
Our lab focuses on ultraviolet (UV) to terahertz (THz) photonics research. The synergy among the projects comes from our focus on designing photonic devices that detect, generate, or manipulate light.
Selected Research Nuggets:
Bifacial Photovoltaic (PV) System Performance Modeling
![]() Unlike conventional monofacial photovoltaic (PV) cells, bifacial PV cells convert light hitting the both sides of them to electricity. However, partly due to lack of accurate bifacial PV system modeling, methods to predict system performance of bifacial systems have remained limited. We are developing a model using reverse ray tracing method to accurately estimate the performance of bifacial PV systems. The model is based on RADIANCE and Python software and validated by field data. For more details on the team and project please also visit the PV Performance Modeling Collaborative's website. Collaborators include Dr. Josh Stein at the Sandia National Laboratories, Dr. Chris Deline at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and Professor Zachary Holman at Arizona State University. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy. |
![]() High-Efficiency and Low-Cost Photovoltaic (PV) Solar CellsWe are utilizing various low-cost chemical texturing techniques to develop high efficiency silicon-based mono- and bi-facial solar cells. The team specializes in the formation of nano- and micro-textured silicon surface (often termed as black Si (bSi)) by metal assisted catalyzed etching (MACE), where the metal catalysts are copper (Cu) or silver (Ag). Funded by Iowa Energy Center Opportunity grant and UI Internal Funding Initiative grant. |
Nanotextured Optoelectronic Biosensors![]() Nanowires (NWs) are effective sensing structures due to their large surface area to volume ratio. However, contacting the NW arrays is challenging. Our silicon (Si) NW optoelectronic biosensor is made by a bundle of vertically oriented NWs, allowing us to electrically contact millions of NWs per cm2 simultaneously, compared to 10’s of NWs in other state-of-the-art NW biosensors. Collaborators on the project include, Professor Aliasger Salem's lab at UIowa, Dr. Pashtoon Kasi at the UIHC, and Dr. Marcie Black of Advanced Silicon Group. Funded by the National Science Foundation STTR and I-Corps programs, and UI GAP funding.
![]() Sol-gel sensors have been developed for a variety of applications. We are developing sol-gel sensors integrated with nanotextured silicon surfaces and metal nanoparticles to develop sensors for low-cost water quality monitoring. Collaborator on the project includes Professor Gregory LeFevre at UIowa. Funded by the Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination (CHEEC) and Environmental Health Sciences Research Center (EHSRC) at UIowa. |
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Metamaterials
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Our research sponsors to-date include:
