News and Updates
- December 12th, 2020 - New perspective on the emerging field of valley photovoltaics published in Journal of Applied Physics.
- November 23rd, 2020 - Save the date! Virtual OKPVRI Symposium set for Friday 15th January, 2021. More details to follow soon......Plenary Speakers: Prof. Marianna Bertoni (ASU) & Dr. Brian Worfolk (Phillips 66)
- August 3rd, 2020 - Paper accepted in Physical Review Materials investgiating "Pulsed studies of intervalley transfer in Al0.35In0.65As," with the group of Jonathan Bird at the University ay Buffalo.
- June 16th, 2020 -The virtual PVSC 2020 is now underway. Look out for several "live" events including a Topical Panel Discussion on "Hot Carrier Solar Cells: Currrent Status & Bottlenecks."
- May 8th, 2020 - New paper published in Solar Energy Materials & Solar Cells on The Role of Metastabiltiy and Solar Concentration on CIGS Solar Cells under LILT Space Conditions.
- April 21st, 2020 - New paper published in Nature Energy on Exploiting Intervalley Scattering in III-V Hot Carrier Solar Cells.
- March 29th, 2020 - New paper published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry C on the Role of Excitons, Phonons, and Polaron Formation in 2D perovskites.
Research Summary
The main focus of our group is to investigate novel materials and structures for next generation photovoltaic cells. Our methodology is based upon investigating the fundamental properties of new materials and systems, through various forms of optical spectroscopy and to correlate this knowledge to the operation of solar cell devices. Through this process we aim to gain a full understanding of the promise of such new materials for high-efficiency photovoltaics, determined by the physical mechanisms driving or inhibiting their operation.
Current projects performed in the group involve investigations of low-dimensional systems for third-generation PV including: quantum dot solar cells, multi-exciton generation, and hot carrier effects. Much of the focus of this work is on narrow-gap semiconductors such as epitaxial InAs, Antimonides, and quaternary III-V materials. Recently, we have also partnered with NREL to investigate carrier dynamics in perovskite materials.
We also have a strong activity to investigate the
fundamental limitations of GaInNAs materials for multi-junction solar
cell applications. This work is performed in collaboration with
industrial partners at Amethyst
Research Inc. in Ardmore, OK. In addition, we collaborate
with MiaSole Hi-Tech. Corp.,
in Santa Clara, CA to investigate flexible CIGS
solar cells for space power applications, with a specific emphasis on
CubeSat and SmallSat technologies for outer planetary missions.
As well as partnerships with industry, the group also
collaborates strongly with the groups of Professor Santos
(MBE growth), Professor
Saparov (Dept. Chemistry and Biochemistry), Professor Garg (Dept. Aerospace & Mechanical Eng.), and Professor
Wang
(Dept. Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering)
here at OU. We have fruitful partnerships with groups at University College London (U.K.),
CRHEA-CNRS, France, as well as here in the United States with
the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (Washington D.C.), National
Renewable
Energy Laboratory (Golden, CO), Arizona State University, West Virginia
University, Virginia
Tech., SUNY-Buffalo, and the University of Tulsa. The group is also an active partner in the Oklahoma Photovoltaics Research Insitute, a statewide center to promote solar educations and research in Oklahoma!
Thank you for visiting our website - enjoy!
Dr. Ian R. Sellers (Head of Group)
Collaborators and Funding
- Solar Energy Materials Initiative, Department of Materials, University of Oxford, UK
- CRHEA-CNRS, France
- Petrou Group, SUNY-Buffalo, U.S.A
- Liu Group, University College London, U.K.
- CQRT, University of Oklahoma