Recent Ph.D.'s in Materials Science/Condensed Matter Physics
| Name | Ph.D. Received | Dissertation Title | Advisor | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nadeesha Katakumbura | 2025 Apr |
Optimization of CdTe Based Solar Cells Through Fabrication, Temperature Dependent Analysis of FF, and Predictive Modeling |
R.J. Ellingson | |
| Mainali, Madan | 2025 Apr |
Opto-Electronic Characterization of Materials and Solar Cells by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry |
N.J. Podraza | |
| Neupane, Sabin | 2024 Nov |
Ex-situ group V doping for highly efficient CdSeTe solar cells |
Y. Yan | |
| Mariam, Tamanna | 2024 Nov |
Understanding Passivation and Degradation of Inverted Structure Perovskite Solar Cells |
M.J. Heben | |
| Barone, Victor | 2024 October |
Computational Modeling of Compositionally Disordered Photovoltaic Materials |
S.V. Khare | |
| Friedl, Jared | 2024 August |
Understanding CdSeTe/CdTe Photovoltaic Materials and Devices Through Advanced Numerical Simulation and Optoelectronic Characterization |
M.J. Heben | |
| Manoj Rajakaruna | 2024 July |
Development of Perovskite Ink and Scaling up Perovskite Solar Cells for Terrestrial and Space Applications |
R.J. Ellingson | |
| Marie Solange Tumusange | 2024 April |
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Perovskite Materials and Stability Evaluation for Optoelectronic Applications |
N.J. Podraza | |
| You Li | 2024 April |
Breaking Barriers in Perovskite Module Fabrication: Novel Strategies for Uniform Crystallization and Scalable Fabrication |
Y. Yan | |
| Sameer Hamadna | 2024 April |
Kinetic Monte Carlo and molecular dynamics studies of island nucleation, biosensor activation, and interstitial diffusion |
J.G. Amar | |
| Lei Chen | 2023 November |
Strategies to Enhance the Efficiency and Stability of Tin-Lead Perovskite Solar Cells and Their Applications in Tandems |
Y. Yan | |
| Niva Jayswal | 2023 June |
Optoelectronic and Structural Properties of Thin Films for Optoelectronic Devices and Role of Interface Structure on Photovoltaic Device Performance |
N.J. Podraza | |
| Manoj K. Jamarkattel | 2023 March |
Materials Engineering and Control for Advancing High-Efficiency CdSe/CdTe Solar Cells |
M.J. Heben | |
| Bishal Babu Dumre | 2023 January |
Characterization of Opto-Electronic Properties and Phase Diagrams of Photovoltaic Materials: A Computational Study utilizing Ab Initio Methods |
S.V. Khare | |
| Sapkota, Dhurba | 2022 December |
Characterization and Optimization of CuInSe2 Solar Cells Applicable for Tandem Devices |
R.W. Collins | |
| Dipendra Pokhrel | 2022 October |
Novel and Nano-structured Materials for Advanced Chalcogenide Photovoltaics |
R.J. Ellingson | |
| Sandip Bista | 2022 July |
Rigid and Flexible CdTe Solar Cells Performance Improvement through CdCl2 Activation and Cu Engineering |
Y. Yan | |
| Ahmed Al-Bayati | 2022 July |
Design and Analysis of Optical Directional Coupler and Long-range Surface Plasmon Biosensors with Applications |
J.G. Amar and R. Deck | |
| Suman Rijal | 2022 July |
Antimony Chalcogenide: Promising Material for Photovoltaics |
Y. Yan | |
| Zahrah Almutawah | 2022 April |
Developing Large Grain Perovskites Over Large Areas and Investigating Degradation Using Electroluminescence |
M.J. Heben | |
| Indiras Khatri | 2022 April |
Density Functional Theory and Accelerated Dynamics Studies of the Structural and Non-equilibrium Properties of Bulk Alloys and Thin-Films |
J.G. Amar | |
| Mohammed Razooqi Alaani | 2022 February |
Application of Techniques in Spectroscopic Ellipsometry for Analysis of the Component Layers in CdTe Solar Cells |
R.W. Collins | |
| Geethika Liyanage | 2021 November |
