Max Shtein Seminar: New Architectures for Improving the Efficiency of Excitonic Solar Cells

Max Shtein
Professor, Department of Material Science and Engineering,
University of Michigan

New Architectures for Improving the Efficiency of Excitonic Solar Cells

March 13, 2013 | 4:00pm | ESB 1001

Abstract
In this talk I will re-examine several key, assumed boundary conditions used in designing organic solar cells, and discuss novel device structures and thin film deposition techniques that can help circumvent a number of performance limiting factors. These include parasitic exciton quenching near electrodes, bulk recombination, and charge transport limitations. The results I will present are based on multi-scale modeling of optics and exciton transport in multi-layer devices, and experiments to elucidate process-structure-property relationships at multiple length scales spanning interfaces, thin films, and entire devices. 

Biography
Prof. Shtein received his Ph.D. from Princeton University in 2004, and his B.S. from University of California Berkeley in 1998. He currently holds the positions of Associate Professor of Materials Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Applied Physics, Macromolecular Science and Engineering, and Art and Design at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Since the Fall 2004, his research at the University of Michigan has focused on the physics and technology of organic optoelectronic materials and devices. Max Shtein was the recipient of the 2001 Materials Research Society graduate student Gold Medal Award, the 2004 Newport Award for Excellence and Leadership in Photonics and Optoelectronics, the 2007 John and Beverly Holt Award for Excellence in Teaching, the 2007 Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers, the MSE Department Achievement Award, and the college-wide Vulcan Prize for Excellence in Education. He recently co-founded a lighting technology startup specializing in natural daylight emulation.

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