Billy J. Stanbery: Increasing CIGS efficiency with self-assembling nanostructures for light trapping
A new kind of surface structure for solar cells has resulted in better photon capture, and presents an opportunity for even more improvements, says the HelioVolt founder.
Dr. Billy J. Stanbery founded HelioVolt Corporation (Austin, Texas) in 2001 and is its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He has had 25 years experience in both the technical and business aspects of photovoltaics. He is recognized within the international PV community for his expertise in the materials science of copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) and related compound semiconductors. His career spans more than 28 years in the solar industry. Earlier, he managed Boeing's terrestrial PV program. During his 17-year tenure, his accomplishments included registering seven patents in thin-film PV technology and successfully manufacturing and deploying PV for spacecraft. In 1990, he achieved the world record in multi-junction thin-film efficiency, a distinction he still holds today. In 2005, he won international recognition for his theoretical model of CIGS. Stanbery received his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering in 2001 from the University of Florida, having previously obtained an M.S. in Physics from the University of Washington and a B.S. in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Texas.
In August 2012 at the SPIE Optics + Photonics symposium, Heliovolt announced an increase in CIGS efficiency with a new surface structure based on self-assembling light-trapping nanostructures. Internal reflection presents increased opportunities for capturing light. Stanbery discusses the development and the opportunities it presents in this interview for SPIE Newsroom.