Improving Performance In Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells: From Fabrication To Understanding the Pathway Towards 25% Efficiency |
M.J. Heben | First Solar |
| Vijaya Adhikari | 2021 July |
Transition Metal Nitrides in M4N structure and TiN-ScN and TiN-YN Alloy System: A Computational Investigation by First-Principles Approach |
S. Khare | Department of Defense |
| Kamala Subedi | 2021 June |
Development and Application of Transparent p-type Back Contact Layer for Bifacial CdTe Solar Cells |
R.J. Ellingson | First Solar |
| Maria Patmiou | 2021 May |
Percolation with Plasticity Materials and their Neuromorphic Application |
V. Karpov | |
| Biswas Subedi | 2020 November |
Sub-Gap Absorption and Performance Losses in Mixed Cation Perovskites for Solar Cells |
N.J. Podraza | PVIC |
| Chongwen Li | 2020 November |
Normal-, low-, and wide-bandgap perovskites and their applications in solar cells |
Y. Yan | University of Toledo |
| Rasha Awni | 2020 September |
Characterization of electrical properties of thin-film solar cells |
Y. Yan | University of Toledo |
| Niraj Shrestha | 2020 August | Optoelectronic Properties of CdSexTe1-x, CuInSe2 and Perovskites for Photovoltaic Applications | R.J. Ellingson | NP photonics |
| Fadhil K. Alfadhili | 2020 May | Development of Back Contacts for CdTe Thin Films Solar Cells | M.J. Heben | |
| Ebin Bastola | 2020 April |
CdTe Back Contact Engineering via Nanomaterials, Chemical Etching, Doping, and Surface Passivation |
R.J. Ellingson | |
| Osama Oudat | 2020 April |
Tin Whisker Statistics and Field-Induced Accelerated Development |
V. Karpov | Westerwood Global |
| Ramez Hosseinian Ahangharnejahd | 2019 December |
Fabrication of Perovskite Solar Cells & Applications in Multijunction Configurations |
M.J. Heben | Intel Corporation |
| Poudel, Tilak | 2019 December |
Study of Novel Metal Oxide Thin Films for Photoelectrochemical (PEC) Water Splitting Applications -- Hydrogen Fuel |
X. Deng | Intel Corporation |
| Adhikari, Dipendra | 2019 December |
Optical and Microstructural Properties of Sputtered Thin Films for Photovoltaic Applications |
N.J. Podraza | Intel Corporation |
| Uprety, Prakash | 2019 August |
A Non-Contacting Optical Probe of Electrical Transport Properties: Applications for Photovoltaics |
N.J. Podraza | Intel Corporation |
| Niraula, Dipesh | 2019 August |
Physics and applications of conductive filaments in electronic structures: from metal whiskers to solid state memory |
V.G. Karpov | University of Michigan, Dept. of Radiology, Physics Division |
| Subedi, Indra | 2019 May |
Optical Evaluation and Simulation of Photovoltaic Devices for Thermal Management |
N.J. Podraza | Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Toledo |
| Sabbar, Ehsan | 2018 December |
Defects and Island Nucleation in Materials: Kinetic Monte Carlo, Rate Equation Theory,
and Temperature-Accelerated Dynamics Simulations |
J.G. Amar | Assistant Professor, Al Anbar University, Iraq |
| Ghimire, Kiran | 2017 December |
Application of Spectroscopic Ellipsometry: From Single Crystal Gd3Ga5O12 to Polycrystalline Perovskite Thin Films |
N.J. Podraza | Sony Corporation |
| Tan, Xinxuan | 2017 December |
Applications of Multichannel Spectroscopic Ellipsometry for CdTe Photovoltaics: From Window Layers to Back Contacts |
R.W. Collins | NPI Engineer, MiaSole, Santa Clara, CA |
| Watthage, Suneth | 2017 December |
Solution Process Fabrication of Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Perovskites & Back Interface Engineering of Cadmium Telluride Solar Cells |
M.J. Heben | Intel Corporation |
| Yu, Yue | 2017 December |
Thin Film Solar Cells with Earth Abundant Elements: from Copper Zinc Tin Sulfide to Organic-Inorganic Hybrid Halide Perovskite |
Y. Yan | Intel Corporation |
