Research Staff

The Performance & Reliability R&D Group

Dave Albin

Dave Albin, PhD, Senior Scientist

S&TF/111
303-384-6550

Task Focus:

Thin-Film Cell Reliability

Specializes in:

Polycrystalline thin-film (CdTe, CIGS) cell performance and reliability; testing, research, and optimization.

Known for:

25+ years of CdTe and CIGS cell-level research optimizing both performance and reliability.

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Infrared image of Nick Bosco

Nick Bosco, PhD, Senior Scientist

OTF/204
303-384-6337

Task Focus:

Failure Analysis and Accelerated Testing

Specializes in:

Infrared imaging and other diagnostic techniques; analysis and development of accelerated test for concentrating photovoltaic (CPV) die attach.

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Joe has worked extensively to develop the 5-chamber PECVD system in SERF/W213.

Joe DelCueto, PhD, Senior Scientist

OTF/205
303-384-6104

Task Focus:

PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

Exploratory reliability and performance R&D; module design; thin-film materials development; packaging research and modeling; data analysis.

Known for:

Developing in-house materials deposition capabilities and use of PERT, HVTB.

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Chris Deline

Chris Deline, PhD, Engineer

OTF/209-02
303-384-6359

Task Focus:

PV Module and System Performance

Specializes in:

Modeling and analysis of modules under shaded or partially degraded conditions.

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Ed's focus is the testing and validation of PV modules and systems.

Ed Gelak, Research Technician

OTF/108-02
303-384-6230

Task Focus:

PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

PV systems installation, testing, and maintenance; module reliability; long-term module testing.

Known for:

PERT system module integration and monitoring; maintaining equipment calibration logs and performing quality work, maintenance, repair, and operation of environmental chambers.

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Steve worked with a team of researchers to set up the 5-chamber PECVD system in SERF/W213.

Steve Glick, Scientist

SERF/E100-02
303-384-6650

Task Focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D

Specializes in:

Materials science of photovoltaic module materials.

Known for:

Material deposition of thin-film moisture barriers; alternative encapsulant formulations development; reliability and encapsulant performance studies related to photothermal degradation.

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Peter Hacke, PhD

Peter Hacke, PhD, Senior Scientist

OTF/206
303-384-6668

Task Focus:
Accelerated Testing of PV Modules

Specializes in:
Failure analysis and use of accelerated testing to make long-term predictions about module performance.

Known for:
Work on crystalline silicon modules.

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Dirk Jordan, PhD

Dirk Jordan, PhD, Senior Reliability Engineer

OTF/203
303-384-6762

Task Focus:
Evaluation of Outdoor Module Performance Data

Specializes in:
Analysis of module performance data to quantify module degradation rates.

Known for:
Application of statistical analysis, Design of Experiment, and Monte Carlo simulations in materials science R&D.

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Mike places samples in an environmental chamber to determine the effect of humidity on polymer adhesion.

Mike Kempe, PhD, Scientist

FTLB/168
303-384-6325

Task Focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D

Specializes in:

Coordinating and performing materials durability testing.

Known for:

Interest in the role of polymer chemistry and physics in module degradation; lap-shear, water-vapor transmission, and water-solubility testing of encapsulants; using results in finite element analysis to determine length of time it takes for water to enter a module.

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Cheryl examines data from the 3-chamber PECVD system in FTLB/153-01.

Cheryl Kennedy, Senior Scientist

FTLB/168-33
303-384-6272

Task Focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D; CSP Optical Materials R&D; Hydrogen Reactor Development and Design; Photolytic Reactor Materials Testing R&D

Specializes in:

Durability of advanced solar reflectors, absorbers, and transparent polymer films; development of advanced solar reflectors, high-temperature absorbers, and barrier coatings; thin-film physical vapor deposition.

Known for:

Understanding performance and durability of optical materials, accelerated-testing equipment capabilities and applications; thin-film deposition of reflective and barrier coatings; 3- and 5-chamber deposition system capabilities and applications.

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Sarah Kurtz

Sarah Kurtz, PhD, Principal Scientist, Acting Reliability Group Manager

SERF/W107
303-384-6475

Specializes in:

Promoting renewable energy in whatever way is needed.

