SUNLAB News

Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

SUNLAB welcomes new people

We are thrilled to have welcomed many new faces at the SUNLAB this fall. These include:

  • PhD mechanical engineering candidate Nada Boubrik

  • PhD electrical engineering candidate Soumi Ghosh

  • Undergraduate research assistants, Work-Study Program, Charbel Succar

  • Administrative assistant, Work-Study Program, Sofia Gallardo Pascual

  • 4th year project physics student Mathieu Bossé

  • 4th year project electrical engineering students Mohammed Chouta, Mamadou Mountaga Diallo, Elam Olame Mugabo and Bernadette Tona

Welcome to all!

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

New publication from the SUNLAB: Crystal Growth & Design

A collaboration between between the University of Ottawa SUNLAB and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the United States resulted in a recent publication first-authored by PhD candidate Gavin Forcade, in Crystal Growth & Design. In this manuscript, the authors demonstrate the potential of epitaxial growth for facilitating the reuse of substrates.

The journal paper titled “Planarizing spalled GaAs(100) surfaces by MOVPE growth” discusses a method to smooth out rough surfaces left by controlled spalling, a technique used to reuse expensive substrates in III-V photovoltaics. We used Metal-Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE) to grow a layer of carbon-doped gallium arsenide (C:GaAs) on these rough surfaces. This method successfully filled in the rough areas, using up to 95% of the material to do so. We improved the surface smoothing performance by optimizing the initial substrate surface orientation and growth conditions. This technique can significantly reduce the cost of producing high-efficiency solar cells by allowing the reuse of substrates, and the findings provide guidelines for improving the planarization of other semiconductor surfaces.

Click here for the full article.

G. P. Forcade, M. W. E. McMahon, N. Yoo, A. N. Neumann, M. Young, J. Goldsmith, S. Collins, K. Hinzer, C. E. Packard and M. A. Steiner, Planarizing spalled GaAs(100) surfaces by MOVPE growth, Crystal Growth & Design, 1528 - 7483 (2024). DOI: 10.1021/acs.cgd.4c01152

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

New publication from the SUNLAB: Energy Reports

In a recent paper first-authored by PhD candidate Milad Nouri, researchers from the University of Ottawa and Kyungpook National University in South Korea propose an integrative system driven by airborne wind and photovoltaics (PV) to produce power, liquid nitrogen, and liquid carbon dioxide. The study aims to harness the strengths of both energy sources to create a more efficient and sustainable solution for energy production and the generation of on-demand substances.

Airborne wind energy (AWE) systems have emerged as cost-effective and sustainable solutions which have not yet been coupled with solar technologies and integrated power plants for such uses. This combination can harness stronger and more stable wind energy while decreasing system costs and power intermittency. The proposed system combines seven subsystems, including AWE, PV, air separation unit, oxyfuel power plant, absorption refrigeration, a nitrogen liquefaction process, and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) to simultaneously generate power, liquid nitrogen, and liquid carbon dioxide. An exergy analysis highlights that the total exergy efficiency of the integrated structure reaches 90.21 % and the greatest energy losses occur in the heat exchangers. Additionally, an exergoeconomic analysis indicates that the majority of capital costs are associated with compressors and turbines, underscoring the need to optimize these components for cost-effectiveness.  This integrated approach not only aims for efficient energy production but also enhances the overall sustainability of the system.

Click here for the full article.

M. Nouri, M. Kavgic, K. Hinzer, and A. B. Owolabi, Exergy and exergoeconomic analysis of a hybrid airborne wind and solar energy system for power, liquid nitrogen and carbon dioxide production, Energy Reports 12, 2123-2143 (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.egyr.2024.08.006

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

New position at the Krich Lab

Our friends from the Krich Lab are hiring a postdoctoral fellow. More details can be found below. Please contact the Krich Lab directly to apply or for any questions.

***

The Krich group in the Department of Physics at the University of Ottawa is hiring a postdoctoral fellow for up to 2 years, performing theoretical work on intensity-dependent nonlinear spectroscopies. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The hired candidate will pursue extensions of work recently published in Nature [1], which demonstrated the separation of orders of nonlinear response in transient absorption (TA) spectroscopy. This position is based in Ottawa and will be in close collaboration with the experimental group of Tobias Brixner in Würzburg, Germany. The University of Ottawa is a vibrant centre of photonics research with an expanding emphasis on multidimensional spectroscopies.

