A Sneak Peek of “Mars”

A photograph of a small pile of fine, deep maroon or burgundy powder resting on a white, textured surface. The powder has a rich, earthy pigment and a clumpy, granular consistency, with tiny stray particles scattered across the surrounding white background. The focus is sharp on the center of the pile, highlighting its matte, velvety texture.

Label: A Sneak Peek of “Mars”
Artist: Yan Zhou
Description: Solar energy harvesting has evolved into a premier technology for realizing a sustainable energy future. Work in our research lab focuses on studying solar cells sensitized by dyes that absorb light and convert it into electricity on a semiconductor interface. My research focused on synthesizing the thermally activated delayed fluorescence dye, incorporating it into the bilayer solar cells, which is important to the solar cells’ efficiency in converting solar energy into electricity. This is the TADF sensitizer solid I made and because of its special absorption feature, it has this artistic mars looking color.
Type: DSLR
Artist Affiliation: Graduate Student
Department: Chemistry
Area of Research: Materials Chemistry
Date: 2019