Photovoltaic Scientist and PV Technology Expert

Expertise

• Comprehensive understanding of most photovoltaic technologies and the integration and use of PV materials and components in photovoltaic systems and solar cell arrays.
• Principal investigator (PI) developing heterojunction solar cells on 50 um thin Si wafers using laser processing.
• Performance and analysis of amorphous silicon in photovoltaic applications.
• Analysis of quantum efficiency and optical enhancement in amorphous silicon.
• Defining the status, trends, challenges and future of solar electricity from photovoltaics.
• Device measurements and analysis of thin film solar cells.
• Surface preparation and re-contacting on photovoltaic device performance and stability.
• Analysis and extraction of cell parameters from interconnected thin film modules.
• Reduce the cost of crystalline silicon solar cells by reducing both materials and manufacturing costs.
• Development of enhanced growth rate of nano-crystalline Si bottom cell by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using novel gas mixtures.
• Maintain and critically evaluate solar simulator, and spectral response equipment.
• Consulting with the U.S. Photovoltaic industry on materials, applications, and technology developments.

Experience

Undisclosed University, 1993 - Present

Scientist, 2007 - Present

• Principal investigator on 3 year, $3.8 million (DOE) Department of Energy award to develop all-back contact heterojunction solar cells on 50 um thin Si wafers using laser processing.
• PI on DOE contract to develop enhanced growth rate of nanocrystalline Si bottom cell by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using novel gas mixtures for a-Si/nc-Si micromorph tandem.
• PI of industry-funded programs to develop heterojunction solar cells on unique low cost UMG Si wafers.
• PI on 2 industry funded programs to evaluate accelerated life testing for encapsulated Cu(InGa)Se2 and organic module stability.
• Assist several companies in developing textured TCO for a-Si applications. Applying LBIC to evaluate uniformity of thin film solar cells and minimodules.
• Supervise Ph.D. and Masters students (Electrical Engineer, Physics, and Material Science).
• Teaching graduate class "Solar Energy Technology and Applications" for 10 years.
• Consult with U.S. Photovoltaic industry on materials, applications, and technology development.

Research Scientist, 1993 - 2007

• Responsible for optimization, analysis and characterization of thin film a-Si and CdTe solar cells.
• Developed model including field dependent collection and applied to a-Si and CdTe solar cell JV data to obtain fundamental transport properties.
• Developed analysis of QE to quantify optical enhancement due to light trapping in a-Si solar cells.
• Developed novel method to characterize SnO2/p contact in a-Si p-i-n solar cells.
• Designed and operated multi-chamber environmental stress test system to evaluate stability of thin film solar cells under controlled electrical bias, atmosphere, and thermal stress.
• Supervised Ph.D. and E.C.E. Masters degree students.
• Developed graduate class in "Solar Energy Technology and Applications."

IBM Corporation, Semiconductor Device Engineer, 1977 - 1982

• Modeling, testing, and design of analog and digital integrated circuit devices.
• Designed and tested a new stress independent integrated hall effect sensor.

Honors & Publications

• Edited edition of Handbook of Photovoltaic Science and Engineering
• Author and Co-Author of 90 publications: College text books and workbooks.

Education

• Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE
• M.E.E. Electrical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
• B.S.E.E. Electrical Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH