoyable to unravel!
Then, I moved with my household again to Venezuela. In 2019, the “huge blackout” occurred, and far of the nation was with out energy for weeks. I left with my household for the U.S. and by no means returned. I all the time say that that is the longest journey that I ever had.
We moved to Maryland as a result of my sister was residing right here earlier than we arrived. I began finding out at Montgomery Faculty. As a result of English just isn’t my native language, I first needed to take a number of semesters of English language lessons. These had been difficult as a result of, not like Portuguese, English could be very totally different from Spanish. Nevertheless, I used to be decided to maintain advancing. After finishing these semesters, I made a decision to review physics as a result of that’s what I’ve been excited about since I used to play Pokémon.
At Montgomery Faculty, I used to be in a position to work towards my skilled profession objectives. It additionally supplied me with the implausible alternative to be at NIST by means of the PREP program.
As I replicate on the important thing moments in my life, I see how varied international locations have profoundly influenced my improvement. Venezuela formed my childhood, and video video games marked my fascination with numbers. Brazil outlined my adolescence, introducing me to the wonders of math and physics throughout my highschool years. Lastly, the U.S. performed an important position in my younger maturity, providing me alternatives for skilled development and a profession in scientific analysis.
Perseverance has been an enormous a part of my life. For instance, once I was a young person, I received excited about all several types of health. My dad and mom all the time thought I wouldn’t keep it up, however I did. However whether or not it’s science or health, once I set a objective, I comply with by means of. I’m undecided the place precisely that comes from, but it surely’s a useful high quality to have once you work in science.
This innate grit has been particularly useful in my scientific pursuits, a subject that calls for unwavering dedication and endurance. For instance, our venture requires lots of knowledge evaluation. I typically discover myself spending lengthy hours in my workplace due to this, which may be tedious. I attempt to be as affected person as doable to have the ability to advance.
As I look ahead to my future in physics, I’m grateful for my journey to this point — stuffed with video video games, sudden strikes and a complete lot of arithmetic and physics.
Wanting Forward to a Profession in Science
As my subsequent step, I’m planning to switch to the College of Maryland. I additionally wish to search for extra alternatives to advance my analysis profession.
Though I’m at present licensed to work within the U.S., I hope someday I’ll have the ability to get citizenship, which might enable me to turn out to be a everlasting researcher right here at NIST. (It might additionally formally finish my longest journey!)
Science is all the time transferring ahead every day, so I wish to use any alternative I discover to get into the thick of this ever-evolving panorama. Whether or not it’s conducting analysis, attending seminars, presenting papers or contributing to collaborative initiatives, I’m all the time looking out for probabilities to be taught, develop and contribute to the sphere.
I’d additionally like to see extra younger folks like me benefiting from alternatives, such because the PREP program. We want extra younger researchers to sort out the scientific challenges of tomorrow, and it is very important proceed encouraging and galvanizing the following era to turn out to be a part of this journey.
