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Institute of Energy Conversion

Established	1972
Research type	Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
Director	Bob Birkmire
Staff	20
Location	Newark, Delaware
Website	www.udel.edu/iec

Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) The Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) is the world's longest operating renewable energy laboratory. Established in 1972 at the University of Delaware , the IEC research is devoted to the research and development of thin-film photovoltaic devices.

History

The IEC was founded in 1972 by Proffesor Karl E. Boer . Initial research was focused on Copper Sulfide/Cadmium Sulfide solar cells .

Early Efforts

Karl Boer left the IEC in 1975, and was replaced a year later by Allen Barnett . The IEC expanded research efforts to include Zinc Phosphide (Zn3P2) and an amorphous silicon (a-Si) research program.

Research efforts were expanded to include the Chemical Engineering department at the University of Delaware, focusing on commercial scale manufacturing of TF solar cells, using a continuous roll-to-roll deposition of the semiconductor on a flexible, moving web. By 1978, Cu2S/CdS cells were being made at the IEC with reported efficiencies of 9% . By 1980, the IEC developed the first thin film solar cell to exceed 10% efficiency.

a-Si, CdTe, and CIGS

Stability issues with Cu2S/CdS devices caused the IEC to focus research efforts on a-Si and copper indium deselinide (CuInSe2) solar cell materials. In the same year (1982), the institute built a new labratory on the University of Delaware campus to house the Institute

The Institute also began to develop research programs for CdTe/CdS solar cells, for use in a CIGS/(a-Si/CdTe) tandem solar cell. This provided the foundation for IEC to eventually be the only laboratory in the world to have fabricated solar cells with efficiencies greater than 10% utilizing four different absorbing semiconductors, a-Si, CdTe, CuInSe2, and Cu2S

Center of Excellence for Photovoltaic Research and Education

In 1992, IEC was recognized by the United States Department of Energy and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory for its efforts in thin film photovoltaics and was designated as a Center of Excellence for Photovoltaic Research and Education.

Today

Today, IEC is a multi-disciplinary laboratory devoted to research and development of thin film photovoltaic cells and is one of the few laboratories in the world with expertise in Si, CdTe and CuInSe2 based solar cells. Throughout its history, IEC has worked with over 50 companies, either formally on a contract basis or informally on a researcher to researcher basis, in supporting their research efforts or transferring technology to start a new research program. IEC has provided the technology as a member of a Department of Defense consortium of five companies to develop a CuInSe2 manufacturing facility. In 1996, IEC started an internal program on thin polycrystalline Si film for photovoltaic application to expand its expertise into this emerging technology.

The Institute has established collaborative efforts with most University groups, both nationally and internationally, working on the development of thin film photovoltaics. Probably one of the most important contributions IEC has made to the photovoltaic community is providing a training ground for people who have made important contributions to the photovoltaic technology. More than 105 students have received advanced degrees while performing their research at IEC along with numerous post-doctoral fellows and visiting scholars.

Research

Research at the IEC is divided by solar cell absorber material, as well as deopsition methods. Currently, research focuses on amorphous silicon p-i-n solar cells, crystaline silicon/amorphous silicon structures, Cu(In,Ga)Se2S type devices, and CdTe based solar cells.

Device characterization methods are also a strong topic of research at the institute.

Noteworthy Matierals Research(these should be ordered cronologicaly)

• Cu2S/CdS
• Zn3P2
• a-Si
• Cu(In,Ga,Al)Se2
• Cu(In,Ga)(Se,S)2
• (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2
• CdTe
• a-Si/c-Si heterojunctions
• please add more!

CdTe

The IEC has been involved in CdTe research for over 20 years . Many of the significant innovation in the field of CdTe solar cells have come from research efforts at the institute. The IEC grows CdTe using a moving substrate vapor transport deposition.

Cu(In,Ga)Se2

The IEC has large research efforts focusing on the growth, material charachterization, process design, and device fabrication and characterization of CIS type absorber materiels and it's many alloy groups. Growth methods include elemental co-evaporation, selinization and sulfarization of metal pre-cursors, electrodeposition, and ]]Roll-to-roll|roll-to-roll]] deposition. Alloys of CuInSe2 that are grown at the IEC include (Ag,Cu)(In,Ga)(Se2,S) and (Al,Cu)(In,Ga)Se2.

Amorphous Silicon

The IEC has been involved in a-Si and thin Si solar cell processing and device design for over 25 years . The IEC was responsible for the first 10% efficient single junction a-Si solar cell by a US university

Process Engineering

The IEC has a strong history of process control engineering, and evaporator source design. Continous roll to roll deposition systems have been developed at the IEC.

Device Charicterization

The IEC has a strong suit of device characterization tools, including solar simulators, I-V testing, quantum efficiency, capacitance-voltage, LBIC, and enviormental stress facilities.

Important Achievements

• Make this
• a list
• with references to papers

Noteworthy Alumns/Researchers

• Steve Hegedus, editor of the Photovoltaic Handbook of Science and Engineering

External links

• www.udel.edu/iec