Christophe BallifChristophe Ballif is director of the Phototovoltaics and Thin Film Electronics Laboratoryb) (PV-Lab at the institute of microengineering (IMT) in Neuchâtel (part of the EPFL since 2009). The lab focus is on the science and technology of high efficiency heterojunction crystalline cells,so-called passivating contacts for solar cells, multi-junction solar cells include novel generation Perovskite on innovative optical high speed detector and on various macroelectronics application. It also deals with energy management with a focus on integration of solar electricity into the energy system. The PV-Lab has strongly contributed to technology transfer and industrialization of novel devices and full technology with numerous companies. Christophe Ballif graduated as a physicist from the EPFL in 1994, where he also obtained in 1998 his Phd degree working on novel PV materials. He accomplished his postdoctoral research at NREL (Golden, US) on compound semiconductor solar cells (CIGS and CdTe). He worked then at the Fraunhofer ISE (Ge) on crystalline silicon photovoltaics (monocrystalline and multi-crystalline) until 2003 and then at the EMPA in Thun (CH) before becoming full professor at the University of Neuchâtel IMT in 2004, taking over the chair of Prof. A. Shah. Since 2013, C.Ballif is also the director of the new CSEM PV-Center, also located in Neuchâtel. The CSEM PV-Center is focussing more on industrialisation and technology transfer in the field of solar energy, including solar electricity management and storage. At the core of the CSEM PV-center activities lies several "pilot lines" for various kinds of solar cells manufacturing, with a focus coating technologies, wet chemistry processes for crystalline silicon, metalisation techniques for solar cells, and a platform for developing "ideal packaging solutions and polymers" for PV modules. In addition, joined facitilites between CSEM and EPFL of over 800 m2 are available for modules manufacturing, measuring and accelerated aging. CSEM PV-center has also full team dedicated to storage and energy systems and operates a joined center with BFH in Biel for research on electrochemical storage. He (co-) authored over 500 journal and technical papers, as well as several patents. He is an elected member of the SATW, member of the scientific council of the Swiss AEE, and member of the board of the EPFL Energy center. In 2016, he recieved the Becquerel prize for his contributions to the field of high efficiency photovoltaics.
Fabrizio CarboneBirth 20/04/1976
Master degree: University of Pavia "optoelectronic engineering". September 2001.
Reasearch scientist at Pirelli Labs, Milan Italy between September 2000 and August 2002.
PhD in condensed matter physics from the University of Geneva, prof. van der Marel gorup. January 2007
Post doc in physical chemistry at Caltech in prof. Zewail`s group. March 2007-April 2009
Graham KnottGraham Knott received his degree in physiology from the University of Southampton, UK, in 1990, and his PhD in neuroscience from the University of Tasmania, Australia, in 1995. He moved to the University of Lausanne in Switzerland in 1999 where he researched the plasticity of neuronal connectivity in the adult brain, developing correlative light and electron microscopy methods for the analysis of in vivo imaged neurons. In 2006 Graham joined the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, establishing the Bio Electron Microscopy Facility and has continued his research interests in brain plasticity and 3D electron microscopy.
Marco Cantoni1982-1988, Diploma course in Experimental Physics (certificate, 28.10.88)ETHZ Faculty IX MATHEMATICS and PHYSICS, Diploma Thesis: "Abweichungen von der ikosaedrischen Symmetrie in Al-Cu-Li Quasikristallen", Advisor: Prof. H.-U. Nissen 1989-1993, Ph.D. in Experimental Physics (certificate, 23.8.94) ETHZ Physics Department, Laboratory of Solid State Physics, Ph. D. Thesis No. 10421, Title: "Elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung der Realkristallstruktur epitaktischer Schichten von Supraleitern des Typs SEBa2Cu3O7-x auf (100)-SrTiO3" Advisors: Prof. H.R. Ott, Prof. H. U. Nissen. 1994-1996,ETH Zürich,Material Science Department, Non-Metallic Materials, Prof. L. Gauckler: Microstructure characterisation of high-tech ceramic materials by means of SEM, TEM and atomic force microscopy: superconductor thick films (Bi-2212 on Ag) and solid oxide fuel cells (ZrO2, CeO2). 1996-1998, National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials NIRIM, Japan Group for Special Research, Prof. S. Horiuchi: TEM of Bi-2223/Ag Tapes, Application of Imaging Plates (IP) in High Voltage TEM, Cryo-Lorentz-TEM of Superconducting Materials (Observation of Flux-Lines) 1998-2000, Ecole polytechnique fédéral de Lausanne, EPFL-CIME Centre interdépartemental de microscopie électronique CIME, Prof. P.A. Buffat: Projet 125, PPO II (programme prioritaire optique): Characterization of materials and devices for optic and optoelectronic applications by electron microscopy. 2001-2003, Ecole polytechnique fédéral de Lausanne, EPFL STI IMX LCCeramics Laboratory, Prof. Nava Setter Characterisation of ferroelectric materials, transmission electron microscopy of relaxor ferroelectric materials 2004, University of Geneva, Physics Department, Condensed matter Physics Group of Prof. R. Flükiger, TEM of Multifilament Nb3Sn superconducting wires, in collaboration with EPFL-CIME Since 1.11.04, EPFL-SB-CIME
Francesco StellacciFrancesco Stellacci graduated in Materials Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano in 1998 with a thesis on photochromic polymers with Prof. Giuseppe Zerbi and Mariacarla Gallazzi. In 1999 he moved to the Chemistry Department of the University of Arizona for as a post-doc in the group of Joe Perry in close collaboration with the group of Seth Marder. In 2002 he moved to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as an assistant professor. He was then promoted to associate without (2006) and with tenure (2009). In 2010 he moved to the Institute of Materials at EPFL as a full Professor. He holds the Alcan EP Chair. Francesco was one of the recipients of the Technology Review TR35 "35 Innovator under 35" award in 2005, and the Popular Science Magazine "Brilliant 10" award in 2007. He has been a Packard Fellow starting 2005.
