Department of Physics and Astronomy

Faculty: Michael Heben

Research

Dr. Michael Heben is a leading researcher in thin-film photovoltaics, whose work focuses on advancing the efficiency, durability, and manufacturability of CdTe, CdSeTe, and perovskite solar cells. His research combines materials engineering, device physics, and advanced optical and electrical characterization to understand and overcome recombination losses at solar cell interfaces. Recent highlights include a 20%-efficient polycrystalline Cd(Se,Te) solar cell reported in Nature Communications and a roadmap for scaling CdTe photovoltaics to 100 GW published in Joule. His group has also contributed to perovskite-CdSeTe tandem architectures, radiation-hardened solar cells for space applications, and lifecycle sustainability analyses of emerging PV technologies. Heben holds multiple U.S. patents in solar cell contact materials and continues to publish extensively on next-generation photovoltaic devices. 

Areas of current interest include:

• synthesis and purification of carbon nanotubes
• the application of single-wall carbon nanotubes for hydrogen storage and for sprayed nanotube films to serve as an ITO relacement
• application of nanotubes for lithium batteries, ultracapacitors, fuel cell materials, and natural gas purification membranes
• electronic and optical studies of hydrogenase single-walled carbon nanotube biohybrids.