Spectroscopy is often performed with weak incident light pulses, so each molecule absorbs either zero or one photons of light. As pulse intensities increase, some molecules interact with two (or more) photons, enabling the study of interactions between excitations, encoded in the molecules' higher-order responses. Such experiments, however, are often hard to interpret, as they also contain responses from molecules that interacted with only one photon. We recently introduced a method, which we call "intensity cycling," that overcomes this problem and allows the orders of response in TA spectroscopy to be systematically separated using carefully chosen pump pulse intensities [1,2,3]. The higher-order responses contain valuable information [4], including information about the per-encounter probability of exciton-exciton annihilation [1].

This project will develop intensity-dependent spectroscopic methods to separate orders of response in new forms of spectroscopy, including both coherent- and fluorescence-detected multidimensional spectroscopies. We will derive the methods and guide experiments in choosing intensities optimally. We will further develop understanding of the information content of the high-order responses. We will simulate spectra related to the experimental systems, using our Ultrafast Spectroscopy Suite [5] and/or methods brought or developed by the candidate.

The successful candidate will have a PhD in physics, chemistry, or a related field with a strong background in the theory of spectroscopy or quantum dynamics. Applications from those with an experimental background are welcome, but strong interest and proficiency in analytical and numerical modelling is required. Proficiency with programming (in any language) is desirable.

The Krich group fosters a culture of respect, teamwork, and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our research excellence. All qualified persons are invited to apply, and we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women, and 2SLGBTQ+ persons. We are committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment, and selection processes.

Interested applicants should send their cv and arrange for two references to be sent to Jacob Krich, jkrich@uottawa.ca. Feel free to contact Jacob with questions. He is also seeking graduate students at either MSc or PhD level to work on this and related projects.

[1] Malý, Lüttig, Rose, Turkin, Lambert, Krich, Brixner. Separating single- from multi-particle dynamics in nonlinear spectroscopy, Nature 616 280−287 (2023).
[2] Lüttig, Rose, Malý, Turkin, Bühler, Lambert, Krich, Brixner. High-order pump–probe and high-order two-dimensional electronic spectroscopy on the example of squaraine oligomers, Journal of Chemical Physics 158 234201 (2023).
[3] Lüttig, Mueller, Malý, Krich, Brixner. Higher-order multidimensional and pump–probe spectroscopies, Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 14 7556 (2023).
[4] Rose and Krich, Interpretations of high-order transient absorption spectroscopies, Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters 14 10849 (2023).
[5] github.com/peterarose/ufss

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

SUNLAB students awarded scholarships

Many SUNLAB students received scholarships to pursue their studies and support their research these last few months.

Congratulations to PhD physics candidate Alison Clarke, BSc physics student Trinity Berube and BASc electrical engineering student Tahmeed Khan on receiving scholarships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council fo Canada to support their research. Alison has been awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarship – Doctoral program while Trinity and Tahmeed received Undergraduate Student Research Awards to support their research at the SUNLAB this past summer.

Congratulations to PhD physics candidate Alison Clarke, PhD electrical engineering candidate Mandy Lewis, MASc electrical engineering candidate Derrick Wu and BSc physics / BASc electrical engineering student Louis-Philippe St-Arnaud on receiving a University of Ottawa Faculty of Engineering International Experience Bursary. The bursary enabled Alison, Louis-Philippe and Derrick to travel to Taiwan this summer, where they participated in the National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) Academy of Innovative Semiconductor and Sustainable Manufacturing (AISSM) Semiconductor Summer School. Mandy will travel to Technical University of Denmark later this fall where she will perform research on spectral effects on high-latitude bifacial photovoltaic system performance.

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

SUNLAB at PVSC

Earlier this month, SUNLAB students and researchers attended the 52nd IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference in Seattle, Washington. Professor Karin Hinzer, postdoctoral fellow Mathieu de Lafontaine, PhD physics candidates Gavin Forcade and Erin Tonita, PhD electrical engineering candidates Mandy Lewis and Annie Russell, MSc physics candidate Alison Clarke, BSc physics student Trinity Berube as well as our friend from the Krich Lab PhD physics candidate Daisy Xia presented results on a wide range of topics including photonic power converters, bifacial photovoltaic systems, and betavoltaics. For a full list of SUNLAB presentations, see our Conference Presentations page.

