The University of Toledo

Dr. Collins is the Scientific Co-Director of the PVIC. Dr. Collins Research Group specializes in the area of Ellipsometry. Instrumentation development in Prof. Collins’s laboratory focuses on multichannel spectroscopic and imaging techniques that can be performed in real time during the fabrication and processing of materials. Research range from achieving a basic understanding of thin film growth and optical properties to improving industrial processes for photovoltaic thin films and other coatings.

This is Carl Salupo.

This is Pamela Moore.

This is Terry Kahle.

This is Nirupama Adiga.

Research interests: using nanomaterials as building blocks for CO2-free energy supplies including photovoltaic and hydrogen economy applications. Currently he is fabricating single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNT), separating them by type, and spraying them to form large area devices. SWNT are of interest because of the remarkable electrical properties (among other reasons) that allow a sprayed network to act as a highly conductive contact layer. Additionally, SWNT can be easily functionalized by a wide range of materials. As a result, it is possible to deposit a layer of SWNT functionalized with a catalyst. This film can be deposited on a solar cell as the contact layer, and the energy generated by the cell can provide the energy to fuel the catalytic reaction.