(35 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
== Jephias Gwamuri ==
 
{| class="wikitable" style="width:200px; float:right; margin:.5em"
{| class="wikitable" style="width:200px; float:right; margin:.5em"
|-
|-
!Jephias Gwamuri
!Jephias Gwamuri
|-
|-
![[Image:jeff_potrait.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.25|Jephias Gwamuri is a PhD student in the [http://www.mse.mtu.edu/ Department of Materials Science & Engineering]]]
![[Image:jeff_potrait.jpg|thumb|center|upright=1.25|Jephias Gwamuri (PhD) [http://www.mse.mtu.edu/ Department of Materials Science & Engineering]]]
|}
|}


=='''Bio'''==
=='''Bio'''==
I am a doctoral student in the Material Science and Engineering at Michigan Tech. My Ph.D. research is aimed at exploiting plasmonics and photonics to design and fabricate plasmonic - metamaterial based solar cells. The project aims to explore the extent to which it possible to manage solar radiation efficiently using plasmonic metamaterial perfect absorbers integrated in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)-based solar photovoltaic devices. This knowledge will contribute to increasing the efficiency and lowering the cost of production of solar cells. The project also include aspects of Solar PV devices fabrication, designing of open source ellipsometer and four point probe stations as well as off-grid and grid connected PV system designing and optimization.
I obtained my PhD in Material Science and Engineering from Michigan Tech. My Ph.D. research was aimed at exploiting plasmonics and photonics to design and fabricate plasmonic - metamaterial based solar cells. The project aimed to explore the extent to which it is possible to manage solar radiation efficiently using plasmonic metamaterial perfect absorbers integrated in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)-based solar photovoltaic devices. This knowledge will contribute to increasing the efficiency and lowering the cost of production of solar cells. The project also included aspects of Solar PV devices fabrication, designing of open source ellipsometer and four point probe stations as well as off-grid and grid connected PV system designing and optimization.


I have been a member of Professor Joshua Pearce's Michigan Tech's Open Sustainability Technology [MOST] Research Group since August 2012. My specialties include thin film characterization using Variable Angle Spectroscopy Ellipsometry (WVASE32 and completeEASY), Four Point Probe (4PP)systems, Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM/SEM)and Profilometer techniques. My current skills also include thin film growth techniques using PECVD, PVD ( e-beam evaporation and sputter deposition systems), semiconductor/micro-fabrication processing and clean room techniques.
I have been a member of Professor Joshua Pearce's Michigan Tech's Open Sustainability Technology [MOST] Research Group since August 2012. My specialties include thin film characterization using Variable Angle Spectroscopy Ellipsometry (WVASE32 and completeEASY), Four Point Probe (4PP)systems, Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM/SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy and Profilometer techniques. My current skills also include thin film growth techniques using PECVD, PVD ( e-beam evaporation and sputter deposition systems), semiconductor/micro-fabrication processing, clean room techniques and 3D printing.
 
I am currently working on mastering other fabrication and characterization techniques such as 3D printing, Focused Ion Beam, FIB and Transmission Electron Microscopy, TEM.


=='''Research'''==
=='''Research'''==
Line 39: Line 37:
*3D Printing, Open Source Hardware and Appropriate Technology
*3D Printing, Open Source Hardware and Appropriate Technology
*Snow effect on PV systems project, http://www.mtukrc.org/weather.htm
*Snow effect on PV systems project, http://www.mtukrc.org/weather.htm
*3D Printing of Solar Cell
*Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency
*System engineering and integration


