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Faculty
and Student Teams Program
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Project Descriptions
Brookhaven
National Laboratory
Chemistry Department
Thermal and Photoreactions Group
Requesting applications from science faculty
members at institutions serving students underrepresented in science,
engineering, mathematics and technology, to work on fundamental research related
to solar energy conversion.
Project Description
Energetics of charge
separation reactions, D + A ⇌ D+·
+ A-·
are known in polar media:
DG°=E0(D+·/D)
- E0(A/A-·)-e2/eRDA (1)
from the difference of
redox potentials measured electrochemically and a Coulomb term. Because
high efficiencies of charge separation are superior in weakly polar media,
knowledge of these energetics is critical. Energetics in highly-polar
media have been known for decades, because the redox potentials are
readily measured in highly-polar media containing electrolytes. But redox
potentials are not known in less polar media, so leading research at
present still must rely on crude estimates. In less polar media the
energetics change due to changes in the solvation energies, which can be
estimated using the Born equation or by computational chemistry
techniques. The Born equation is a crude approximation and the reliability
to computed potentials is established and tested only moderately well.
This proposal aims to
measure such energetics to provide accurate energies for charge separation
reactions in specific systems and to provide calibrations for
computational chemistry techniques. Thermodynamic values will be measured
in chemical equilibria and via transient equilibria using pulse radiolysis
using Brookhaven's Laser Electron Accelerator Facility (LEAF).
The students and faculty would
be in all three tasks, as well as in planning.
Applicants Responsibilities
and Relationship to Project Applicants will
receive support under the Department of Energy Faculty Student Team
Research Program (FaST) to work collaboratively with the project research
team at BNL for up to 10 weeks during the year starting in June of 2006,
Summer and academic year visits to BNL will be scheduled by mutual
agreement between staff in the Environmental Research department and the
successful applicant. Ideally faculty will work at BNL on the project for
10 weeks during the summer in the first year. Faculty will be expected to
identify students from their campus to participate in the FaST program
offered by the Department of Energy at BNL. Faculty will provide some
mentorship and/or advising support to students during the summer research
activities. It is expected that the Faculty member will become an integral
part of the research team working on this project and will support the
project through the academic year on her or his campus.
Qualifications of Ideal Candidate
| Faculty: | Ph.D. with in chemical
laboratory work. Works well in a
collaborative environment with students and other researchers. Currently
teaches and collaborates with students in his/her field.
Possesses good written and verbal communication skills.
Willing to work at BNL for an extended period during the summer. |
| Student: | Working towards a BS in
engineering or BA in science with an emphasis on environmental problems.
Works well in collaboration with faculty, other students, and researchers.
Possesses good written and verbal communication skills.
Willing to work at BNL for an extended period. Willing to perform
data collection in the field. |
Support
and Financial Commitments See Financial Information.
For More Information contact:
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