Congratulations to:

  • Mandy Lewis, for being awarded Best Student Paper Award for the third year in a row, for Area 10 this time;

  • Daisy Xia, for being awarded Best Poster for Area 1;

  • Gavin Forcade, for being a Best Student Presentation Award Finalist for Area 3;

  • Daisy Xia and Gavin Forcade for mentions in the Wednesday Daily Highlights;

  • Mathieu de Lafontaine and Mandy Lewis for mentions in the Thursday Daily Highlights.

Congratulations also go to University of Ottawa alumni, Jamie Harrison, now a PhD student at University of New South Wales in Australia, for being awarded Best Student Paper Award for Area 1. Jamie was supervised by Professor Jacob Krich as an undergraduate student.

The IEEE Photovoltaics Specialists Conference is the longest-running technical gathering for photovoltaics. This year, it was held at the Seattle Convention Center in Seattle, Washington, from June 9 to 14.

Mandy Lewis

Certificate for Mandy Lewis’s Best Student Paper Award.

Daisy Xia receiving Best Poster Award for Area 1 from PVSC Cherry Committee chair Seth Hubbard.

Trinity Berube (left) and Alison Clarke (right)

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

SUNLAB welcomes new people

The SUNLAB is thrilled to have welcomed many new people these past few months:

  • Research associate and postdoctoral fellow in electrical engineering Valentin Daniel

  • PhD electrical engineering candidate Firdos Kanwal, visiting us from Pakistan for half the year

  • MASc electrical engineering candidate Cameron Griffiths

  • Undergraduate summer students Trinity Berube (physics) and Tahmeed Khan (electrical engineering)

  • Administrative assistant (work-study) Eya Khemakhem

Welcome to all!

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

New publication from the SUNLAB : Progress in Photovoltaics

Solar energy is a crucial asset in the fight against climate change, and researchers at the University of Ottawa have devised a smart approach to optimize its effectiveness. Their innovative method includes incorporating artificial ground reflectors, a simple yet powerful enhancement.

The researchers found that by integrating these reflectors into solar setups, they could improve the system’s energy production and efficiency, making such projects more economically viable. This discovery is significant in assessing the costs and benefits of using artificial reflectors in solar energy ventures.

To study how reflective ground covers affect solar energy output, the University of Ottawa’s SUNLAB, led by electrical engineering Professor Karin Hinzer, who is also vice-dean, research of the Faculty of Engineering, collaborated with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, a world leader in clean energy research, development, and deployment. The study, which was conducted by electrical engineering doctoral candidate Mandy Lewis in Golden, Colorado, found that placing reflective surfaces under solar panels can increase their energy output by up to 4.5%.

“We found that highly reflective white surfaces can boost solar power output,” explains Mandy Lewis, the paper’s lead author. “Critically, these reflectors should be placed directly under the solar panels, not between rows, to maximize this benefit.”

Unlocking solar potential in Canada and beyond

These findings are particularly significant in Canada, where snow cover persists for three-to four months of the year in major cities like Ottawa and Toronto, and 65% of the country’s vast landmass experiences snow cover for over half the year. Bifacial solar systems, paired with high ground reflectivity, offer tremendous potential in these regions. Additionally, given that approximately 4% of the world’s land areas are classified as sandy deserts, this finding has global applications.

According to Lewis, “this research is crucial for maximizing solar energy production in geographically diverse locations. Furthermore, by generating more power per unit of land area, reflectors are ideal for densely populated areas, like city centres, where space limitations exist for solar installations.”

This study marks the beginning of a new international research collaboration between the University of Ottawa and NREL. The project was funded by the National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), Ontario Graduate Scholarships (OGS) and the US Department of Energy (DoE), underscoring the importance of collaborative efforts in advancing renewable energy technologies.

Global impact in facilitating the transition to clean energy

This research will contribute significantly to the global transition to zero-emission power sources. These findings hold particular value for Canada and other countries that are typically cloudy, since power gains of 6.0% were observed in cloudy Seattle compared to 2.6% in arid Tucson.

