Professor Christopher Wronski

Vitae

Dr. Wronski is the Leonhard Professor of Microelectronic Materials and Devices with a joint appointment in Electrical Engineering, Engineering Science and Mechanics, and the Materials Research Laboratory. Before joining the Pennsylvania State University in 1987, he carried out research on optoelectronic materials and devices in industrial laboratories between 1963 and 1986. In 1976, Dr. Wronski co-invented with Dr. D. Carlson the hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cell. This was not only one of the most important developments in solar energy, but it also initiated a worldwide effort in applied and fundamental research of amorphous silicon based technologies. His work resulted in several key discoveries of novel optoelectronic phenomena (e.g., the Staebler-Wronski Effect) as well as improved understanding of new materials such as amorphous silicon based superlattices. For his pioneering work on amorphous silicon solar cells, he was awarded the prestigious IEEE Morris Libermann Memorial Award in 1984.

After joining the Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Wronski established research programs within the Electronic Materials and Processing Laboratory as well as collaborations within the University as well as outside the University. The primary thrust of this research has been and continues to be in the area of thin film photovoltaics and solar cell technology based on hydrogenated amorphous silicon. However, he is also active in research on amorphous silicon thin film transistors for liquid crystal displays, nanocrystalline, microcrystallin and crystalline thin film devices for optoelectronic applications. The research has yielded several significant contributions to the developments of novel techniques for characterizing the optical, electronic and photovoltaic properties of these complex materials as well as methodologies for relating them to the performance of solar cells as well as other devices. These research activities have received substantial continuous funding from a variety of sources such as: NSF, Electrical Power Research Institute, Department of Energy (Solar Energy Research Institute, National Renewable Energy Laboratory), Ben Franklin Partnership Challenge Grant Program, Hitachi Limited (Japan), and New Energy Development Organization (Japan).

Dr. Wronski has been internationally recognized for his scientific papers on optoelectronic materials and devices, an area in which he has over two hundred publications and ten patents. From 1991 to 1995 Dr. Wronski was the coordinator and leader of the Stable Materials Advisory Team which was a nationwide research effort on improvement of stability in amorphous silicon materials and devices. In 1995 Prof. Wronski received a fellowship from the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science to carry out research in Japanese laboratories. In December 1995 he was recognized by the Department of Energy for "outstanding contributions and leadership in photovoltaic research and development."

Research Group: Amorphous Semiconductor Materials and Processing Laboratories

List of Publications