Solar energy research: it’s more than a sun tan in the summer

What do professors do in the summer?

But IU Kokomo chemist Kasem Kasem is a good example of the research and mentorship that actually takes place on campuses across America, regardless of the season.

With a fellowship from his campus and lab assistance from the local Delphi Delco Electronics Systems in Kokomo, Kasem is studying efficient use of solar energy that has nothing with sun tanning.

His project, titled "Photoelectrochemical Studies on Mixtures of Stationary Cadmium and Zinc Chalcogenides," is work toward the creation of new, inexpensive semiconductor materials that can be used for photoconversion of solar radiation.

"Efficient use of solar energy is in great demand nowadays," Kasem said. Working on campus, Kasem will mold solid solutions of cadmium and zinc chalcogenides into stationary disks to serve as photo-electrodes for photoelectrochemical cells. His research will test the photoelectrochemical behavior and the stability of the materials.

The work is a continuation of research he has done in the past, including two published papers in the field of photoelectrochemistry. Kasem also is serving as a mentor to Ty Woodhouse in an Undergraduate Research Summer Institute project on electro-polymerization.