The National Park College (NPC) First Friday Lunch and Lecture Series will feature
Dr. Matthew Young, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Arkansas Tech
University (ATU). The event will be held Friday, March 2 at noon in Lab Sciences 118
and is sponsored by the NPC Math and Sciences Division. Dr. Young will present How Solar Cells Work and How They’ll Power Our Future. His
lecture will provide an overview of how a solar cell works considering device physics
with relevant differences in the material systems highlighted. He will then talk about
current industrial trends and how, when paired with the appropriate storage technology,
solar could power our future.
“Silicon solar cells have seen a massive reduction in manufacturing costs in the past
decade. This has ushered in a renewed interest in solar power generation from residential
scale to utility scale. While most solar generation is based upon silicon solar cell
technology at the industrial scale, there are other material systems currently being
installed such as Cadmium telluride. In addition to those technologies, there are
also several emerging material systems that could one day see industrial application,”
said Dr. Young.
Dr. Young received his Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from ATU
in 2009. He participated in a National Science Foundation international research experience
focusing on antenna design in 2009 before obtaining his Master of Science in Microelectronics-Photonics
at the University of Arkansas Fayetteville in 2012. His studies focused on the growth
of silicon nanowires via plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition. His Ph.D. work
focused on measuring the effect that atomic hydrogen had on the emitter saturation
current density of boron emitters. While working on his Ph.D., he was also helping
to commercialize the technology of his Ph.D. topic. He joined the faculty at ATU as
an assistant professor of electrical engineering in 2016.
The event is open to the public and community members are welcome to attend.
