{"671074":{"#nid":"671074","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Ph.D. Student Addresses Climate Change with Pending Patented Invention","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAndr\u00e9s-Felipe Castro-M\u00e9ndez came to the United States from Colombia after receiving a Fullbright Scholarship to pursue a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech. His research is focused on addressing climate change and power grid disconnection using perovskite solar cells, a technology that offers the potential to decrease solar energy costs.\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cSolar energy does not only have a great impact in mitigating climate change, but it also offers a transformative solution for communities currently lacking power grid access,\u201d said Castro-M\u00e9ndez. \u201cBy harnessing the sun\u2019s energy through photovoltaic panels, these communities can generate their own electricity locally, enabling essential services, even in remote or underserved areas. This topic is particularly relevant in Colombia, my country of origin, where large communities do not have access to electricity yet.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECastro-M\u00e9ndez\u2019s research and published work in mitigating climate change earned a Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EIn his publication titled, \u201cVapor Phase Infiltration Improves Thermal Stability of Organic Layers in Perovskite Solar Cells,\u201d Castro-M\u00e9ndez demonstrates an innovative approach that contributes to the overall stability and longevity of perovskite solar cells. This invention is currently in the process of becoming a patent. His research has contributed to paving the way for more reliable, efficient, and commercially viable perovskite solar cells.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cClimate change has always been a very relevant topic,\u201d he said. \u201cMy interest to actively do something about it was triggered by my undergrad project advisor, Prof. Pablo Ortiz-Herrera. He had a research group on solar cells, and I joined his group in my 3rd year to start investigating this topic. There, I realized that alternative energies have a big potential and that they are real, not just something I would see in a sci-fi movie.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Chih Foundation awards graduate students whose research publication(s) reflect invention and innovation for the betterment of society. Each awardee receives $2,500 to pursue their research.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003E\u201cThe impact of my research is to develop processes that could be used in industry to produce perovskite solar cells,\u201d said Castro-M\u00e9ndez. \u201cI also am working on improving the long-term stability of perovskite solar cells, which is important to make this technology worth it. This award means that the research I\u2019m doing is appreciated and that I\u2019m not the only one who sees the value in it. It boosts my motivation further.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n\r\n\u003Cp\u003ECastro-M\u00e9ndez is one of four recipients of the 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication Awards. Congratulations to the following 2023 Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award recipients: Andr\u00e9s-Felipe Castro M\u00e9ndez, Dongsuk Sung, Hantian Zhang, and Vanessa Oguamanam.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECastro-M\u00e9ndez\u2019s research and published work in mitigating climate change earned a Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Castro-M\u00e9ndez\u2019s research and published work in mitigating climate change earned a Chih Foundation Graduate Student Research Publication award. "}],"uid":"36249","created_gmt":"2023-11-15 18:31:22","changed_gmt":"2023-11-16 17:46:45","author":"Sara Franc","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","dateline":{"date":"2023-11-15T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2023-11-15T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"672390":{"id":"672390","type":"image","title":"Andres Felipe Castro Mendez.jpg","body":null,"created":"1700073131","gmt_created":"2023-11-15 18:32:11","changed":"1700073131","gmt_changed":"2023-11-15 18:32:11","alt":"Andr\u00e9s-Felipe Castro-M\u00e9ndez","file":{"fid":"255622","name":"Andres Felipe Castro Mendez.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/11\/15\/Andres%20Felipe%20Castro%20Mendez.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2023\/11\/15\/Andres%20Felipe%20Castro%20Mendez.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3103339,"path_740":"http:\/\/www.tlwarc.hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2023\/11\/15\/Andres%20Felipe%20Castro%20Mendez.jpg?itok=GN7KwoYS"}}},"media_ids":["672390"],"groups":[{"id":"221981","name":"Graduate Studies"}],"categories":[{"id":"193234","name":"Campaign Stories"},{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"},{"id":"193157","name":"Student Honors and Achievements"}],"keywords":[{"id":"1808","name":"graduate students"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39471","name":"Materials"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ESara Franc\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\n\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sara.franc@gatech.edu\u0022\u003Esara.franc@gatech.edu\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nCommunications Officer\u003Cbr \/\u003E\r\nGraduate and Postdoctoral Education\u003C\/p\u003E\r\n","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}