Jacob Cordell uses techno-economic analysis to investigate photovoltaic (PV) systems as a postdoctoral researcher. In this role, he builds bottom-up cost models to understand the financial and performance trade-offs of device design for tandem PV. The bottom-up approach involves contacting industrial partners for up-to-date cost data for precursors and equipment and fitting these with models to understand the cost per watt of new and developing system designs. In addition to costs, techno-economic analysis also conveys the potential social and environmental costs of new technologies. Jacob’s background lies in materials modeling for understanding the role of ion ordering of semiconducting materials used for PV and solid-state lighting. He has experience growing thin films for PV, characterizing the optical properties of thin films, and assembling concentrating PV modules for outdoor testing.

For additional information, see Jacob Cordell’s LinkedIn profile.

Disclaimer: Any opinions expressed on LinkedIn are the author’s own, made in the author's individual capacity, and do not necessarily reflect the views of NREL.

Research Interests

Techno-economic analysis of photovoltaic systems

Semiconductor materials modeling

Education

Ph.D., Materials Science, Colorado School of Mines

B.S., Materials Science and Engineering, Pennsylvania State University

B.S., German, Pennsylvania State University

Professional Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher, NREL (2023–2023)

Graduate Researcher, Colorado School of Mines, NREL (2018–2022)

Visiting Scientist/DAAD Fellow, Fraunhofer ISE (2017-2018)

Teaching Assistant, Pennsylvania State University (2017)

Science Undergraduate Laboratory Intern, NREL (2016–2017)

Associations and Memberships

Member, Materials Research Society

Member, American Physical Society

Featured Work

Simulated Structural and Electronic Properties of Cation Disordered ZnGeN₂ and Its Interface With GaN, Physical Review Applied (2022)

Bandgap Analysis and Carrier Localization in Cation-Disordered ZnGeN₂, APL Materials (2022)

Probing Configurational Disorder in ZnGeN₂ Using Cluster-Based Monte Carlo, Physical Review Materials (2021)

Simulation and Characterization of Cation Disorder in ZnGeP₂, Journal of Materials Research (2022)

Utilizing Site Disorder in the Development of New Energy-Relevant Semiconductors, ACS Energy Letters (2020)

Awards and Honors

Energy Fellow (2018)

DAAD Fellow (2017)

Astronaut Scholar (2016)