Seminaire Pr. Valeria – del Campo 01/12/2026

Pr. Valeria – del Campo

Physics Department, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Chile

Graphene in photovoltaic solar energy: results and challenges

Resume

Graphene has attracted significant interest in photovoltaic applications due to its unique combination of high electrical conductivity, optical transparency, mechanical flexibility, and chemical stability. Despite these advantages, several scientific and technological challenges still limit its integration into high-performance solar cells. This seminar presents recent results from our research group on the use of graphene in different photovoltaic technologies, with particular emphasis on the role of interfaces and surface electronic properties.

First, the implementation of graphene as a transparent conductive electrode in silicon heterojunction (SHJ) solar cells will be discussed. In this context, graphene offers a promising alternative to conventional transparent conductive oxides, while enabling new device architectures. The second part of the talk will focus on the use of graphene as an encapsulation layer to stabilize copper oxide hole-transport layers in perovskite solar cells. While graphene can provide effective protection against degradation processes, the subsequent deposition of high-quality perovskite films onto graphene-covered surfaces presents significant difficulties due to the surface chemistry and wetting properties of graphene.

Finally, the seminar will address the characterization of surface electronic properties through work function measurements and inverse photoemission spectroscopy. By probing the electronic structure and energetics of graphene-based interfaces, these techniques contribute to a deeper understanding of charge transport mechanisms, which remain among the main challenges limiting the implementation of graphene in high-efficiency photovoltaic devices.

Short Bio/CV

Dr. Valeria del Campo is an Associate Professor in the Physics Department at Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María (Chile), where she currently serves as Head of the Engineering Physics Program. She coordinates the Solar Sustainable Solutions research line at the Solar Energy Research Center (SERC Chile), a multidisciplinary center dedicated to advance in public policies based on scientific findings.

Her research interests focus on photovoltaic solar energy, graphene and other advanced materials for solar cells, and the impact of environmental factors such as dust deposition on photovoltaic performance. Her work combines surface and interface characterization with the development of materials and technologies for high-efficiency and sustainable solar energy conversion.