Cyril CayronMes recherches: J'ai travaillé comme microscopiste/cristallographe/métallurgiste sur des projets très variés comme les aciers pour le nucléaire, les alliages titane et nickel pour l'aéronautique, les interconnections en cuivre pour la microélectronique, les piles à combustible haute et basse température, le silicium photovoltaïque hétérojonction et monolike, les batteries au lithium à base de LiFePO4 et silicium. Derrière la plupart de ces sujets de recherche appliquée se cachent des problèmes de recherche fondamentale comme celui lié aux transformations de phases. J'ai donc été amené à travailler sur ce sujet passionnant et j'ai pu démontrer que les variants cristallographiques générés par des transitions structurales forment une structure algébrique de groupoïde. Ces travaux ont mené au développement du logiciel de reconstruction des grains parents à partir de données EBSD appelé ARPGE et distribué dans plus de 20 pays. En 2013-2015 j'ai proposé un nouveau modèle cristallographique pour les transformations martensitiques fcc-bcc dans les aciers, comme une alternative à la théorie phénoménologique de la transformation martensitique. Ce modèle a été depuis étendu aux transformations fcc-hcp (type cobalt), bcc-hcp (type titane) et bcc-fcc (type laiton), ainsi qu’à differents modes de maclage mécanique dans les métaux fcc et hcp. Ce modèle à sphères dures montre que la transformation implique une «distorsion angulaire», forme plus générale que le cisaillement. Le modèle prévoit la possibilité que le plan d’interface de certaines macles mécaniques ne soit pas un plan invariant. Un tel cas de maclage « exotique » a été observé expérimentalement par EBSD en 2017 dans un monocristal de magnésium pur. Je travaille maintenant à définir de manière algébrique les concepts de variants (orientation, distortion, correspondance), et sur les types de macles mécaniques (I, II, et d'autres oubliés des théoriques classiques). Mon parcours : 2014-maintenant: Collaborateur scientifique à l'EPFL/LMTM, Neuchâtel, Suisse. J'aide le professeur Roland Logé dans ses travaux de recherche sur les liens entre les fortes déformations, les textures, les tailles de grains et les transformations de phases (diffusives et displacives). Je suis en charge de la salle de métallographie et des caractérisations SEM, EDS, EBSD, TEM, HRTEM. Je codirige trois thèses (Annick Baur, Margaux Larcher, Céline Guidoux). Je suis reviewer pour Acta Mater., Scripta Mater., Acta Cryst., J. Appl. Cryst., Mater. Charact., etc. 2000-2014: Ingénieur de recherche et responsable du groupe Nanocaractérisation, CEA/LITEN, Grenoble, France. 2012 : Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR). 1996-2000: Thèse sur l'étude par microscopie électronique de composites à matrice aluminium. Directeur de thèse Philippe Buffat, CIME, EPFL, Lausanne, Suisse. J'ai pu montrer un lien cristallographique entre différentes phases des alliages 2xxx et 6xxx et proposer pour la première fois une structure complète pour la phase beta prime des nanoprécipités. 1995-1996: Scientifique du contingent, travail sur les écrans électrochromes, COGIDEV, Rueil-Malmaison, France, fondé par M. André Giraud, ancien ministre de la défense et ancien ministre de l’industrie. 1992-1995: Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Nancy, France
