Engineering Commons^™

Understanding The Role Thin Film Interfaces Play In Solar Cell Performance And Stability, Mirra M. Rasmussen, Laura S. Bruckman, Ina T. Martin

Student Scholarship

As more efficient and cost-effective photovoltaic (PV) architectures are developed, solar becomes an ever more competitive and viable replacement for fossil fuels. Full grid electrification necessitates the development of efficient, reliable, cost-effective technologies - and there is room for many different kinds of PV in this expanding market. The practical challenges and constraints of terawatt PV production have brought scalability and durability into sharp scientific focus. From a materials perspective, there are commonalities in the materials questions and challenges across different PV technologies. Whereas most PV technology is referred to by the absorber layer - e.g. silicon, or perovskite solar …

Perovskite Film Formation For Solar Cell Absorbers: Effects Of Substrate Modification, Mirra M. Rasmussen, Kyle M. Crowley, Ina T. Martin

Student Scholarship

As perovskite solar cell efficiencies have risen rapidly, practical constraints have made durability a critical concern. Whereas much attention has been paid to the development of the perovskite absorber layer, the charge transport layers can also be engineered to better the performance and stability of the device. This work uses the molecular modifier bromopropyltrimethoxysilane (BPTMS) to alter the interface between indium tin oxide (ITO, a common thin film solar cell transparent electrode) and methylammonium lead iodide (MAPbI3, a common perovskite absorber) to improve the morphology and stability of the perovskite absorber film. The substrate, molecular modifier, and perovskite film were …

Decoupling The Effects Of Interfacial Chemistry And Grain Size In Perovskite Stability, Mirra M. Rasmussen, Kyle M. Crowley, Miranda S. Gottlieb, Geneviève Sauvé, Ina T. Martin

Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Plasmonic Metamaterials: Physical Background And Some Technological Applications, Benjamin G. Schmidt

Senior Honors Theses

New technological frontiers appear every year, and few are as intriguing as the field of plasmonic metamaterials (PMMs). These uniquely designed materials use coherent electron oscillations to accomplish an astonishing array of tasks, and they present diverse opportunities in many scientific fields.

This paper consists of an explanation of the scientific background of PMMs and some technological applications of these fascinating materials. The physics section addresses the foundational concepts necessary to understand the operation of PMMs, while the technology section addresses various applications, like precise biological and chemical sensors, cloaking devices for several frequency ranges, nanoscale photovoltaics, experimental optical computing …