Seminar Presentation: 11:00am – Noon
Novel photovoltaic architectures using two-dimensional atomic layered materials
Oscar Vazquez-Mena
Physics Department, Zettl Lab
University of California, Berkeley
Abstract:
The extraordinary optoelectronic properties of novel 2-D atomic materials have opened enormous possibilities to enhance the efficiency of photovoltaic devices. Strong light absorption, high mobility and Fermi level modulation allow for new schemes in photovoltaics. In this talk, Dr. Vazquez-Mena will present a field-effect solar cell based on a graphene/semiconductor junction with an electrostatically induced and controlled Schottky barrier to optimize photovoltaic conversion. Then, he will present his current research on hybrid quantum dot/2-D devices, complementing the strong light absorption of quantum dots with the high-mobility and Fermi level tuning of graphene. Finally, he will discuss future directions for 2-D materials not only in photovoltaics, but also for cell analysis and advanced thin film metamaterials.
Biosketch:
Dr. Oscar Vazquez-Mena is a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Physics Department at the University of California, Berkeley since 2011, and in the recently created Kavli Energy NanoScience Institute. Previously he received his doctoral degree in Microengineering from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology of Lausanne in 2010. He obtained his M.Sc. degree from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden in Nanoscale Science and Engineering in 2003, realizing his M.Sc. thesis at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands. His B.S. degree in Physics Engineering was awarded by the Monterrey Institute of Technology in 2000 in Mexico. Dr. Vazquez-Mena’s current research focuses on novel photovoltaic devices based on nanomaterials. His research experience includes scanning probe analysis of proteins, efficient nanopatterning methods, plasmonic biosensors and photovoltaics.