Listen to Mandy Lewis’s May 9, 2024, interview on this research on CityNews. Click on this link for the recording and scroll to 36:05.

Click here for the full article.

Mandy R. Lewis, Silvana Ovaitt, Byron McDanold, Chris Deline, Karin Hinzer, Artificial ground reflector size and position effects on energy yield and economics of single-axis-tracked bifacial photovoltaics, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl., 1-12 (2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3811

Mandy Lewis

In the media

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New publication from the SUNLAB : Advanced Energy and Sustainability Research

The SUNLAB is pleased to announce the publication of a recent paper in Advanced Energy & Sustainability Research entitled “Quantifying structural shading and reflection effects on single axis tracked bifacial photovoltaic system performance”.  This article, first-authored by PhD candidate Mandy Lewis, is the result of a collaboration between the SUNLAB and Soltec Innovations.

This work focuses on the importance of racking structures in single-axis-tracked bifacial photovoltaic systems. By modelling a bifacial system without racking, with absorptive (black) racking, and with reflective racking, researchers isolated the difference in solar energy caused by racking. The impact of racking on rear irradiance, system energy yield, irradiance mismatch losses, and bifacial gain were quantified.

Ray-trace modelling in bifacial_radiance demonstrated that racking reflection reduces rear shading losses by 6.5-9.1% annually, although it is typically neglected in bifacial energy yield models. This resulted in a 0.4-0.6% increase in total system energy yield annually. These effects are more significant if the racking is more highly reflective or the ground albedo is high, such as in Canada where there is a higher degree of snow cover.

This approach will improve the accuracy of bifacial energy yield modelling and allow future researchers to optimize system designs to maximize system efficiency and power output.

Click here for the full article.

M. R. Lewis, T. J. Coathup, A. C. J. Russell, J. Guerrero-Perez, C. E. Valdivia, K. Hinzer, Quantifying structural shading and reflection effects on single axis tracked bifacial photovoltaic system performance, Adv. Energy Sustainability Res., 2400007 (2024). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/aesr.202400007

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

SUNLAB at Photonics West

SUNLAB students and professors attended the SPIE Photonics West Conference in San Francisco, which ran from January 27 to February 1, 2024. Professors Karin Hinzer and Jacob Krich, postdoctoral fellows Meghan Beattie and Paige Wilson, and PhD physics candidate Sebastian Schaefer gave oral presentations, as did our friend PhD physics candidate Gavin Frodsham from the Krich Lab. Professor Krich also gave an invited presentation. For a full list of SUNLAB presentations, see our Conference Presentations page.

Congratulations to PhD electrical engineering candidate Idriss Amadou Ali who won the SPIE Sustainability Best Paper Award for the LASE symposium! This prize recognizes papers that highlight the use of optics and photonics for renewable energy, natural resource management, sustainable manufacturing, and greenhouse gas mitigation in support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

From left to right: Meghan Beattie and Paige Wilson presenting Idriss Amadou Ali’s poster. Inset: Idriss Amadou Ali.

From left to right: Meghan Beattie, Paige Wilson, Karin Hinzer, and Sebastian Schaefer

Certificate for Idriss Amadou Ali’s SPIE Sustainability Best Paper Award.

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New publication from the SUNLAB: Progress in Photovoltaics

Where simplifying assumptions break-down: spectral vs broadband albedo use in bifacial photovoltaic modelling & measurement

Researchers at SUNLAB have comprehensively studied the effects of spectral albedo on system-level model uncertainty and indoor photovoltaic (PV) device measurements.  This analysis – led by Erin Tonita, a PhD candidate in the SUNLAB – characterizes the conditions under which the spectral nature of ground cover causes model and measurement uncertainty on the order of several percent.

The ground cover underneath a PV array is often characterized by a single-valued albedo, the broadband albedo, for use in common PV models. Broadband albedo is calculated by integrating the spectral albedo over the standard solar spectrum, AM1.5G, from 280 nm to 3000 nm. This simplifying assumption ignores the distribution of photon energy over the PV module technology absorption range, allowing for faster model computation and use with standard solar simulator filters which target the AM1.5G spectrum. However, a particular ground condition may preferentially reflect or absorb light in the PV module technology’s absorption range, enhancing or diminishing total incident irradiance on PV modules. This effect is not captured by broadband assumptions, and instead requires the use of spectral albedo.

