The University of Toledo : Photovoltaic Equipment Resources at The University of Toledo

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Photovoltaic Equipment Resources at The University of Toledo

The University of Toledo (UT) has a long history of thin-film photovoltaic research and commercialization. Recently, these research efforts were complemented by the addition of faculty members researching nanomaterials for photovoltaic applications. As a result a suite of advanced instrumentation and capabilities for photovoltaics research and development has been established at UT with support from the U.S. Air Force, NASA, the U.S. Department of Energy and Ohio's Third Frontier Program. UT can offer world-class collaboration opportunities to academic and corporate partners.

Processing and Handling of Materials and Chemicals .

UT has expertise in thin-film photovoltaic devices, as well as next-generation nanomaterial devices. As a result, the wide variety of processing and handling techniques listed below are supported

Clean Room	Depostion of metallic contacts including Mo,Al,Au,Cu,Ti
Deposition of semiconductor materials, including a-Si:H, nc-Si:H, poly-Si,CdTe,CdS and CIGS	Deposition of TCOs and metals(contacts)
Deposition of TCOs including ITO,ZNO:Al	Differential Scanning Calorimetry
Dual ion beam deposition	Glove-boxes for handling samples in inert atmospheres
Laser Scribing	Nanomaterials synthesis
Preparation of grid lines - lithography	Processes including plasma chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor desposition, and sputtering
Spin, dip and spray deposition of nanoparticles and nanoparticle precursors	Thermal gravimetric analysis
Thermal Processing

Optical Properties:

One of the strengths at UT is the ability to measure optical properties in real time using spectroscopic ellipsometry. In addition to these real - time measurements, the following capabilites are available to measure optical properties.

Broadband (UV to mid-IR) transient absorption spectroscopy	Mid-IR transmission and reflectance spectroscopy and spectroscopic ellipsometry
Photoluminescence and I/V surface mapping	Steady State and time resolved photoluminescence and spectroscopy
UV-Vis-NIR optical absorption	UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopic ellipsometry, real time and ex situ modes.

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Imaging and Structure Analysis:

UT has established several centers devoted to imaging and structure analysis in addition to those located at the PV research locations. All the capabilities are listed below:

Atomic Force Microscopy	Raman Spectroscopy
Scanning Confocal Microscopy	Scanning Electron Microscopy with energy dispersive X - ray spectroscopy
X - ray diffraction	Transmission Electron Microscopy
Depth Profiling Auger Electron Spectroscopy

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Testing:

Through funding from NASA and the PVIC, UT is in the process of equipping a panel testing facility. Through other sources, UT also has instruments for testing smaller scale devices and cells. The following testing equipment is available:

Accelerated life testing at one sun equivalent and elevated temperature	Cell I/V and efficiency testing with small area solar simulator
Environmental and weatherization	Inert atmosphere quantum efficiency and I/V
Large area 1.1m x 1.5m off-line thin film materials mapping for thickness, index of refraction and extinction coefficient determination	Laser Beam induced current mapping spectroscopy
Module-scale current-voltage (I/V) testing with large area solar simulator	Online thin-film materials mapping designed for glass panel conveyer line
Voltage breakdown

Page updated: September 28, 2009

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Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization : Photovoltaic Equipment Resources at The University of Toledo