High-Efficiency Photovoltaics

Sattelite floating above Earth's atmosphere with the sun in the background.

Researchers are developing new materials and device concepts for application to next-generation, high-efficiency, photovoltaic (solar) technologies. Interest lies in the development of solar cells for both terrestrial- and space-based applications.

Examples of renewable energy technologies based on photovoltaics include perovskite-based and hot-carrier solar cells. 

Selected publications

  • K. Shirley, H. Tsai, N. Cucciniello, J. Bird, Q. Jia, E. Torres, P. Butler, A. Butler, J. Crocco, E. Taha, A. Alhawsawi, J. Germino, M. Dor, C. Dun, O. Firat, J. Parker, M. Graham, K. S. Novoselov, and W. Nie, “High-efficiency X‐ray sensing with recyclable perovskite−graphene heterostructured transistors”, ACS Energy Letters 8, 3161 (2023).
  • H. Afshari, S. Sourabh, S. A. Chacon, V. R. Whiteside, R. C. Penner, B. Rout, A. R. Kirmani, J. M. Luther, G. E. Eperon, and I. R. Sellers, " FACsPb triple halide perovskite solar cells with thermal operation over 200° C", ACS Energy Letters 8, 2408 (2023).
  • A. R. Kirmani, D. P. Ostrowski, K. T. VanSant, T. A. Byers, R. C. Bramante, K. N. Heinselman, J. Tong, B. Stevens, W. Nemeth, K. Zhu, I. R. Sellers, B. Rout, and J. M Luther, “Metal oxide barrier layers for terrestrial and space perovskite photovoltaics”, Nature Energy 8, 191 (2023).
  • H. Esmaielpour, K. R. Dorman, D. K. Ferry, T. D. Mishima, M. B. Santos, V. R. Whiteside, and I. R Sellers, “Exploiting intervalley scattering to harness hot carriers in III–V solar cells”, Nature Energy 5, 336 (2023).