A team of scientists led by University of Johannesburg (formerly Rand Afrikaans University) scientist Professor Vivian Alberts achieved the breakthrough after 10 years of research.
A recent invention in solar power by Professor Vivian Alberts at the University of Johannesburg, which uses a micro-thin metallic film, has made solar electricity five times less expensive than solar photovoltaic cells. For the first time, solar electricity is economically feasible and cheaper than coal.
Professor V. Alberts |
Photovoltaic Research Group
University of Johannesburg : http://uj.ac.za/ |
Research Interests
I strongly believe in the future of alternative energy sources, particularly the direct conversion of sunlight into electricity. As project leader of the photovoltaic research group at RAU -- University of Johannesburg formerly Rand Afrikaans University -- my current research interest is focussed on the research and development of a variety of semiconductors thin films for solar cell applications.
Attention is mainly focussed on the growth and characterization of polycrystalline ternary and quaternary semiconductors such as CuInSe2 and Cu(In,Ga)Se2.
Besides conducting fundamental
material research, the group has also developed the unique ability to produce
and evaluate completed solar cell devices and mini-modules. This applied
field of physics is relevant from an academic as well as an industrial
point of view. The group actively collaborates with various national and
international groups and receives financial support from the NRF and Volkswagen
Foundation in Germany.
University of Johannesburg PHYSICS
DEPARTMENT |
Photovoltaics: The photovoltaic research project focuses on the development of various types of economically viable thin film solar cells. The successful implementation of these research programmes is likely to lead to the economic utilization of solar energy for the generation of electricity. In particular, new semiconductor materials such as copper indium diselenide, amorphous silicon, zinc oxide and cadmium sulphide are being investigated. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the thin films are investigated as function of the growth parameters in order to produce materials, which will lead to the fabrication of high efficiency solar cell devices. Besides fundamental material science, innovative technologies are developed in order to produce cell structures on flexible polymer and metal substrates.
Collaboration exists with the
Universities of Pretoria, Port Elizabeth, Witwatersrand, Stuttgart and
Konstanz in Germany, Louis Pasteur in France, Gent in Belgium and with
the CSIR.
Prof V. Alberts
Tel: (011) 489 2844
E-mail: va@na.rau.ac.za
Academic Qualifications
1985: B.Sc. - University of
Port Elizabeth
1986: Honours - University of
Port Elizabeth
1990: M.Sc. - University of
Port Elizabeth
1993: Ph.D. - University of
Port Elizabeth Aca
site: http://uj.ac.za/physics
|
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Department of Physics
University of Johannesburg
PO Box 524 Auckland Park 2006
South Africa
Tel: +27 (011) 489-2327 -- Fax:
+27 (011) 489-2339
Prof V. Alberts
Prof V. Alberts Professor
Tel: (011) 489 2844
USA Tel: (011) 27 11 489 2844
E-mail: va@na.rau.ac.za
|
Academic Qualifications
1985: B.Sc. - University of Port Elizabeth
1986: Honours - University of Port Elizabeth
1990: M.Sc. - University of Port Elizabeth
1993: Ph.D. - University of Port Elizabeth
Academic Career and Appointments
1990: Junior lecturer, Department of Physics, UPE
1993: Lecturer, Department of Physics, RAU
1995: Senior lecturer, Department of Physics, RAU
1997: Associated professor, Department of Physics, RAU.
1999: Guest professor, Department of Physics, University of Konstanz
2000: Associate professor and Deputy-Chairman, Department of Physics, RAU
2001: Appointed as professor and Chairman in the Department of Physics at RAU
Experience as Researcher in Laboratories Abroad
1995: Post Doc Fellow at the University of Stuttgart, Germany
1996: Post Doc Fellow at the Universities of Konstanz, Germany
1998: Senior Scientist at the University of Konstanz
1999: Project Leader, Photovoltaic Group, University of Konstanz
2000: Invited Professor, University of Konstanz
List of Representative Publications
V. Alberts
Influence of thermal annealing
and the incorporation of AlGaAs/GaAs superlattices on the structural and
optical properties of GaAs on Si
Semiconductor Science and Technology
8 (1993) 2125
V. Alberts
Initial stages of organometallic-vapour-phase
epitaxial AlGaAs grown on (001) Si
Journal of Materials Science:
Materials in Electronics 5 (1994) 291
V. Alberts
Photoluminescence study of GaAs
grown on (001) Si Japanese
Journal of Applied Physics 33(11)
(1994) 6111
J.H. Schön, V. Alberts and
E. Bucher
Sharp optical emissions from
Cu-rich polycrystalline CuInSe2 thin films
Journal of Applied Physics 81(6)
