Thin-Film Material Science and Processing
NREL's expertise focuses on using thin films to create and enable technologically useful applications. For renewable energy, a prime example of this research is thin-film photovoltaics (PV).
Thin films are important because they offer the potential for low-cost processing with minimal material usage while fulfilling application requirements. Importantly, this can enable cost-effective applications for expensive raw source materials. Thin films also can enable applications where low weight and mechanical flexibility are crucial.
Capabilities
Cadmium Telluride PV
Our capabilities and expertise in cadmium telluride (CdTe) PV consist of polycrystalline films deposition and device processing including buffer layers, transparent conducting oxides and contact materials, epitaxial film growth and device processing, CdTe doping expertise, and deposition onto flexible substrates.
Contact: Wyatt Metzger | Email | 303-384-7939
Copper Indium Gallium Selenide PV
Our capabilities and expertise in copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) PV consist of polycrystalline films deposition and device processing including buffer layers, transparent conducting oxides and contact materials, deposition onto flexible lightweight substrates, and large-area (6"x6") deposition.
Contact: Ingrid Repins | Email | 303-384-7678
Atmospheric Processing Platform Capabilities
At the Process Development and Integration Laboratory, the Atmospheric Processing Platform (APP) offers powerful capabilities with integrated tools to deposit, process, and characterize PV materials and devices. Different methods are used to deposit ("write") materials onto a variety of substrates, which are then further processed using rapid thermal processing. What is unique about the APP is that these processes are performed at atmospheric pressure, without the requirement for expensive vacuum equipment.
Contact: Maikel van Hest | Email | 303-384-6651
Vapor Barrier Diffusion Measurements
Barriers to oxygen and moisture are critical packaging components for a wide variety of industries. The requirements of each application vary significantly, with differing needs for cost and permeation rates. We have developed a quantitative high-throughput technique that can measure many barriers in parallel with unsurpassed sensitivity.
Contact: Arrelaine Dameron | Email | 303-384-7838
Material Characterization with X-Rays
Our X-ray capabilities include X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) characterization. Associated capabilities are a hot stage for XRD, mapping capabilities for XRD and XRF, and micro-XRF mapping.
Contact: Philip Parilla | Email | 303-384-6506
Contact
Phil Parilla
Group Manager
Dr. Parilla is the manager of the Thin-Film Material Science and Processing Group.
The Materials Science Center is part of the Materials and Chemical Science and Technology directorate, led by Associate Lab Director Bill Tumas.