Department: Chemistry
Advisor: Cody Schlenker
I will use autonomous experimentation to improve heavy-metal-free photon upconversion systems, which convert low-energy light that conventional solar panels cannot use into higher-energy light to enhance photovoltaic efficiency. These systems generally rely on two key components: sensitizers, which absorb low-energy photons, and emitters, which release higher-energy photons. My research focuses on optimizing these components, particularly in challenging systems with large anti-Stokes shifts between absorbed and emitted photons, a feature that is important for solar energy applications. By systematically studying how variables such as component concentration, aggregation, solvent environment, and others influence upconversion efficiency, my work aims to accelerate material optimization while also deepening our understanding of the upconversion process.