| Junda, Maxwell | 2017 May |
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry as a Versatile, Non-Contact Probe of Optical, Electrical, and Structural Properties in Thin Films: Applications in Photovoltaics |
N.J. Podraza | Covalent Metrology |
| Pradhan, Puja | 2017 May |
Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Analysis of the Three Stages of Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 co-Evaporation |
R.W. Collins | Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Toledo |
| Cimaroli, Alexander | 2016 December |
Development of Deposition and Characterization Systems for Thin Film Solar Cells |
Y. Yan | Calibration Laboratory |
| Liu, Zhi | 2016 December |
Transition Metal Nitrides and Their Solid Solutions: A First-Principles Approach with Cluster Expansion Computational Predictive Models |
S.V. Khare | Senior Software Engineer, Bloomberg LP |
| Ibdah, Abdel-Rahman | 2016 August |
Optical Physics of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells and Their Layer Components |
R.W. Collins | Samsung Semiconductor, Austin, TX |
| Song, Zhaoning | 2016 August |
Solution Processed High Efficiency Thin Film Solar Cells: from Copper Indium Chalcogenides to Methylammonium Lead Halides |
M.J. Heben | Research Professor in Wright Center for Photovoltaics |
| Gautam, Laxmi Karki | 2016 May |
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Thin Film Si:H Materials in Photovoltaic Applications from the Infrared to Ultraviolet |
N.J. Podraza | Intel Corporation |
| Huang, Zhiquan | 2016 May |
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Thin Film a-Si:H/nc-Si:H Micromorph Solar Cell Fabrication in the p-i-n Superstrate Configuration |
R.W. Collins | Key Account Technologist, Lam Research, Fremont, CA |
| Roland, Paul | 2015 December |
Charge Carrier Processes in Photovoltaic Materials and Devices: Lead Sulfide Quantum Dots and Cadmium Telluride |
R.J. Ellingson | Test Engineer at SolAero Technologies Corporation |
| Haugen, Neale | 2015 August |
Spectroscopic Studies of Doping and Charge Transfer in Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes and PbS Quantum Dots
|
R.J. Ellingson |
Assistant Professor at Zhejiang Normal University, China
|
| Bhandari, Khagendra | 2015 May |
Characterization and Application of Colloidal Nanocrystalline Materials for Advanced Photovoltaics |
R.J. Ellingson | Visiting Assistant Professor at Ohio Northern University |
| Koirala, Prakash | 2015 May |
Multichannel Spectroscopic Ellipsometry for CdTe Photovoltaics: from Materials and Interfaces to Solar Cells |
R.W. Collins | Process Development Engineer, Intel Corporation, Albuquerque, NM |
| Sainju, Deepak | 2015 May |
Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Ag and ZnO Thin Films and Their Interfaces for Thin Film Photovoltaics |
R.W. Collins | Assistant Professor, University of Connecticut |
| Shi, Tingting | 2014 December |
Optoelectronic and defect physics in earth abundant photovoltaic materials: First-principles calculations |
Y. Yan | Jinan University, China |
| Hubartt, Brad | 2014 December |
Nucleation and Growth, Defect Structure, and Dynamical Behavior of Nanostructured Materials |
J.G. Amar | The Boeing Company, Charleston, SC |
| Aryal, Puruswottam | 2014 August |
Optical and Photovoltaic Properties of Copper Indium-Gallium |
R. W. Collins | Process Engineer, Global Solar Energy, Tucson, AZ |
| Roehl, Jason | 2014 May | A Theoretical Study of Bulk and Surface Diffusion Processes for Semiconductor Materials Using First Principles Calculations | S. Khare | Midwest MicroDevices |
| Khanal, Rajendra Raj | 2014 May | Carbon Single Wall Nanotubes: Low Barrier, Cu- Free Back Contact to CdTe Based Solar Cells | M. Heben | Assistant Professor of Physics, University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown |
| Mahabaduge, Hasitha | 2013 December | Influence of a Front Buffer Layer on the Performance of Flexible CdS/CdTe Solar Cells | A. D. Compaan | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, National Renewable Energy Laboratory |
| Dahal, Lila Raj | 2013 May | Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Thin Film a-Si:H Solar Cell Fabrication by Multichamber Deposition in the n-i-p Substrate Configuration | R. W. Collins | Staff Scientist, Pilkington North America |
| Kwon, Do Hyoung | 2012 December | Studies of Sputtered CdTe and CdSe Solar Cells | A. D. Compaan | |
| Sestak, Michelle | 2012 August | Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of CdTe/CdS Thin Films and Photovoltaic Devices | R. W. Collins | Applications Scientist, HORIBA Scientific, Edison NJ |
| Nawarange, Amruta | 2011 | Optical emission spectroscopy during sputter deposition of CdTe solar cells and CuTe-based back contacts | A. D. Compaan | Research Scientist, NCPRE, IIT, Bombay, India |
| Paudel, Naba Raj | 2011 | Stability Issues in Sputtered CdS/CdTe Solar Cells | A. D. Compaan | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy (PVIC), U. Toledo |
| Little, Scott | 2011 | Enhancement of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells and Materials via the Incorporation of Silver | S. Marsillac | Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Arkansas |
| Kryukov,Yevgen | 2011 | Island Nucleation and Growth in Epitaxial, Amorphous, and Nanoparticle Thin-Films | J.G. Amar | Lecturer, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, U. Toledo |
| Simon,Mark | 2011 | Second Phase Filamentation and Bulk Conduction in Amorphous Thin Films | V. Karpov | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, U. Toledo |
| Ranjan, Vikash | 2011 | Enhancement of the Deposition Processes of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 and CdS Thin Films via In-situ and Ex-situ Measurements for Solar Cell Application | S. Marsillac | Pilkington, Toledo, OH |
| Nardone, Marco | 2011 | Theories of Charge Transport and Nucleation in Disordered Systems | V. Karpov | Assistant Professor, Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Bowling Green State University |
| Chen, Jie | 2010 | Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of II-VI Semiconductor Materials and Solar Cells | R. W. Collins | R&D Process Engineer, Guardian Industries Corp. |
| Li, Jian | 2010 | Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of Thin Film Materials and Structures for Photovoltaic Applications | R. W. Collins | Principal Scientist, Halliburton Industries |
| Khatri, Himal | 2009 | New Deposition Process of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin Films for Solar Cell Applications | S. X. Marsillac | PV Research Scientist, Ferro Corp., Vista, California |
| Vasko, Anthony | 2009 August | Issues in the Development of All-Sputtered AZO/CdS/CdTe Flexible Solar Cells | A. D. Compaan | Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy and Wright Center for PVIC, U. Toledo |
| Nandipati, Giridhar | 2009 August | Kinetic Monte Carlo simulations of submonolayer and multilayer epitaxial growth over extended time- and length-scales | J. G. Amar | Postdoctoral Research Associate, U. of Central Florida, Orlando, FL |
| Plotnikov, Victor | 2009 August | Fabrication of ultra-thin CdS/CdTe solar cells by magnetron sputtering | A. D. Compaan | PV Research Scientist, Lucintech |
| Liyanage, Chinthaka | 2008 December | Specific property analysis of thin-film, semiconductors for effective optical logical operations | B. Ullrich (BGSU) | Assistant Professor of Physics, Lynchburg College (VA) |