In this paper, SUNLAB and Arizona State University researchers analyze the effects of spectral albedo for:

  • 10 ground conditions, including grass and snow;

  • South-facing fixed-tilt photovoltaic arrays and E-W single-axis tracking arrays;

  • 30 locations, spanning latitudes between 15-75°N;

  • 7 PV device technologies, with an in-depth analysis for silicon heterojunction devices;

  • Monofacial vs bifacial PV arrays;

  • Solar simulator measurements of silicon heterojunction mini-modules.

The key take-aways

Researchers measured a short-circuit current variation of up to 2% by either including or omitting spectral albedo effects in bifacial device measurements. For PV system modelling, ground-reflected irradiance constitutes between 2% and 32% of all irradiance incident on PV modules, highlighting the importance of accurate ground modelling. Spectral effects caused up to a ±13% predicted rear irradiance uncertainty.

Overall, spectral albedo effects were found to be most significant for:

  • Fixed-tilt PV arrays at high latitude;

  • Wide band-gap technologies, such as perovskite and CdTe modules;

  • Albedos which vary steeply over the technology absorption range;

  • High albedo ground covers, like snow.

In these cases, spectral albedo effects cause model and measurement uncertainty on the order of several percent.

Including the spectral nature of albedo affects both photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency and photovoltaic irradiance modelling uncertainty

Click here for the full article.

E. M. Tonita, C. E. Valdivia, A. C. J. Russell, M. Martinez-Szewczyk, M. I. Bertoni, and K. Hinzer, Quantifying spectral albedo effects on bifacial photovoltaic module measurements and system model predictions, Prog. Photovolt. Res. Appl., 1-13 (2024). DOI: 10.1002/pip.3789

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New publication from the SUNLAB: Journal of Photonics for Energy

SUNLAB director Karin Hinzer and postdoctoral fellow Meghan Beattie have contributed to a new article in the Journal of Photonics for Energy. In this Perspective, experts in the field of photovoltaics representing 33 organizations in nine countries came together to publish a “Status report on emerging photovoltaics.” The report describes the current status and recent developments of photovoltaic technologies including silicon, thin film, III-V tandem, perovskite, organic, and dye-sensitized solar cells. Applications and commercialization of emerging technologies are also discussed along with strategies for exceeding the detailed balance limit, light management, and photovoltaics sustainability and environmental impact.

Prof. Hinzer and Dr. Beattie authored section 4.1: III-V Tandem PV. The section discusses the different design architectures used in III-V tandems including lattice-matched, wafer bonded, metamorphic, mechanical stacking, and subcell segmentation. Notable efficiencies for tandem cells with up to six junctions are referenced. An original figure designed by Dr. Beattie is featured on the Journal of Photonics for Energy issue cover.

This article will be a resource for experts and newcomers to the field of photovoltaics alike, providing an overview of the current status of emerging photovoltaic technologies and showing their potential as photovoltaic energy generation becomes an increasingly significant source of electricity across the globe.

Click here for the full article.

A.Anctil, M. N. Beattie, et al., Status report on emerging photovoltaics, J. Photonics Energy 13(4) (2023). DOI: 10.1117/1.JPE.13.042301

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New prizes for SUNLAB members

Congratulations to SUNLAB director Karin Hinzer and postdoctoral researcher Mathieu de Lafontaine, who were awarded prizes by the University of Ottawa's Department of Physics on December 14, 2023.

Karin received the Alumna Award of Excellence. This award honours the exemplary talent, work and influence of inspiring graduates of the Department of Physics. Recipients of this award must have demonstrated leadership and outstanding achievement in their field, and have enhanced the reputation of the Department of Physics and the Faculty of Science at the University of Ottawa. Karin holds bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in physics from the University of Ottawa.

Mathieu received the Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching. This award is presented by the Department of Physics Graduate Students Association to a professor who has distinguished themself in teaching graduate courses. In addition to his research work at the SUNLAB, Mathieu is a part-time professor in the Department of Physics.

From left to right: Mathieu de Lafontaine receives the Excellence in Graduate Teaching Award from Utkarsh Singh, President of the Department of Physics Graduate Students Association. Karin Hinzer receives the Alumna Award of Excellence from the interim chair of the Department of Physics, Adina Luican-Mayer.

