Research Staff
Our silicon group members have backgrounds in physics, chemistry, mathematics, materials science, and electrical engineering.
- Maxim Shub
- Pauls Stradins
- Charles Teplin
- Qi Wang, (Group Manager)
- David Young
- Hao-Chih Yuan
Qi Wang
Group Manager
Primary Research Interests
- High-efficiency c-Si heterojunction solar cells
- Thin-film Si solar cells, diodes, and TFTs
- High-throughput thin-film deposition cluster tools
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Qi Wang.
Yuming Ai
Postdoctoral Fellow
Primary Research Interests
- Interdigitated back-contact solar cell
- Printed and flexible electronics
- Semiconductor device fabrication and characterization
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Yuming Ai.
Russell Bauer
Master Research Technician
Primary Research Interests
- Silicon wafer processing
- Database development for scientific applications
- Lab equipment automation
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Russell Bauer.
Michael Bolen
Postdoctoral Researcher
Primary Research Interests
- Growth and characterization of thin films
- Reduction and passivation of crystallographic defects
- Diffusion in semiconductors
Read a short profile of Michael Bolen.
Howard Branz
Principal Scientist
Primary Research Interests
- Film crystal silicon photovoltaics
- Defects, metastability, and diffusion in semiconductors
- Amorphous semiconductors
- Solar hydrogen production
- Nanostructured black silicon antireflection
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Howard Branz.
Richard Crandall
Emeritus Researcher
Primary Research Interests
- Understanding the mechanism of metastable defect formation in a-Si and II-VI alloys
- Understanding the mechanism of charge emission and capture in wide-band gap solids
- Understanding the elastic and thermal properties of amorphous solids
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Richard Crandall.
Sachit Grover
Postdoctoral Researcher
Primary Research Interests
- Film-silicon solar cells
- Physics, fabrication, and characterization of novel electronic devices
- Nanoscale electronics and plasmonics
Read a short profile of Sachit Grover.
Alan Kibbler
Senior Engineer
Primary Research Interests
- Design and construction of materials deposition systems
- Growth systems and process control for III-V MOCVD epitaxy
- Molecular beam epitaxy
- Safety-related issues and NREL safety standards (member of NREL's Hazardous Production Materials Panel and Assistant Fire Marshal Team)
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Alan Kibbler.
Vincenzo LaSalvia
Research Technician II
Primary Research Interests
- Microfabrication techniques
- Silicon epitaxy
- Photovoltaic characterization
- Semiconductor physics
Read a short profile of Vincenzo LaSalvia.
Benjamin Lee
Postdoctoral Researcher
Primary Research Interests
- Light trapping in thin silicon solar cells
- Optical and electronic properties of silicon quantum dots
- Epitaxial-film silicon solar cell design, fabrication, and characterization
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Benjamin Lee.
William Nemeth
Research Engineer
Primary Research Interests
- Silicon solar cell fabrication and testing
- Thin-film deposition
- Bulk crystal growth
- Research equipment
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of William Nemeth.
Jihun Oh
Postdoctoral Fellow
Primary Research Interests
- Nanofabrication and self-assembly
- Nanostructured silicon solar cells
- Solar fuel
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Jihun Oh.
Matt Page
Research Scientist II
Primary Research Interests
- Silicon solar cell fabrication and design
- Silicon feedstock
- Research equipment
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Matt Page.
Lorenzo Roybal
Master Research Technician
Primary Research Interests
- Photolithography process and design
- Solar cell fabrication
- Solar hybrid system design and application
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Lorenzo Roybal.
Maxim Shub
Mechanical Engineer
Primary Research Interests
- Design and construction of deposition systems
- HW-CVD thin films
- Seed layer growth
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Maxim Shub.
Pauls Stradins
Senior Scientist II
Primary Research Interests
- Film silicon photovoltaics: Epitaxial growth and defect formation mechanisms, device physics, light trapping
- Nanostructured semiconductor materials for photovoltaics: Quantum dots (Si and PbS), nanowires, "black" silicon, advanced light-trapping structures
- Thin-film silicon photovoltaics and physics of disordered silicon: Light-induced structural changes, defects, hydrogen, electronic transport
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Pauls Stradins.
Charles (C.W.) Teplin
Senior Scientist
Primary Research Interests
- Low-temperature silicon epitaxy and heteroepitaxy
- Nonlinear optical characterization of semiconductor interfaces and charge transport
- Texture formation in film crystal growth
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Charles Teplin.
David Young
Senior Scientist
Primary Research Interests
- Electronic defect characterization
- Solar cell device physics and characterization
- Film silicon and III-V solar cell design
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of David Young.
Hao-Chih Yuan
Research Scientist
Primary Research Interests
- Silicon solar cell design, fabrication, and characterization
- Interdigitated back contact cell structure
- Silicon heterojunction solar cells
- Single crystal silicon growth
Read a short profile or view the NREL Publications of Hao-Chih Yuan.
