Advanced Photovoltaics
Information related to the PV field can be found at Heliotactic Press, and I recommend visiting Photovoltaics CDROM, a web education tool for solar energy conversion.
General definition:
Photovoltaic
The generation of electronic charges (e.g. electrons) by absorbed photons, followed by separation of those charges to their respective electrical (ohmic) contacts. Fundamental to the design of a photovoltaic device is the application of electric current to do work.
Present and Future
Natural Fusion · Solar Decathlon
The Natural Fusion project at Penn State has seen a very successful experience on the National Mall in in Washington D.C. this October 2009! Congratulations to the team for taking 3rd place in both Engineering and Lighting Design! What an amazing design-build process for all of us.
Visit the Natural Fusion Facebook and Twitter Pages:
We also experienced a fantastic visit by Mr. Ed. Begley Jr. on Sept. 25th of 2009. Mr. Thomas Rauch and I got to take Mr. Begley around State College via bicycles, and then capped off the day with a tour of the NF home and a wonderful speaking engagement on sustainability. He even stopped by the home at the Mall in October!
TRNSYS · Training Workshop
Date in the Summer of 2010 TBD. Contact us if you are interested in attending the workshop!
Contact Information if you would like to contact our group for outreach, consulting, or otherwise.
Photovoltaic (PV) Materials and
Advanced Devices:
My research addresses disruptive new designs and materials for inorganic
PV cells (solar-electricity conversion). The photovoltaics industry has
seen a steady growth, and the demand for high purity silicon now
outweighs that of the microchip industry. The first and second
generations of photovoltaics brought about silicon solar cells and thin
film solar devices. Using new materials and cell designs (termed
eta-solar cells, for extremely thin absorber), advances in
third-generation photovoltaics offer new alternatives for
high-efficiency, reduced-cost solar electricity. These cells fulfill
the materials sustainability and the long-term stability required in a
growing and diversifying PV market. My methods of materials
characterization include photoelectrochemical techniques, X-ray
diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and
infrared spectroscopy.
Environmentally sustainable energy solutions:
Global
demand for carbon-neutral renewable energy has driven government
subsidies for PV in Asia and Europe. From this recent push, PV systems
costs have been greatly reduced and the technology has penetrated into
the energy market with ~37% average growth over the past 10 years (in
terms of peak MW power), which indicates a doubling of the market
output every 2.2 years.
There is no better time than now to initiate new materials research for solar energy conversion. At minimum estimates, our global energy demands will double to 28 terawatts (TW=1012 Watts) by 2050, and the sun is uniquely prepared to offer us that amount of energy in a carbon-neutral form.1,2 The entire surface of Earth collects ~1.2x105 TW of radiant power, and an estimated 60 TW could be collected from land sites, even considering solar cells with 10% photoconversion efficiency.2 Current technologies are producing inexpensive, low conversion efficiency cells. However, we need more growth, faster.
1. Basic Research Needs for Solar Energy Utilization. (2005) U.S. Department of Energy Office of Basic Energy Sciences.
2. N. S. Lewis, Chemical Challenges in Renewable Energy. California Institute of Technology, Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering.
My efforts include outreach and recruiting for the undergraduate programs of the Department of Energy & Mineral Engineering. Interested candidates (new undergrads, high school students and parents included) should feel free to contact me by email or phone with questions, or to discuss the exciting and diverse undergraduate opportunities within EME.