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uOttawa Innovates: Panel discussion on AI and climate change

On December 12, 2023, at 2 p.m., join SUNLAB Director Karin Hinzer and a broad group of local and international experts as they delve into the intersection of artifical intelligence (AI) and climate change. They will highlight the practical aspects of AI and its contribution to climate change prevention and response.

Event details, panelist bios and registration:
https://www.uottawa.ca/faculty-engineering/events-all/panel-discussion-ai-climate-change

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

New publication from the SUNLAB: Cell Reports Physical Science

Revolutionary breakthrough in the manufacture of photovoltaic cells at the University of Ottawa: Another step towards miniaturization of electronic devices

The SUNLAB at the University of Ottawa, together with national and international partners, has achieved a world first by manufacturing the first back-contact micrometric photovoltaic cells.

The cells, with a size twice the thickness of a strand of hair, have significant advantages over conventional solar technologies, reducing electrode-induced shadowing by 95% and potentially lowering energy production costs by up to three times.

The technological breakthrough—led by Mathieu de Lafontaine, a postdoctoral researcher at the SUNLAB and a part-time physics professor; and Karin Hinzer, vice-dean, research, University Research Chair in Photonic Devices for Energy at the Faculty of Engineering, and SUNLAB director—paves the way for a new era of miniaturization in the field of electronic devices.

The micrometric photovoltaic cell manufacturing process involved a partnership between the University of Ottawa, the Université de Sherbrooke in Quebec and the Laboratoire des Technologies de la Microélectronique in Grenoble, France.

“These micrometric photovoltaic cells have remarkable characteristics, including an extremely small size and significantly reduced shadowing. Those properties lend themselves to various applications, from densification of electronic devices to areas such as solar cells, lightweight nuclear batteries for space exploration and miniaturization of devices for telecommunications and the internet of things,” Hinzer says.

A breakthrough with huge potential

“This technological breakthrough promises significant benefits for society. Less expensive, more powerful solar cells will help accelerate the energy shift. Lightweight nuclear batteries will facilitate space exploration, and miniaturization of devices will contribute to the growth of the internet of things and lead to more powerful computers and smartphones,” de Lafontaine says.

“The development of these first back-contact micrometric photovoltaic cells is a crucial step in the miniaturization of electronic devices,” he adds.

“Semiconductors are vital in the shift to a carbon-neutral economy. This project is one of many research initiatives that we’re undertaking at the Faculty of Engineering to achieve our societal goals,” says Hinzer. Semiconductors are included in three of the five research areas at the Faculty of Engineering, namely, information technologies, photonics and emerging materials, and two of the four strategic areas of research at the University of Ottawa, namely, creating a sustainable environment and shaping the digital world.

This international partnership between Canada and France illustrates the importance of innovation and research in micromanufacturing, leading the way to a future in which technology will become more powerful and accessible than ever. It also marks an historic step in the evolution of the global scientific and technology scene.

This initiative was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the Fonds de recherche du Québec Nature et technologies, the Horizon Europe Framework program, Prompt Québec and STACE Inc.

This innovative achievement is described in more detail in the article titled “3D Interconnects for III-V Semiconductor Heterostructures for Miniaturized Power Devices” in Cell Reports Physical Science.

M. de Lafontaine, T. Bidaud, G. Gay, E. Pargon, C. Petit-Etienne, A. Turala, R. Stricher, S. Ecoffey, M. Volatier, A. Jaouad, C. E. Valdivia, K. Hinzer, S. Fafard, V. Aimez, and M. Darnon, 3D interconnects for III-V semiconductor heterostructures for miniaturized power devices, Cell Rep. Phys. Sci. 4, 101701 (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101701

In the media:

Mathieu de Lafontaine, postdoctoral researcher at the SUNLAB and lead author of this new publication in Cell Reports Physical Science.

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SUNLAB spin-off Enurgen wins PitchFest Throw Down at SaaS North Conference

Congrulations to our friends at Enurgen, and particularly its CEO, Kibby Pollack, for winning first place at the SAAS North Conference PitchFest Final Throw Down last week in Ottawa. Click here and here for details and pictures.

