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

该提案要求北卡罗莱纳州立大学（NCSU）和佐治亚理工学院（GT）的第二阶段资金继续作为硅太阳能联盟中心（SiSoC）的活跃站点。NCSU是牵头机构，而GIT是“合作伙伴”网站。该中心的目标是帮助重建美国硅光伏产业的全球领导地位，通过政府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，同时发展扩大和熟练的劳动力。NCSU研究中心将强调材料表征，从而对太阳能电池材料的缺陷/杂质/机械行为的影响有一个基本的了解，强调开发先进的表征工具，以适应单晶和多晶硅片、薄膜和纳米级光伏科学和技术的各种需求。GT的研究将集中在降低光伏发电的成本，设计和制造高效率的太阳能电池。他们在开发下一代硅太阳能电池的低成本材料和快速热过程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队伍，同时满足对清洁能源快速增长的需求，并强调对我们地球的环境影响最小。这将通过其他政府机构与太阳能发电行业共同推动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一次的SiSoC评审会议、会议报告和出版物广泛传播。研究活动还将通过学生在行业成员所在地实习来扩大。PIs计划在美国国家科学基金REU项目下聘请本科生作为实验室助理，为未被充分代表的少数民族/妇女参与光伏材料研究创造一个极好的推广机会。

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.