| Attygalle, Dinesh | 2008 December | Electrochemical deposition of transparent conducting oxides for photovoltaic applications | X. Deng | Postdoctoral Research Associate, U. Toledo |
| Borovikov, Valery | 2008 August | Multi-scale Simulations of Thin-Film Metal Epitaxial Growth | J. G. Amar | Postdoctoral Research Associate, School of Physics, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA |
| Cao, Xinmin | 2008 August | Development and Optimization of High-Efficiency Thin-Film Silicon Based Solar Cells Using VHF PECVD Techniques | X. Deng | Senior Engineer, Xunlight Corp., Toledo, OH |
| Shi, Feng | 2008 August | Nucleation and growth in materials and on surfaces : kinetic Monte Carlo simulations and rate equation theory | J. G. Amar | Assistant Professor and Director of Solar Energy Program, Department of Computer and Engineering Technology, Northern New Mexico College |
| Attygalle, Lilani | 2008 May | Theoretical Modeling of Polycrystalline Thin-Film Photovoltaics | V. Karpov | Instructor, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy, Bowling Green State U. (OH) |
| Mitra, Mukut | 2008 May | Electro-structural coupling in chalcogenide thin film devices: photovoltaics and phase change memory | V. Karpov | Post-doctoral Researcher, Materials Science and Engineering, U. of Pennsylvania |
| Podraza, Nikolas | 2008 May | Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry of the growth and phase evolution of thin film Si1-xGex:H | R. W. Collins | NEG Endowed Chair Professor, University of Toledo |
| Yang, Xiesen | 2007 December | Study of transparent conductive oxides and back reflectors and nano-crystalline silicon based thin film, solar cells | X. Deng | Research Scientist, Applied Materials, Santa Clara, CA |
| Parikh, Viral | 2007 December | Studies of two-terminal and four-terminal polycrystalline thin film tandem solar cells based on II-VI materials | A. D. Compaan | Staff Scientist, First Solar, Perrysburg, OH |
| Liu, XiangXin | 2005 December | Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and Photoluminescence Studies of CdTe Material | A. D. Compaan | Research Assistant Prof., P&A Dept., of Pysics and Astronomy, U. of Toledo. |
| Drayton, Jennifer | 2005 December | Studies of rf sputtered ZnTe:N and CdS for photovoltaic applications | A. D. Compaan | Last at: Primestar Solar, Longmont CO |
| Du, Wenhui | 2005 December | Study of p-Type and Intrinsic Materials for Amorphous Silicon Based Solar Cells | X. Deng | Research Scientist, Xunlight Corp., Toledo, OH |
| Chen, Yu-Sheng | 2004 May | Transferability of Electronic Structure of Four Energetic Materials by using Single Crystal and High Resolution X-ray Diffraction Experiments | A. Pinkerton (UT, Chem.) | Research Associate, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Lab. |
| Povolny, Henry | 2003 May | Amorphous and Microcrystalline Silicon Photovoltaic Devices Deposited by Hot Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition | X. Deng | Lam Research, Fremont CA |
| Yu, Jianguo | 2003 August | Multiscale Simulations of Thin-Film Growth | J. G. Amar | Staff Scientist, Idaho National Laboratory |
| Shvydka, Diana | 2002 May | Physical Characterization of CdTe/CdS Photovoltaics: Defects, Fields, and Micrononuniformities | A. D. Compaan | Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Toledo (Health Sciences Campus) |
| Matulionis, Ilvydas | 2002 May | Superstrate and Substrate Type CdTe Solar Cells and Monolithic Integration of Photovoltaic Modules | A. D. Compaan | MVSystems / Colorado School of Mines |
| Grecu, Dan | 1999 August | Photoluminescence Study of Cu-doped CdTe and Related Stability Issues for CdS/CdTe Solar-Cell Devices | A. D. Compaan | Vice President, Wachovia |