Overview
Personal Profile
David Young is interested in all aspects of the silicon photovoltaic (PV) supply chain. Young currently works on advanced TOPCon poly-Silicon/SiO2 passivating contact cell designs to improve the p-type version of these contacts as well as understand the fundamental mechanisms responsible for observed degradation modes. Young also has active research in polymer-free glass/glass module designs for easy recycling and gas-to-boule reactor designs to lower embodied carbon and energy in silicon production. Since 2012, Young also has been an adjunct instructor in the Colorado School of Mines' Physics Department.
Research Interests
Low carbon and energy silicon production
Passivated contacts
Silicon solar cells
Polymer-free glass/glass modules
Degradation modes due to H movement in poly-Si/SiO2 contacts
Artificial intelligence-assisted optimized anti-reflection coatings
Copper metal contacts to silicon solar cells
Education/Academic Qualification
PhD, Applied Physics, Colorado School of Mines
Bachelor, Physics, Greenville College
Master, Physics, Indiana University Bloomington
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Collaborations and Top Research Areas From the Past 5 Years
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Degradation Mode Identification by Photocarrier Lifetime Spectroscopy on Devices and Test Structures
Stradins, P., Truong, T., Mule, C., Ratnapagol, A., Agarwal, S., Young, D. & Hacke, P., 2026, 1 p. National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR).Research output: NLR › Poster
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Low Embodied Energy and Carbon, High Lifetime Silicon Boules via a Combined Chemical Vapor Deposition/Float Zone Process: Article No. 113902
Young, D., Young, E., He, X., Kleinsorge, A., Hassanaly, M., Loboda, M. & Schulte, K., 2026, In: Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells. 294, 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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Degradation and Accelerated Recovery of Surface Passivation in n+, p+, and Intrinsic Poly-Si/SiOx Passivating Contacts for Silicon Solar Cells: Article No. 2500133
Ratnapagol, A., Nemeth, W., Stradins, P., Agarwal, S. & Young, D., 2025, In: Solar RRL. 9, 14, 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
2 Scopus Citations -
Degradation and Accelerated Recovery of Surface Passivation in n+ Poly-Si/SiOx Passivating Contacts for TOPCon Solar Cells
Ratnapagol, A., Agarwal, S., Nemeth, W., Stradins, P. & Young, D., 2025, 12 p.Research output: NLR › Presentation
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Epitaxial Alkali Halide Layers for III-V Substrate Recycling
May, B. (Inventor), Young, D. (Inventor) & Ptak, A. (Inventor), 2025, National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), Patent No. 12,198,924 B2, 14 Jan 2025Research output: Patent