I.M. Dharmadasa
Encyclopedia
I.M. Dharmadasa
is Professor
of Applied Physics
and leads the Electronic Materials and Solar Energy (Solar Cells and other Semiconductor
Devices) Group at Sheffield Hallam University
(SHU), UK. Dharme has worked in semiconductor research since becoming a PhD student at Durham University as a Commonwealth Scholar in 1977, under the supervison of the late Sir Gareth Roberts. His interest in the electrodeposition of thin film solar cells grew when he joined the Apollo Project at BP Solar in 1988. He continued this area of research on joining Sheffield Hallam University in 1990.
He has published 116 refereed & conference papers, has 6 GB patents on Thin Film Solar cells and has made 135 conference presentations. He has made 5 book contributions and is the author of the book Advances in Thin Film Solar cells, which is due out in Summer 2011. IMD has also successfully supervised 14 PhD and MPhil candidates and 14 years of PDRA support. He has gained research council and internal University funding and was included in the 2001 RAE for Metallurgy and Materials which gained the top rating of five. He is currently working with a group of industrial partners (Ionotec Ltd, Pilkington plc and ICP Solar UK) to commercialise his new research findings with the UK Government's DTI-funding.
His recent scientific breakthroughs [1-2], which are fundamental to describing the photovoltaic activity of CdTe
/CdS
solar cells, were summarised in a "new theoretical model for CdTe”. Based on these novel ideas he has reported a higher efficiency of 18% for the CdTe
/CdS
cell [3], compared with 16.5% reported by NREL in the United States
. He currently focusses on low-cost methods to develop Thin film solar cells based on electrodeposited CIGS
materials,where he has reported efficiencies of 15.9% to date, compared with the highest value of 19.5% reported by NREL [4]using more expensive techniques. His article 'Fermi level pinning and effects on CuInGaSe2-based thin-film solar cells' was selected to be part of the Semiconductor Science and Technology Journal's Highlights of 2009.
In addition to his research and development programme, Dharmadasa is heavily involved in and passionate about promoting the use of renewable energy
for the alleviation of poverty and economic development. He was one of the founding members of the The South Asia renewable Energy programme which is now becoming an international programme for the promotion of renewables [5-7]. As a Sri Lankan from a rural village in the Kurunagala District, he has taken back his knowledge to his village, recently setting up machinary to provide several local villages with free drinking water by replacing an expensive diesel pump with a solar powered motor. He intends to extend this concept through his "Village Power" programme by setting up solar powered energy hubs in developing countries with the hope of empowering rural communities to grow and develop through education and commerce.
I.M. Dharmadasa
I.M. Dharmadasa is Professor of Applied Physics and leads the Electronic Materials and Solar Energy Group at Sheffield Hallam University, UK. Dharme has worked in semiconductor research since becoming a PhD student at Durham University as a Commonwealth Scholar in 1977, under the supervison of the...
is Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of Applied Physics
Applied physics
Applied physics is a general term for physics which is intended for a particular technological or practical use.It is usually considered as a bridge or a connection between "pure" physics and engineering....
and leads the Electronic Materials and Solar Energy (Solar Cells and other Semiconductor
Semiconductor
A semiconductor is a material with electrical conductivity due to electron flow intermediate in magnitude between that of a conductor and an insulator. This means a conductivity roughly in the range of 103 to 10−8 siemens per centimeter...
Devices) Group at Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University
Sheffield Hallam University is a higher education institution in South Yorkshire, England, based on two sites in Sheffield. City Campus is located in the city centre, close to Sheffield railway station, and Collegiate Crescent Campus is about two miles away, adjacent to Ecclesall Road in...
(SHU), UK. Dharme has worked in semiconductor research since becoming a PhD student at Durham University as a Commonwealth Scholar in 1977, under the supervison of the late Sir Gareth Roberts. His interest in the electrodeposition of thin film solar cells grew when he joined the Apollo Project at BP Solar in 1988. He continued this area of research on joining Sheffield Hallam University in 1990.
He has published 116 refereed & conference papers, has 6 GB patents on Thin Film Solar cells and has made 135 conference presentations. He has made 5 book contributions and is the author of the book Advances in Thin Film Solar cells, which is due out in Summer 2011. IMD has also successfully supervised 14 PhD and MPhil candidates and 14 years of PDRA support. He has gained research council and internal University funding and was included in the 2001 RAE for Metallurgy and Materials which gained the top rating of five. He is currently working with a group of industrial partners (Ionotec Ltd, Pilkington plc and ICP Solar UK) to commercialise his new research findings with the UK Government's DTI-funding.
His recent scientific breakthroughs [1-2], which are fundamental to describing the photovoltaic activity of CdTe
Cadmium telluride
Cadmium telluride is a crystalline compound formed from cadmium and tellurium. It is used as an infrared optical window and a solar cell material. It is usually sandwiched with cadmium sulfide to form a p-n junction photovoltaic solar cell...
/CdS
Cadmium sulfide
Cadmium sulfide is the inorganic compound with the formula CdS. Cadmium sulfide is a yellow solid. It occurs in nature with two different crystal structures as the rare minerals greenockite and hawleyite, but is more prevalent as an impurity substituent in the similarly structured zinc ores...
solar cells, were summarised in a "new theoretical model for CdTe”. Based on these novel ideas he has reported a higher efficiency of 18% for the CdTe
Cadmium telluride
Cadmium telluride is a crystalline compound formed from cadmium and tellurium. It is used as an infrared optical window and a solar cell material. It is usually sandwiched with cadmium sulfide to form a p-n junction photovoltaic solar cell...
/CdS
Cadmium sulfide
Cadmium sulfide is the inorganic compound with the formula CdS. Cadmium sulfide is a yellow solid. It occurs in nature with two different crystal structures as the rare minerals greenockite and hawleyite, but is more prevalent as an impurity substituent in the similarly structured zinc ores...
cell [3], compared with 16.5% reported by NREL in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He currently focusses on low-cost methods to develop Thin film solar cells based on electrodeposited CIGS
CIGS
CIGS may refer to:* Chief of the Imperial General Staff, a pre-1964 military position in the British Army* Copper indium gallium selenide , a semiconductor absorber material for solar cells...
materials,where he has reported efficiencies of 15.9% to date, compared with the highest value of 19.5% reported by NREL [4]using more expensive techniques. His article 'Fermi level pinning and effects on CuInGaSe2-based thin-film solar cells' was selected to be part of the Semiconductor Science and Technology Journal's Highlights of 2009.
In addition to his research and development programme, Dharmadasa is heavily involved in and passionate about promoting the use of renewable energy
Renewable energy commercialization
Renewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat...
for the alleviation of poverty and economic development. He was one of the founding members of the The South Asia renewable Energy programme which is now becoming an international programme for the promotion of renewables [5-7]. As a Sri Lankan from a rural village in the Kurunagala District, he has taken back his knowledge to his village, recently setting up machinary to provide several local villages with free drinking water by replacing an expensive diesel pump with a solar powered motor. He intends to extend this concept through his "Village Power" programme by setting up solar powered energy hubs in developing countries with the hope of empowering rural communities to grow and develop through education and commerce.