Seminar Samuel PORCAR GARCIA 20.01.2026

Dr. Samuel Porcar García

Post-doctoral researcher

Laboratoire des Matériaux et du Génie Physique (LMGP), Grenoble INP

Affiliation

Working at LMGP in the SALD

PhD made at Universitat Jaume I (UJI)

Thin-Film Layers for Solar Cells: Chemical Routes and Applications

Abstract

This seminar presents the main results of my doctoral research and projects, focused on the development of thin-film layers for photovoltaic devices for the functionalization of ceramic tiles, using scalable chemical deposition methods. Three technological blocks are addressed.

(1) The synthesis of NiOₓ p-type layers by spatial atomic layer deposition (SALD) using a novel nickel precursor not previously reported in the literature. Film growth optimization, structural analysis and conformality studies are discussed.

(2) The fabrication of Sb₂Se₃ absorbers through electroplating followed by selenization, and their integration into ceramic substrates for building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV). This work includes the first demonstration of Sb₂Se₃ solar cells on ceramic tiles.

(3) The development of a low-temperature, vacuum-free metallization method for back contacts based on a hybrid approach combining thermal spraying and spray pyrolysis. The technique enables the completion of devices in laboratories without access to vacuum equipment.

The seminar summarizes the obtained materials, device performance and the potential of these scalable processes for future photovoltaic technologies.

Short Bio/CV

Samuel Porcar García obtained his PhD in Chemistry at Universitat Jaume I (Spain), where he worked in the Solid-State Chemistry group on thin-film materials for photovoltaic applications. His research includes NiOₓ deposition by SALD, Sb₂Se₃ absorbers for BIPV applications, and low-temperature metallization processes for solar cells.

He has collaborated with several research centres such as IREC (Catalonia), INAM (Spain) and LMGP (France), where he completed two research stays and now works as a post-doctoral researcher. He has also worked closely with the ceramic industry through applied R&D projects such as FOTOCER, MATER-ONE, and CLUSKER, focused on the integration of photovoltaic technologies and functional thin films in ceramic substrates. His interests include thin-film deposition techniques, emerging photovoltaic materials, and scalable chemical processes for device fabrication.