One Binghamton University professor is kicking off the new year with a grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) worth $525,000 with the hopes of researching clean solar energy.

Jeffrey Mativetsky, an assistant physics professor at BU, was awarded the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) grant, which will be distributed over a five-year period that will begin this July. The grant is distributed to junior faculty members at universities across the U.S. who perform strongly as teachers through both education and research.

Mativetsky’s work focuses on the utilization of organic semiconductors, which are organic materials that have electrical conductivity, particularly ones of extremely small size and flexible shape. Because of their size, the semiconductors can be integrated easily into smaller objects like handheld technologies.

According to Mativetsky, solar energy currently utilizes solar cells, which are very expensive. His research concerns the use of organic solar cells which serve as semiconductors, which are much less expensive and more accessible. The goal of his research is to successfully implement organic nanomaterials in solar energy, therefore eliminating the cost burden that currently stops many people from using solar energy.

Using the grant, Mativetsky will look further into these organic semiconductors. He will be exploring nanowires, rods that transmit an electrical current of extremely small sizes and observing how a current passes through them. Mativetsky said he believes using nanowires of this size in organic solar cells could improve performance and eventually allow for the manufacturing of flexible solar cells.

“The research component of this CAREER award investigates nanometer-scale properties of individual organic semiconductor nanowires with controlled size, shape and composition,” Mativetsky said. “It serves to guide the development of next-generation electronics, sensing and energy harvesting technologies.”

Mativetsky’s research efforts support and engage 15 Ph.D., master’s and undergraduate students across science disciplines at BU.

“These research efforts are integrated with educational activities designed to stimulate interest in science among young Binghamton-area students and to improve the retention and training of Binghamton University science undergraduates,” Mativetsky said.

Jaymes Flournoy, a junior majoring in physics, began working in the lab after applying for the position. He said Mativetsky teaches his students how to work in a laboratory setting by challenging them to think strategically and explore new subject matters.

“Professor Mativetsky encourages you to think analytically and to learn new methods and concepts that you aren’t familiar with, developing you into an effective researcher,” Flournoy said. “Most importantly, I have learned how to be part of a team oriented at solving problems in a laboratory setting.”

According to Jeremy Mehta, a third-year graduate student studying physics, he has personally been able to make advances in Mativetsky’s research, such as finding the conductive properties in the organic materials that make it usable in energy technologies and utilizing organic semiconductors that would be more cost-efficient than current eco-friendly energy techniques.

“The responsibility Dr. Mativetsky instills into us as researchers propels us to make breakthroughs in our projects,” Mehta said.

Tong Yang, a second-year graduate student studying materials science and engineering, said this grant will provide the research team with the necessary funds to make significant breakthroughs.

“The grant will support us to develop new organic semiconducting nanomaterials that nobody has ever made before,” Yang said. “Which may lead to a deeper understanding about how to build high-performance organic electronic devices.”