I/UCRC: Collaborative Research - Proposal for Phase II of the SiSoC NSF I/UCRC

该提案要求为北卡罗来纳州州立大学（NCSU）和格鲁吉亚理工学院（GT）提供第二阶段资金，以保持其在硅太阳能联盟中心（SiSoC）的活跃地位。NCSU是牵头机构，而GIT是“伙伴”网站。该中心的目标是通过政府与太阳能电力行业共同促进高质量的大学水平的研究和教育，同时发展一支扩大的熟练劳动力队伍，帮助美国硅光伏行业重新确立全球领导地位。NCSU研究中心将强调材料表征，从而从根本上了解太阳能电池材料的缺陷/杂质/机械行为的影响，强调先进表征工具的开发，以适应单晶和多晶硅晶片，薄膜和纳米级PV科学技术的各种需求。GT的研究将集中在降低光伏发电的成本以及设计和制造高效太阳能电池上。他们在开发下一代硅太阳能电池的低成本材料和快速热处理方面的专业知识将为光伏知识渊博的学生提供培训和丰富的教育经验。SiSoC将积极发展熟练的劳动力，同时满足快速增长的清洁能源需求，并强调对地球环境的影响最小化。这将通过其他政府机构与太阳能电力行业共同刺激高质量的大学水平的研究和教育来实现。具体的科学成果将通过半年度SiSoC评审会议、会议演示和出版物广泛传播。研究活动也将通过学生实习行业成员的位置放大。PI计划聘请本科生作为NSF REU计划下的实验室助理，为代表性不足的少数民族/妇女参与光伏材料研究创造一个极好的外展机会。

The proposal requests Phase II funding for the North Carolina State University (NCSU) and Georgia Tech (GT) to remain as active sites in the Center for Silicon Solar Consortium (SiSoC). NCSU is the lead institution while GIT is a "Partner" site. The proposed center's goal is to help reestablish a global leadership role for the US Silicon PV industry by having government together with the solar-electric power industry jointly stimulate high quality university level research and education, while developing an expanded and skilled workforce. The NCSU research center will emphasize materials characterization leading to a fundamental understanding of impact of defects/impurities/mechanical behavior of solar cell materials emphasizing the development of advanced characterization tools to accommodate the various needs of both single- and multi-crystalline Si wafers, thin films and nanoscale PV science and technology. The GT research will focus on reducing the cost of PV generated electricity and designing and fabricating high efficiency solar cells. Their demonstrated expertise in developing low-cost materials and rapid thermal processes for next generation silicon solar cells will provide training and enriching the educational experience of PV knowledgeable students. SiSoC will actively develop a skilled workforce, while meeting the rapidly growing demand for clean energy with an emphasis on minimal environmental impact on our planet. This will be enabled by having other government agencies, together with the solar-electric power industry jointly stimulating high quality university level research and education. The specific scientific results will be widely disseminated through semi-annual SiSoC review meetings, conference presentations, and publications. The research activity will also be amplified through student internships at industry member locations. The PIs plan to hire undergraduates as lab assistance under NSFs REU Program to create an excellent outreach opportunity for underrepresented minorities/women to participate in PV materials research.