Lecture: Photovoltaics: The Next Generation
Russell Gaudiana, Vice Present for Research, Konarka Technologies Inc., guest lectures in the Nanotechnology From Lab to Market seminar series.
Konarka is focused on the development and advancement of nano-enabled polymer photovoltaic materials that are lightweight, flexible and more versatile than traditional solar materials. Konarka’s technology represents a new breed of coatable, plastic, flexible photovoltaic material that can be used in many applications where traditional photovoltaics cannot compete. Konarka has provided that breakthrough by developing photovoltaic cells on lower cost, lightweight, flexible plastic substrates rather than on glass.
The relationship of molecular structures to energy absorption, energy levels, charge mobility is important in the optimization of performance in photovoltaic cells. These considerations will be discussed for three related PV technologies: dye-sensitized titania with liquid electrolyte and solid state hole carriers and polymer/fullerene systems. In addition, an approach to the production of low cost, flexible solar modules using roll-to-roll coating and printing technologies and product applications, ranging from portable battery chargers to roofing materials, will be described.
Dr. Gaudiana oversees Konarka's R&D efforts, including the development of the technology roadmap, budgeting, staffing and project leadership. He joined Konarka after 27 years at Polaroid, where he managed the Chemical Research Division of R&D, comprised of five departments and more than 75 members of the technical staff. Dr. Gaudiana holds 37 U.S. patents and has authored or co-authored more than 50 publications. He is also the executive editor of the Journal of Macromolecular Science: Pure and Applied Chemistry and Macromolecular Reports. Dr. Gaudiana earned his B.S. in Chemistry from Seton Hall University, a M.S. in Polymer Chemistry from Wright State University, and a Ph.D. in Photochemistry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
