Researching Energy at Georgetown and CERN
February 7, 2013鈥擜s a major, George Burton (C鈥�13) regularly works in a research laboratory. He was able to continue his research experience while studying abroad in Geneva, Switzerland.
Last year, Burton spent eight months studying and working in Geneva, funded in part by the (GUROP). While abroad, Burton took physics courses in French at the University of Geneva and spent the rest of his time conducting research at CERN, also known as the European Organization for Nuclear Research.
Burton is one of three current Georgetown physics majors to work at CERN. 鈥淸It鈥檚] known for the Large Hadron Collider, [its particle accelerator]. Before I went to CERN, I thought that was all that they do, but they have tons of other smaller experiments,鈥� he explained.
Burton chose to work in the Neutron Time-of-Flight Facility with a group of CERN scientists and Ph.D. students. The experience allowed Burton to work in a different area of research, particle physics.
鈥淲e were measuring radioactive isotopes that are in nuclear fission reactors. We were looking at the different reactions when neutrons interact with Uranium 235 and Uranium 238,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t has application for new reactors [and] the transmutation of waste.鈥�
Burton became interested in energy while on an trip his first-year at Georgetown. He spent a week in Kentucky, where he learned about mountain-top removal. Rather than mining through layers of rock and coal, some mining companies 鈥渂last off the top or side鈥� of a mountain as an easier and cheaper way to extract coal. The trip introduced Burton to energy issues that could be improved by research focused in applied physics and practical applications.
Burton conducts research in Associate Professor 鈥檚 laboratory. 鈥淚鈥檓 interested in working on solar technology. I鈥檓 working on making nanoparticles, using a reprecipitation technique, that have applications to organic photovoltaic devices and organic electronics,鈥� he said.
Photovoltaic devices, or solar cells, are typically made of nonorganic materials. 鈥淚nstead of making them out of metal, we鈥檙e trying to make them out of organic materials. It reduces the [financial] cost a lot but at the cost of efficiency,鈥� he continued. Burton is working on creating more efficient organic nanoparticles for solar cells.
He starts by creating a crystal from two compounds. 鈥淭here鈥檚 an electron donor and an electron acceptor. When they鈥檙e together, they can transport a charge faster,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e know that two compounds can form a crystal, so I鈥檓 testing the electrical properties of the crystal, the conductivity and the photoconductivity.鈥� Burton is also investigating what different combinations of compounds may work for his experiment.
鈥淭he ultimate goal [would be] to make a solar cell with the nanoparticles to see if they actually work,鈥� he said.
According to Burton, the general public still sees solar cells as too expensive in the long-term. 鈥淧eople aren鈥檛 thinking, 鈥業鈥檒l buy solar cells to put on my roof.鈥� People aren鈥檛 thinking of other options,鈥� he said. As he works to improve organic photovoltaic devices, he hopes that a more efficient and cheaper option would help people consider alternative energy sources.
Burton is one of many Georgetown students who have enjoyed independence in the research lab. 鈥淚鈥檓 pretty much on my own on my project. I have a lot of freedom and self-motivation to do the work,鈥� he said. Professor Van Keuren, who is also chair of the physics department, provides much-needed mentorship and advice, but he allows Burton to learn to become a scientist on his own. 鈥淗e tells me the general trajectory of what I need to be doing, and I figure out how to get there.鈥�
With research experience at Georgetown and CERN, Burton is considering a future in physics research after Georgetown.
鈥淚 like more hands-on [work]. I鈥檓 really enjoying the work that I鈥檓 doing now.鈥