NDSU’s discoveries of new liquid silanes and novel aerosol beam deposition techniques have great potential to produce low-cost, high-quality photovoltaic devices, according to Philip Boudjouk, vice president for research, creative activities and technology transfer. Boudjouk presented NDSU’s research discoveries during seminars at Kyonggi University, Seoul, South Korea; Korea University, Seoul, South Korea; and at Chungnam National University, Deajeon, South Korea.
NDSU has developed a new form of liquid silicon that will allow more precise control of the formation of silicon nanotubes and nanocrystals, enabling higher conversion of solar energy into electrical energy. At the invitation of the South Korean universities, Boudjouk presented “A New Route to Cyclohexasilane: Synthesis and Applications,” during the visit to South Korea Nov. 1-14.
Boudjouk and Doug Schulz, senior research scientist at NDSU’s Center for Nanoscale Science and Engineering, also attended the International Photovoltaic Science and Engineering Conference and Exhibition in Jeju, South Korea. The conference covered the entire range of photovoltaics, from materials and systems as well as market development and policies. Among the most newsworthy announcements were those demonstrating significant reductions in production costs of solar energy.
NDSU has collaborative accords with several South Korean schools, including Kyonggi University and Chungnam National University. Boudjouk was the guest of NDSU alumnus Byung-Hee Han, Department of Chemistry at Chung-Nam University. Boudjouk also met with international NDSU alumni interested in electronics and silicon technology research.