==='''Research Activities, Tools used & Skills'''===
==='''Research Activities, Tools used & Skills'''===
'''Film growth/fabrication processes'''  
'''Film growth/fabrication processes'''  
*e-beam deposition- ''Federick system EB 12''
*e-beam deposition- ''Federick system EB 12''
*Thermal evaporation-''Denton Vacuum E502''
*Sputter deposition- ''Kurt J. Lesker Co (R301/MC2),Kurt J. Lesker Co utility sputter(ATX-600/RFX-600), Perkin-Elmer 2400 series''
*Sputter deposition- ''Kurt J. Lesker Co (R301/MC2),Kurt J. Lesker Co utility sputter(ATX-600/RFX-600), Perkin-Elmer 2400 series''
*PECVD cluster tool deposition for a-Si:H. - ''MVSystems.Inc''
*PECVD cluster tool deposition for a-Si:H. - ''MVSystems.Inc''
*Self-assembling Silver(Ag)nano-particles
*PV systems data monitoring and analysis
'''Thin film characterization'''
'''Thin film characterization'''
*4 Point Probe measurements:- ''Lucas Lab Pro 4, MTU open-source 4-Point Probe system''
*4 Point Probe measurements:- ''Lucas Lab Pro 4, MTU open-source 4-Point Probe system''
Line 50: Line 55:
*Ellipsometry characterization:- ''M2000 FI-ESM-200AXY SE, M2000 DI SE, VU-302 VUV VASE, VB-250 VASE, IR VASE''
*Ellipsometry characterization:- ''M2000 FI-ESM-200AXY SE, M2000 DI SE, VU-302 VUV VASE, VB-250 VASE, IR VASE''
*Film morphology and compositional analysis:- ''JEOL 6400 SEM, Hitachi S4700 FE-SEM, FB2000 FIB, XRD''
*Film morphology and compositional analysis:- ''JEOL 6400 SEM, Hitachi S4700 FE-SEM, FB2000 FIB, XRD''
'''Solar PV devices characterization'''
*QE measurements-''QEX10 PV Measurements, Inc"
*I-V measurements-''Solar Simulator''
===Current Projects===
*Optimization of Silver (Ag) nano-particles
*Fabrication of a-Si:H cells (PECVD)
*Characterization of a-Si:H cells (QE and I_V).
*Ag nanoparticles integration on a-Si:H cells and device characterization.
*3D-Printers.
*Snow effect on PV systems study


==Publications==
=== Target Journals in My Sub-field===
=== Target Journals in My Sub-field===
* Progress in Photovoltaics, 9.696 (2014), http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291099-159X, Ref Style[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-159X/homepage/ForAuthors.html]. US$3,000
* Progress in Photovoltaics, 9.696 (2014), http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/%28ISSN%291099-159X, Ref Style[http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1099-159X/homepage/ForAuthors.html]. US$3,000
Line 58: Line 73:
* International Journal of Photoenergy, 2.66 (2014), http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijp/, Ref style- IEEE,  US$1250
* International Journal of Photoenergy, 2.66 (2014), http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijp/, Ref style- IEEE,  US$1250
* Scientific Reports, 5.078 (2014), http://www.nature.com/srep/about/index.html, Ref style - Nature, US$1,495
* Scientific Reports, 5.078 (2014), http://www.nature.com/srep/about/index.html, Ref style - Nature, US$1,495
==Recent Publications==
 
==Publications==
====Book Chapters====
====Book Chapters====


*Solar Cell nanotechnology. Chapter 10: Advances in Plasmonic Light Trapping in Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaic Devices. http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111868625X,subjectCd-NT10.html
*Solar Cell nanotechnology. Chapter 10: Advances in Plasmonic Light Trapping in Thin-Film Solar Photovoltaic Devices. http://www.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-111868625X,subjectCd-NT10.html
====Dissertation====
*INCREASING SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY IN HYDROGENATED AMORPHOUS SILICON PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES WITH PLASMONIC PERFECT META – ABSORBERS.
http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etdr/170/


====Journal articles====
====Journal articles====
*Exchanging Ohmic Losses in Metamaterial Absorbers with Useful Optical Absorption for Photovoltaics. http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140509/srep04901/full/srep04901.html
*Exchanging Ohmic Losses in Metamaterial Absorbers with Useful Optical Absorption for Photovoltaics (I.F-5.578). http://www.nature.com/srep/2014/140509/srep04901/full/srep04901.html


*Multi-resonant silver nano-disk patterned thin film hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells for SWE compensation. http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/jap/116/9/10.1063/1.4895099
* Multi-resonant silver nano-disk patterned thin film hydrogenated amorphous silicon solar cells for SWE compensation (I.F - 2.183). http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/jap/116/9/10.1063/1.4895099