(1997) 2799
V. Alberts, S. Zweigart and H.W.
Schock
Preparation of device quality
CuInSe2 by selenization of Se containing precursors in H2Se atmosphere
Semiconductor Science and Technology 12 (1997) 217
V. Alberts, S. Zweigart, J.H.
Schön, H.W. Schock and E. Bucher
Characterization of Polycrystalline
Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films
Japanese Journal of Applied
Physics 36(8) (1997) 108
V. Alberts, R. Heberholz, T.
Walter and H.W. Schock
Device Characteristics of In-rich
CuInSe2-based Solar Cells
Journal of Physics D: Applied
Physics 30(15) (1997) 2156
V. Alberts, M.J. Witcomb and
R. Swanepoel
Material properties of CuInSe2
prepared by H2Se treatment of metallic alloys
Journal of Material Science
33 (1998) 2919
V. Alberts, J.H. Schön,
M.J. Witcomb, E. Bucher, U. Rühle and H.W. Schock
Preparation of Cu(In,Ga)Se2
polycrystalline thin films by two-stage selenization processes using H2Se/Ar
gas
Journal of Physics D: Applied
Phys. 31(20) (1998) 2869
V. Alberts, J.H. Schön and
E. Bucher
Improved material properties
of polycrystalline CuInSe2 prepared by rapid thermal treatment of metallic
alloys in H2Se/Ar
Journal of Applied Physics 84(12)
(1998) 6881
V. Alberts, J.H. Schön and
E. Bucher
Material properties and growth
mechanism of CuInSe2 prepared by H2Se treatment of metallic alloys Journal
of Materials Science: Materials in Electronics 10 (1999) 469
J.H. Schön, V. Alberts and
E. Bucher
Control and passivation of VSe
defect levels in H2Se selenized CuInSe2 Semiconductor
Science and Technology 14 (1999)
657
V. Alberts and M.L. Chenene
In-depth compositional uniformity
of CuInSe2 prepared by two-stage growth sequences.
Journal of Physics D: Applied
Physics 32 (1999) 3093
V. Alberts, J. Bekker, M.J. Witcomb,
J.H. Schön and E. Bucher
Control of VSe defect levels
in CuInSe2 prepared by rapid thermal processing of metallic alloys
Thin Solid Films 361 (2000)
432
V. Alberts, K.T. Hillie and C.M.
Demanet Atomic force microscopy
imaging of polycrystalline CuInSe2 thin films
Journal of Microscopy 197 (2000)
296
V. Alberts and P. Molefe
Formation of CuInSe2 thin films
by H2Se/Ar treatment of thermally evaporated metallic precursors from a
single crucible
Japanese Journal Applied Physics
39 (2000) 1650
V.Alberts, M.Chenene, O.Schenker,
E.Bucher
Preparation of CuInSe2 thin
films by rapid thermal processing of Se-containing precursors
Journal of Material Sciences:
Materials in Electronics 11 (2000) 285
V.Alberts, M.Klenk and E.Bucher
Material losses and compositional
changes in two-step processed CuInSe2 thin films
Japanese Journal Applied Physics
39 (2000) 1099
V. Alberts, M. Klenk and E. Bucher
X-ray fluorescence investigation
of Ga distribution in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 thin films
Solar Energy Materials and Solar
Cells 64 (2000) 371
M. Klenk, V. Alberts, O. Schenker
and E. Bucher
Compositional Analysis of two-step
processed chalcopyrite thin films by X-ray fluorescence
Applied Surface Science 173
(2001) 62-68
Contact details Tel: +27 (011) 489-2844