New-generation thin-film solar cells are promising technologies due to their low cost and potential for renewable solar energy conversion. They are compatible with many substrates and varied deposition techniques, including solution processing. They can be coupled with other solar cell types in tandem or multijunction structures. Despite these great attributes and advancements in power conversion efficiencies over the years, they suffer from severe degradation, leading to low long-term stability and lifetime. In terms of research, their stability studies lag. One reason is the complexity of degradation studies and, sometimes, the lack thereof of adequate tools to do an in-depth probe. Another reason is the lack of comprehensive literature on metrologies’ appropriateness for this kind of study. The talk will start with a bit of the speaker’s background. We will continue and make a case for solar energy in the mix of energies for sustainable energy transition. Then past research on stability/reliability studies of organic solar cells, perovskite solar cells and mini-modules will be highlighted. The talk will conclude with the research focus of The Doumon Lab at Penn State.
Bio: Nutifafa Y. Doumon is an assistant professor at the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). He is a Virginia S. and Philip L. Walker Faculty Fellow in Materials Science and Engineering. He holds a Ph.D. in Applied Physics, an M.A. in Leadership, and M.Sc. in Nanoscience from the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. In 2011, he obtained an M.Sc. in Theoretical Physics from AUST-Abuja after a B.Sc. Physics in 2009 from the University of Ghana, Legon. His current research interests are organic, polymer, and perovskite Photovoltaic and optoelectronic device characterization and stability and reliability testing. Before joining Penn State, he worked at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado, USA. He also held a joint-postdoctoral appointment at INRS-EMT, Varennes (QC), Canada, and Jilin Normal University in China.