Enurgen is a start-up born from the SUNLAB’s work in bifacial cell-to-system modelling. It is helping to bring about the global transition to a zero-carbon future by leveraging its advanced modelling software to help generate clean, renewable, sustainable energy to power today’s electric grids. The start-up is made up of former and current graduate students, researchers, and professors from the SUNLAB.

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New Position at the SUNLAB: Photonic Power Converters - Study of Luminescent Coupling

The SUNLAB at the University of Ottawa is announcing one position for a new graduate student.

The SUNLAB

The SUNLAB, Canada’s premier solar cell characterization research facility focusing on high performance devices and specializing in solar energy, optoelectronics, and photonics, was founded by Karin Hinzer in 2007.  Housed at the Nexus for Quantum Technologies Institute at the University of Ottawa, it brings together physicists, engineers, chemists, and materials scientists in an interdisciplinary and collaborative environment. 

Research Project

Photonic power converters (PPCs) are photovoltaic devices that generate electric power from laser light in power-by-light systems. State of the art PPCs contain multiple absorbing semiconductor pn junctions that are vertically stacked and connected in series, allowing the output voltage of the device to be scaled for a target application. Under high intensity laser irradiation, light is radiated from overproducing junctions and reabsorbed in limiting junctions in a process known as luminescent coupling. The selected candidate will study the luminescent coupling process in multi-junction PPCs using experimental and numerical techniques.

The candidate will perform experimental measurements under high-powered laser illumination to characterize luminescent coupling between the junctions. Concurrently, they will develop a surrogate model to predict the luminescent coupling behaviour using artificial intelligence (AI) methodologies. The surrogate model will build upon existing models developed within the SUNLAB research group. These models include transfer matrix methods developed in Python and drift-diffusion models performed in Synopsys Sentaurus TCAD. Following development and validation of the surrogate AI model against experimental data, they will use the model to generate an optimized multi-junction PPC design for 1550 nm operation in free-space power beaming systems with 3-5 V output voltages and high-power conversion efficiencies.

The work will be undertaken in the SUNLAB photovoltaic characterization facility, located in the Advanced Research Complex at the University of Ottawa. The candidate will have access to high-powered computing machines. The selected candidate will gain hands-on experience in optoelectronic device design, simulation, and characterization.  The research will constitute part of the candidate’s research thesis. 

Eligibility

To be considered for this position, the candidate must successfully apply for admission to the program of MASc or PhD in electrical engineering or physics at the University of Ottawa. 

How to Apply

Send your CV and unofficial university transcripts to sunlabadmin@uottawa.ca and khinzer@uottawa.ca.  In the subject line, indicate “New Position at the SUNLAB: Photonic Power Converters - Study of Luminescent Coupling”.  Only candidates retained for an interview will be contacted.

The SUNLAB embraces diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We are passionate about our people and committed to employment equity. We foster a culture of respect, teamwork and inclusion, where collaboration, innovation, and creativity fuel our quest for research excellence. While all qualified persons are invited to apply, we welcome applications from qualified Indigenous persons, racialized persons, persons with disabilities, women and LGBTQIA2S+ persons. The SUNLAB is committed to creating and maintaining an accessible, barrier-free work environment. The SUNLAB is also committed to working with applicants with disabilities requesting accommodation during the recruitment, assessment and selection processes.

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SUNLAB students awarded scholarships

Congratulations to SUNLAB students Alison Clarke, Gavin Forcade and Erin Tonita on receiving prestigious scholarships to support their research.

MSc physics candidate Alison Clarke has been awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarship – Master’s program. This scholarship is meant to develop trainee research skills by “supporting students who demonstrate a high standard of achievement in undergraduate and early graduate studies." Alison is also the recipient of the King’s Medal at University of King’s College, Halifax. This honour is “awarded to the graduating student who stands highest in an arts or science honours program”.

PhD physics candidates Gavin Forcade and Erin Tonita have been awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarships – Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplement. This award supports “high-calibre Canadian graduate students in building global linkages and international networks through the pursuit of exceptional research experiences at research institutions abroad”. This funding is allowing Gavin and Erin to pursue 6-month internships at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory facilities in Golden, Colorado. Gavin’s research is on the optimization of III-V photovoltaics substrate reuse while Erin is designing, assembling, and modelling bifacial vertical arrays under high latitude operating conditions to better understand the conditions under which view factor and ray tracing models deviate in the North.

