Photovoltaics is cost competitive in a number of markets, but advances in cell technology are necessary to spread PV systems worldwide and reach terawatt scale. To leap ahead in PV technologies requires strategies for facilitating the rapid implementation of advanced device structures, e.g. selective emitters and rear point contacts. Furthermore, integrating new processing techniques and materials, such as laser doping and aluminum oxide surface passivation, into mainstream production requires innovations in modeling and characterization.

However, in many cases, the training and knowledge necessary for such improvements is dispersed among different groups and research areas. A closer relationship between groups focused on processing, characterization and modeling in academia and industry will facilitate the understanding of the tradeoffs involved in the operation and production of new solar cells and guide the design of future devices.

All this led to the idea to hold a workshop on characterization and modeling of solar cells. The workshop was designed to reach two main goals:

1) to develop best practices for measuring material and device parameters necessary for the device simulations and

2) to provide the stakeholders with the opportunity to learn from the world leading experts in the simulation of solar cells as they apply the measured parameters in a device simulator.

This workshop goes beyond the typical conference by providing a hands-on experience with the latest tools and an opportunity to work with tool experts on characterization and modeling issues.

The workshop will be hosted by Arizona State University, which is in Phoenix, USA.

May 29 – June 1, Tempe, Arizona, USA