Thad Druffel, PhD, PE is currently a Senior Research Engineer and Theme Leader, Solar Manufacturing R&D at the Conn Center for Renewable Energy Research at the University of Louisville. His current research is focused on developing materials and processes for roll-to-roll manufacture of devices for renewable energy. This includes synthesizing nanomaterials and formulating into inks to be deposited using traditional printing techniques. The work also involves using near atmospheric processes to consolidate the nanomaterials into functional bulk thin films. Of particular interest is the use of intense pulsed light sources which heat large areas using a broad spectrum of intense light delivered in very short pulses. His twenty year background in industry includes research, development and engineering topics in several engineering disciplines and he has been involved in projects ranging from solar and water facilities in Africa to corporate research and development of cutting edge technologies. He has PhD in Chemical Engineering, M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering and is a registered Mechanical Engineer in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. He is experienced as a principal investigator in grants from the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy and State of Kentucky as well as industry-sponsored research. He is active within the entrepreneurial community and continues to be involved in startups. He co-founded Bert Thin Films, LLC along with a former post-doctoral researcher to commercialize a technology that was initially conceived at the Conn Center.    

Siva Pakanati, PhD is currently a postdoctoral associate in the conn center. His current research interests are roll to roll fabrication of perovskite solar cell modules and development of suitable perovskite and metal oxide inks. It includes the roll to roll deposition of metal oxide layers, active perovskite layers, and an investigation of Intense Pulse Light interaction with all the deposited layers in terms of morphology, crystal structure, and high quality films. The main aim is to develop the roll to roll processing methodology for commercializing cost-effective, scalable perovskite solar cell modules. 

Blake Martin is currently a graduate student in the department of chemical engineering. His current research interests are perovskite solar cells, specifically, understanding their crystal structure and properties to build better, more efficient solar devices. This includes the investigation of Intense pulsed light interaction with the perovskite material using analytical techniques to map the process response in extensive detail. He plans to contribute to the idea of commercial perovskite solar cells.

Peter Armstrong is currently a graduate student in the department of chemistry. His research interests are in the synthesis of low-cost earth abundant metal complexes and compounds to replace expensive rare earth metal and organic compounds and catalysts. His current research is in metal oxide nanoparticle synthesis for inorganic perovskite solar cells. 

Alumni

Graduate Students

Amir Ghahremani, PhD (2021) Dr. Ghahremani researched the scalability of the intense pulsed light process across a range of materials deposited using scalable and automated techniques. He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering and joined the University of Toledo as a post-doctoral researcher.  

Lyndie Burns, MSc (2019) Ms. Burns researched reactive lamination of perovskite solar cells to reduce the cost of manufacturing and improve the durability. She graduated in 2019 with a degree in chemical engineering and joined North America Stainless.

Sunil Gupta, MSc (2019) Mr. Gupta researched the implementation of a novel desiccant to reduce the energy usage for harvesting water directly from air. He graduated in 2019 with a degree in mechanical engineering and joined ILANTUS Technologies.

Brandon W. Lavery, PhD (2017) Dr. Lavery researched the interaction of the intense pulsed light process specifically around the perovskite material. He graduated in 2017 with a degree in chemical engineering and joined Panasonic.

Gabriel Draper, PhD (2016) Dr. Draper researched the reduction mechanisms of metal oxides and graphene oxide using intense pulsed light and non-hazardous reductants. He graduated in 2016 with a degree in chemical engineering and joined Intel.

Venkat Kalyan, PhD (2015) Dr. Kalyan researched the photoanode of the dye sensitized solar cell along with manufacturing techniques for nanowires for other solar conversion devices. He graduated in 2015 in chemical engineering and joined Intel.

Post-Doctoral Researchers

Krishnamraju Ankireddy, PhD Dr. Ankireddy was involved in developing solution phase materials for printed electronics and solar cells. He joined Bert Thin Films, LLC in Louisville, KY.

Ruvini Dharmadasa, PhD Dr. Dharmadasa was involved in the development of the intense pulsed light technique for several materials important to solar cells. She founded Bert Thin Films, LLC based on some of the research conducted at the Conn Center.

Juan He, PhD Dr. He was involved in developing novel desiccants for energy efficiency improvements for heating and drying. She joined Advance Energy Materials in Louisville, KY.