*Design of Multijunction Photovoltaic Cells Optimized for Varied Atmospheric Conditions.http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijp/2014/514962/
* Design of Multijunction Photovoltaic Cells Optimized for Varied Atmospheric Conditions (I.F - 1.563).http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijp/2014/514962/
*Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses http://www.librelloph.com/challengesinsustainability/article/view/cis-2-1-30
* Reversing the Trend of Large Scale and Centralization in Manufacturing: The Case of Distributed Manufacturing of Customizable 3-D-Printable Self-Adjustable Glasses http://www.librelloph.com/challengesinsustainability/article/view/cis-2-1-30
* Limitations of Ultra-Thin Transparent Conducting Oxides for Integration into Plasmonic-Enhanced Thin Film Solar Photovoltaic Devices. http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40243-015-0055-8/fulltext.html#CR14
* Impact of Snow and Ground Interference on Solar Photovoltaic Electric System Performance (I.F-3.165). http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=7219369&sortType%3Dasc_p_Sequence%26filter%3DAND(p_Publication_Number%3A5503869)%26rowsPerPage%3D50
* High-Efficiency Solar-Powered 3-D Printers for Sustainable Development.http://www.mdpi.com/2075-1702/4/1/3/htm
* Influence of Oxygen Concentration on the Performance of Ultra-Thin RF Magnetron Sputter Deposited Indium Tin Oxide Films as a Top Electrode for Photovoltaic Devices I.F-2.651). http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/9/1/63/html
* A New Method of Preparing Highly Conductive Ultra-Thin Indium Tin Oxide for Plasmonic-Enhanced Thin Film Solar Photovoltaic Devices (I.F - 4.784). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0927024816000416
* Open-source automated mapping four-point probe (2.654)." Materials 10, no. 2 (2017): 110.:http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/2/110/htm.
* Enhancement of Hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells with Front-Surface Hexagonal Plasmonic Arrays from Nanoscale Lithography (I.F - 2.054), Journal of Optics, 19, no. 7 (2017) 075901:http://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/2040-8986/aa7291/meta
* General Design Procedures for Airport-Based Solar Photovoltaic Systems. Energies (I.F -2.262) 2017, 10, 1194:http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/10/8/1194/htm
* A Study of Applications of 3D printing technology and potential applications in the plastic thermoforming industry (I.F - 1.645): http://iosrjen.org/Papers/vol7_issue8/Version-1/C0708011622.pdf.


====Articles Under Review====
====Articles Under Review/Accepted/In-print====
*Limitations of Ultra-Thin Transparent Conducting Oxides for Integration into Plasmonic-Enhanced Thin Film Solar Photovoltaic Devices (Under review)
*Ambient-dependent Agglomeration and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Response of Self-Assemble Silver Nano-particles for Plasmonic Photovoltaic Devices. J. Phot. Energy
* A New Method of Preparing Highly Conductive Ultra-Thin Indium Tin Oxide for Plasmonic-Enhanced Thin Film Solar Photovoltaic Devices (Under review)
* Impact of Snow and Ground Interference on Solar Photovoltaic Electric System Performance (Under review)


====Conference Proceedings====
====Conference Proceedings====
*Controlling optical absorption in metamaterial absorbers for plasmonic solar cells. http://proceedings.spiedigitallibrary.org/proceeding.aspx?articleid=2434713


* DESIGN OF PV SOLAR HOME SYSTEM FOR USE IN URBAN ZIMBABWE (Nov. 2010). http://www.appropriatetech.net/?q=content/icat-4-energy-paper-titles.
* DESIGN OF PV SOLAR HOME SYSTEM FOR USE IN URBAN ZIMBABWE (Nov. 2010). http://www.appropriatetech.net/?q=content/icat-4-energy-paper-titles.


*The Viability of Nanotechnology-based InGaN Solar Photovoltaic Devices for Sustainable Energy Generation. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9030478
*The Viability of Nanotechnology-based InGaN Solar Photovoltaic Devices for Sustainable Energy Generation. http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=9030478
* Open source 3D printers: an appropriate technology for building low cost optics labs for the developing communities: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/conference-proceedings-of-spie/10452/104522S/Open-source-3D-printers--an-appropriate-technology-for-building/10.1117/12.2269852.full?SSO=1.
* Open Source 3-D Printers: An Appropriate Technology for Developing Communities.https://osf.io/uq9g6


====Other articles====
====Other articles====
* 3D-Printing Technology for Economic Revolution in the Developing World. http://theglobalscientist.com/2015/04/20/3d-printing-technology-for-economic-revolution-in-the-developing-world/
* 3D-Printing Technology for Economic Revolution in the Developing World. http://theglobalscientist.com/2015/04/20/3d-printing-technology-for-economic-revolution-in-the-developing-world/
====Slides and Vedeos====
  http://audioslides.elsevier.com//ViewerSmall.aspx?source=1&doi=10.1016/j.solmat.2016.01.028">


