Tuesday November 21, 2018 @ 1:00pm

Armstrong Hall 154

Abstract

The research talk presents a systematic study on optimizing the efficiency of ZnO/ZnTe solar cells. Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator was used to perform the analysis. The cell structure under study consists of ZnO/CdS/ZnTe deposited on Indium Tin Oxide covered glass. Three main parameters were optimized: (a) the layer thickness of the absorbent film (ZnTe) and the window layer (ZnO) (b) the lattice mismatch between the metal contact and the window layer (ZnO) (c) adding a buffer layer between the absorbent and the window layers. It was concluded that the highest efficiency can be obtained with an absorbent layer greater than 15 μm, with using Aluminum as the metal contact since it has the lowest lattice mismatch with ZnO, and with adding a CdS buffer layer between ZnO and ZnTe. All the above results were verified using SCAPS software. The highest efficiency obtained was 17.25 % with a short current density (Jsc) 9.8 mA/cm2, open circuit voltage (Voc), 1.89 V and Fill Factor of 92.74 %.
The entrepreneurship talk presents a backpack that was developed by Dr. Kabalan and her team of undergraduate students. The backpack is equipped with a solar panel and a battery that charges by day and allows students to do schoolwork in the safety of their homes at night. She will present her team’s efforts on prototyping the product, testing it and starting a fundraising campaign to send more of the backpacks to refugee camps in Lebanon.

About the Speaker

Dr. Kabalan studied properties of semiconducting materials for photovoltaics applications at Harvard University. She completed her dissertation at Villanova University where she worked on the application of superlattice structures in solar cells. Her research focuses on integrating nanotechnology structures in electronic devices. Currently she is an assistant professor in the electrical engineering where she is teaching electrical engineering courses and working on improving the efficiency of ZnTe/ZnO solar cells. She is also interested in humanitarian technology. She is working on developing solar backpacks for students who lack access to electric power around the world. Outside the lab and the classroom, Dr. Kabalan loves to travel and to immerse herself in different cultural experiences.

This will count for ENG09x Technical Seminar credit.