Professor Gabriel Gwanmesia Renewable Energy Director
Professor Gabriel Gwanmesia is the Delaware State University (DSU) Director of the Renewable Energy Education Center (REEC). He is a Professor of Physics and Engineering with primary research interests in the geophysics (Mineral Physics) field.
Mineral Physics studies the properties of materials that constitute the Earth and planetary interiors, especially at high pressures and temperatures comparable to those in the planetary interiors. Materials properties are essential for constraining models of the internal structures, chemical and mineralogical composition, and internal dynamics of deep planetary interiors.
The research focuses on experimental measurements of the sound wave velocities and elastic properties of mantle materials at the pressure and temperature conditions in the Earth’s mantle. A critical research component is fabricating high acoustic-quality synthetic polycrystalline mantle mineral samples by applying pressure and heat to induce chemical structural changes in the mineral, which also leads to changes in the physical properties of the created mineral phase. The process is similar to converting graphite, a soft material, to diamond, a hard and brittle material.
The sample synthesis occurs at Stony Brook University High-Pressure Laboratory and the mineral’s sound wave velocity and elasticity at high pressure and temperature measurements under synchrotron X-radiation at Chicago’s Advanced Photon Light Source (APS). Comparison of the data with seismic data yields valuable information about the mineralogy and chemical composition of the Earth’s mantle.
Professor Gwanmesia has adapted high-pressure techniques to study the mechanical properties of energy materials such as calcium Cobaltite (Ca3Co4O9), a thermo-electric material with critical practical applications in power generation for converting waste heat into electrical energy and solid-state refrigeration devices.
Although the efficiency of thermoelectric oxides is generally lower than that of conventional thermoelectric materials such as sulfides and tellurides, oxides are chemically stable under adverse environmental conditions. Compared to traditional thermoelectric materials such as sulfides and tellurides, oxides are chemically and thermally durable, inexpensive, and readily available, although of lower efficiency.
Professor Gwanmesia is an Associate Member of the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP), “The most respected, well-established, and widely recognized certification organization for professionals in the field of renewable energy.”
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