James Hansen, a senior physics major at Missouri State University, recently received 2nd place for his oral presentation, “Synthesis and Structural Characterizations of Graphene-supported Tin Oxide Nanoparticles,” at the Arkansas INBRE Research Conference.

Hansen’s research is with graphene, a single sheet of carbon atoms that exhibits high electrical conductivity. The application of graphene in a photovoltaic cell as a conducting electrode could improve the efficiency of the solar cell and lower its manufacturing costs.

“The results were promising and opened an avenue for us to collaborate with Dr. Paul Thibado, a professor in the physics department at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville, for future research,” said Dr. Lifeng Dong, associate professor in the department of physics, astronomy and materials science.

The INBRE Research Conference involves participation from colleges and universities in Arkansas and surrounding states in biological science, physics and chemistry. Students get the opportunity to present their research and see the research of their peers.

The conference was Hansen’s first professional meeting. “At the conference, I realized the importance of collaborating with other scientists to understand and make new discoveries in science,” he said. “It motivated me to work harder as a student to learn and understand more.”

For more information, contact Dong at (417) 836-3755.