Graduate Students
Since its inception in 1972, the IEC has always played a major role in research and development of photovoltaic solar cells and photonic devices. As a designated University Center of Excellencefor Photovoltaic Research and Education, the IEC supervises graduate students and their work in conjunction with the departments of Chemical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, and Physics.
Current Graduate Students
Doug Bishop, Materials Science & Engineering
Investigating fabrication and characterization of earth abundant CZT(S,Se) solar cells.
Jonathan Boyle, Materials Science & Engineering
Materials characterization of (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 for use as a solar cell material
Lei Chen, Physics
Device fabrication and optimization of wide band gap thin-film solar cells with co-evaporated (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2 absorbers
Bobby Forest, Chemical Engineering
Studying hydrogen production by photoelectrochemical reforming of biomass derived oxygenates.
Jianbo He, Materials Science & Engineering
Laser processes in IBC-SHJ solar cells
Yannick Kimmel, Chemical Engineering
Explores the synthesis and activity of transition metal carbide electrocatalysts for fuel cells and electrolyzers.
Stella Liu, Materials Science and Engineering
Back contact Si heterojunction solar cells using innovative laser processing in very thin Si wafers
Robert Lovelett, Chemical Engineering
Investigating rapid selenization processes in CIGS solar cells
Tom Mangan, Materials Science & Engineering
Studies thin-film photovoltaic cells utilizing Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide (CZTS) as the absorber layer.
Brent Shu, Physics
Low temperature surface passivation of silicon, and silicon heterojunction solar cells
Hamed Simchi, Materials Science & Engineering
Superstrate CIGS/ACIGS thin film solar cells for tandem application
Sina Soltanmohammad, Materials Science & Engineering
Curtis Walkons, Physics
Research is to theoretically model and experimentally characterize CdTe solar cells to improve the device performance.
Peipei Xin, Materials Science & Engineering
Superstrate CIGS solar cells with tandem structure
Lei Zhang, Electrical Engineering
Low cost back contact hetero-junction solar cells on thin c-si wafers: integrating laser and thin film processing for improved manufacturability
Lulu Zhang, Physics
Research focuses on rear surface passivation, band alignment modification at a-Si:H/c-Si interfaces and doped a-Si:H optimization in Interdigitated Back Contac Silicon Hetero-Junction (IBC-SHJ) solar cells.
Lala Zhu, Physics
P-I-N solar cell with Enhanced Growth Rate of a-Si & nc-Si via Gas Phase Additives