Illinois State University physics students are going above and beyond in their research labs to build nanostructures that may be used in future technologies.
Amelia Korveziroska and Marcos Perez have been creating nanoparticles that can be synthesized into nanostructures used to create compact circuit boards, data storage devices, solar cells and more.
“Whether it be for imaging, making hardware in laptops and cell phones smaller and more efficient, or even creating memory storage devices … there’s such a vast amount of uses for the materials we are creating that it’s difficult to name them all or determine which is the most important,” Perez said. “Knowing the work we do now is contributing to pushing technology is its own reward.”
Korveziroska also spoke about how nanoparticles could impact the size of future technology.
ISU physics students Amelia Korveziroska and Marcos Perez are devoting their research to creating nanoparticles that could transform future technologies.
“These structures are even used today, in your phone, laptop, TV and in the medical field,” Korveziroska said. “What we’re doing in the lab is making them even smaller. So, once we find the most effective way of producing particles that are smaller than the ones we use now, there is a good possibility that technology will become smaller and lighter.”
The creation of nanoparticles is a very specific area in the world of physics that requires a certain mindset to fulfill this task.
“My interest in physics has always been about being able to predict what is going to happen, but interest in this specific research is hands-on,” Korveziroska said.
Perez also said he has always felt a drive towards physics.
“My interest was broadly physics at first, but working on these projects has made me much more interested in nanopatterning and developing processes for the creation of nanoparticles,” Perez said. “They have such a wide variety of uses that just pushing the science behind it is a reward on its own.”
Not only is the science rewarding, but these small discoveries could eventually grow into a large technological impact in the near future.
“I’ve had to deal with failed experiments and long days over the summer where we’d spend hours working to get a sample just right,” Perez said. “Sending a sample off to get analyzed is much more cathartic when it’s your third or fourth attempt. I’m very happy with everything we’ve done so far.”
ISU physics student Amelia Korveziroska works in the lab.
Korveziroska also mentioned how gratifying it feels to have the opportunity to work in such a unique field.
“I feel like I’m capable of doing research,” Korveziroska said. “Especially with being a woman in the STEM field, feeling like you are capable is something not many can say. Doing this research makes me feel proud of all the hard work I have put in.”
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