References

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (retrieved October 27, 2023). Canada Graduate Scholarships - Master's program. https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/students-etudiants/pg-cs/cgsm-bescm_eng.asp

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (retrieved October 27, 2023). Canada Graduate Scholarships - Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements. https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/students-etudiants/pg-cs/cgsforeignstudy-bescetudeetranger_eng.asp

“King’s Medal recipient balances volunteer work with academic success” (retrieved October 27, 2023). University of Kings College, Halifax. https://ukings.ca/news/kings-medal-recipient-balances-volunteer-work-with-academic-success-at-kings/

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

New publication from the SUNLAB: Nano Letters

A multidisciplinary initiative between the University of Ottawa SUNLAB, Micro and Nano Systems Lab & Krich Lab, Princeton University and Polytechnique Montréal resulted in a recent publication first-authored by PhD candidate Mathieu Giroux, in Nano Letters. In this manuscript, the authors demonstrate the potential of using a silicon nitride (SiN) nanomechanical resonator as a sensing element to study near-field radiative heat transfer.

Near-field radiative heat transfer (NFRHT) has demonstrated great theoretical potential for applications such as energy conversion and heat transfer control. NFRHT consists of evanescent coupling occurring between two bodies at sub-wavelength distances, increasing the radiative heat transfer beyond the conventional laws of thermal radiation. Despite a large amount of promising theoretical work, experimental progress on the topic is relatively scarce due to challenges of precision alignment at high temperature. NFRHT measurements often rely on custom microdevices that can be difficult to reproduce after their original demonstration. In this work, the authors study NFRHT using plain SiN membrane nanomechanical resonators, a widely available substrate used in applications such as electron microscopy and optomechanics and on which other materials can easily be deposited.

Relying on a high precision 5-axis positioning system, a heated spherical sample was aligned with a SiN resonator, enabling radiative heat transfer measurement down to a minimal distance of 180 nm. The NFRHT is measured by tracking the highly temperature-sensitive mechanical resonance frequency of the membrane as the distance between the two surfaces is decreased. Comparison with the theoretical model demonstrate that, at the achieved deep subwavelength distance of 180 nm, the heat transfer is highly dominated by surface polariton resonances over an area comparable to plane-plane experiments employing custom microfabricated devices. This results in a quasi-monochromatic radiative heat transfer, desirable in most NFRHT applications.

The authors expect that the reproducibility and flexibility of this platform will facilitate investigation of new materials for NFRHT – such as graphene, thin-film metals, lossy materials, hyperbolic materials and metamaterials – which can all be easily deposited on SiN membranes. The fact that nanomechanical resonators are sensitive to both force and temperature also creates an opportunity to investigate thermal corrections to the Casimir effect.

Click here for the full article.

M. Giroux, M. Stephan, M. Brazeau, S. Molesky, A. W. Rodriguez, J. J. Krich, K. Hinzer, and R. St-Gelais, Measurement of near-field radiative heat transfer at deep sub-wavelength distances using nanomechanical resonators, Nano Lett. 23 (18), 8490-8497 (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02049

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Karin Hinzer Karin Hinzer

SUNLAB welcomes new students

The SUNLAB is thrilled to have welcomed many new students these past few months:

  • PhD electrical engineering candidate Idriss Amadou Ali

  • PhD civil engineering candidate Milad Nouri Shirdar

  • MASc electrical engineering candidates Jaskiran Kaur and Derrick Wu

  • MSc physics candidate Alison Clarke

  • Undergraduate summer students Nicholas Pulido and Astan Simaga

  • Undergraduate summer student Victoria Jancowski continuing during the fall

  • Undergraduate co-op student Elam Olame Mugabo continuing during the fall

  • Undergraduate physics students working on their fourth year projects Trinity Berube and Andre Pundit

  • Two groups of electrical engineering students working on their capstone projects:

    • Eden Kindja Nehema, Jack Redmond, Rikki Romana, Hiruni Senarath

    • Johny Camara, Jonah Hamer-Wilson, Victoria Johnson, Andre Pundit and Matthew Yakubu

Welcome to all!


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