Known for:

Developing multijunction concentrator cells and supporting the CPV industry.

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Bill works on systems performance modeling, shown on the computer screen behind him.

Bill Marion, Principal Scientist

OTF/202-01
303-384-6793

Task Focus:

Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

Solar Radiation Resource Information and PV module and system performance modeling.

Known for:

Advanced capability in PV modeling; IV curve translations.

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David in front of environmental chamber used to perform accelerated aging on reflective (shown) and transmissive components of traditional and concentrating solar equipment.

David Miller, PhD, Scientist

OTF/108-05
303-384-7855

Task Focus:

Accelerated Testing and Failure Analysis of Photovoltaic Components and Modules

Specializes in:

Materials characterization for reliability and lifetime assessment. Current activities include: "optical side" of CPV, including materials for encapsulation and optical components (lenses); encapsulation materials for conventional flat-plate PV, including crystalline-Si and thin-film technologies; reliability of thin-film PV, including transparent conductive oxide and active device layers.

Known for:

Characterization and reliability assessment of micro- and nanomaterials. Past studies include: mechanical robustness of nanoscale thick films, deposited by atomic layer deposition (ALD) and molecular layer deposition (MLD), for chemical permeation barrier applications; galvanic corrosion in Si/metal systems for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) applications; mechanical properties of nanowire materials; thermo-mechanical reliability of Au/Si system for optical MEMS applications. Background in mechanical engineering with emphasis on materials science.

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Matt is standing next to PV shingles on a roof in the Outdoor Test Facility (OTF) array field.

Matthew Muller, Engineer

OTF/209-01
303-384-6164

Task Focus:

PV Module/Array Performance Testing

Specializes in:

Testing building-integrated PV; implementing a high-accuracy tracker for testing CPV modules; data acquisition and analysis.

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John applies his talent and expertise as both a chemist and a materials scientist to a range of work, including research and development of new PV encapsulants and fuel cell proton exchange membranes (FCPEM).

John Pern, PhD, Senior Scientist

SERF/E119
303-384-6615

Task Focus:

PV Module Packaging R&D

Specializes in:

Encapsulant and solar cell performance reliability; PV encapsulant formulation and fuel cell proton exchange membranes (FCPEM) developments; accelerated exposure tests; molecular-level analysis.

Known for:

PV encapsulant chemistry; PV cell degradation studies; polymeric materials development and testing; electrochemical, instrumental, and spectroscopic analysis.

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Jose Rodriguez

Jose Rodriguez, Technician

OTF/108-04
303-384-7819

Task Focus:

System Design, Installation, and Testing

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Bill helps design, install, and monitor PV systems such as this one, in the OTF array field.

Bill Sekulic, Master Research Technician

OTF/123
303-384-6362

Task Focus:

PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

PV systems design, testing, and maintenance; data acquisition; Labview programming; computer and electrical systems development.

Known for:

Creative solutions to data acquisition problems, organizational skills, and getting the job done right.

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Ryan Smith

Ryan Smith, Engineer

OTF/203
303-384-7907

Task Focus:
Outdoor Module Testing

Specializes in:
Quality assurance of data collection from module performance and associated metrology; RMIS monitoring.

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Kent works with an assortment of accelerated testing equipment, including the Atlas CI65, to troubleshoot experiments and test samples.

Kent Terwilliger, Research Technician

FTLB/168-131
303-384-6254

Task Focus:

Environmental Testing of PV Modules

Specializes in:

Maintenance and operation of environmental testing; tracking of outdoor testing.

Known for:

Troubleshooting and repairing environmental test chambers.

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David designs and builds test beds, and he has a reputation for getting it done right the first time.

David Trudell, Engineer

OTF/117
303-384-6330

Task Focus:

PV Module/System Technology Testing and Validation

Specializes in:

Designing and building effective test beds from the ground up; mechanical, electrical, electronic, cabling, data wiring, and computer interfacing.

Known for:

Assisting other national labs and industry in duplicating his test bed designs at their facilities; OATS testing and monitoring; overseeing OTF Mac server operation; RMIS monitoring.

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