==Additional pages to manage:==
==Additional pages to manage:==

Revision as of 08:38, 10 September 2017

Jephias Gwamuri
Jephias Gwamuri (PhD) Department of Materials Science & Engineering

Bio

I obtained my PhD in Material Science and Engineering from Michigan Tech. My Ph.D. research was aimed at exploiting plasmonics and photonics to design and fabricate plasmonic - metamaterial based solar cells. The project aimed to explore the extent to which it is possible to manage solar radiation efficiently using plasmonic metamaterial perfect absorbers integrated in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H)-based solar photovoltaic devices. This knowledge will contribute to increasing the efficiency and lowering the cost of production of solar cells. The project also included aspects of Solar PV devices fabrication, designing of open source ellipsometer and four point probe stations as well as off-grid and grid connected PV system designing and optimization.

I have been a member of Professor Joshua Pearce's Michigan Tech's Open Sustainability Technology [MOST] Research Group since August 2012. My specialties include thin film characterization using Variable Angle Spectroscopy Ellipsometry (WVASE32 and completeEASY), Four Point Probe (4PP)systems, Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM/SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy and Profilometer techniques. My current skills also include thin film growth techniques using PECVD, PVD ( e-beam evaporation and sputter deposition systems), semiconductor/micro-fabrication processing, clean room techniques and 3D printing.

Research

Template:Userboxtop Template:User MOST Template:User photovoltaic Template:User OSH Template:User 3D printing Template:Userboxbottom


Research Interests:

  • Solar PV Conversion Efficiency,
  • Plasmonics & Metamaterials in Photovoltaics,
  • Transparent Conducting Oxides (TCO (ITO, ZnO, AZO))growth techniques & characterization
  • PV Systems Design and Optimization
  • 3D Printing, Open Source Hardware and Appropriate Technology
  • Snow effect on PV systems project, http://www.mtukrc.org/weather.htm
  • 3D Printing of Solar Cell
  • Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency
  • System engineering and integration

Research Activities, Tools used & Skills

Film growth/fabrication processes

  • e-beam deposition- Federick system EB 12
  • Thermal evaporation-Denton Vacuum E502
  • Sputter deposition- Kurt J. Lesker Co (R301/MC2),Kurt J. Lesker Co utility sputter(ATX-600/RFX-600), Perkin-Elmer 2400 series
  • PECVD cluster tool deposition for a-Si:H. - MVSystems.Inc
  • Self-assembling Silver(Ag)nano-particles
  • PV systems data monitoring and analysis

Thin film characterization

  • 4 Point Probe measurements:- Lucas Lab Pro 4, MTU open-source 4-Point Probe system
  • Thickness measurements:- Veeco Dektak 150 profilometer,Ellipsometry
  • Ellipsometry characterization:- M2000 FI-ESM-200AXY SE, M2000 DI SE, VU-302 VUV VASE, VB-250 VASE, IR VASE
  • Film morphology and compositional analysis:- JEOL 6400 SEM, Hitachi S4700 FE-SEM, FB2000 FIB, XRD

Solar PV devices characterization

  • QE measurements-QEX10 PV Measurements, Inc"
  • I-V measurements-Solar Simulator

Current Projects

  • Optimization of Silver (Ag) nano-particles
  • Fabrication of a-Si:H cells (PECVD)
  • Characterization of a-Si:H cells (QE and I_V).
  • Ag nanoparticles integration on a-Si:H cells and device characterization.
  • 3D-Printers.
  • Snow effect on PV systems study

Target Journals in My Sub-field

Publications

Book Chapters

Dissertation

  • INCREASING SOLAR ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY IN HYDROGENATED AMORPHOUS SILICON PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICES WITH PLASMONIC PERFECT META – ABSORBERS.

http://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/etdr/170/

Journal articles

Articles Under Review/Accepted/In-print

  • Ambient-dependent Agglomeration and Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy Response of Self-Assemble Silver Nano-particles for Plasmonic Photovoltaic Devices. J. Phot. Energy

Conference Proceedings

Other articles

Slides and Vedeos

  http://audioslides.elsevier.com//ViewerSmall.aspx?source=1&doi=10.1016/j.solmat.2016.01.028">

Additional pages to manage:

Image gallery

Cookies help us deliver our services. By using our services, you agree to our use of cookies.