Professor
Electrical & Computer Engineering

Sylvain Marsillac

757-683-6368
/eng/research/institutes-labs/vipv

231 KAUFMAN HALL
NORFOLK, 23529

Received his B.S. degree in physics and chemistry, his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering and his Ph.D. in Physics all from the University of Nantes (France). After receiving his Ph.D., he worked for the University of Nantes until 2000 as an Assistant Professor. He then joined as a Researcher the University of Delaware and the University of Hawaii from 2000 to 2004. In 2005, he joined the University of Toledo where he became Associate Professor in 2008. He joined ¹ÏÉñÍø in 2011, where he is currently a Professor. His current research interests include studying new inorganic materials for renewable energy applications, developing innovative tools for in-situ and real-time analysis, and developing novel architectures and techniques for the fabrication of optoelectronics.

Graduate Certificate in Nanoscale Materials Science, Stanford University, (2020)

Ph.D. in Physics, University of Nantes, (1996)

M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nantes, (1993)

B.S. in Physics and Chemistry, University of Nantes, (1992)

Contracts, Grants and Sponsored Research

Marsillac, S. "Fabrication of thin film transistors. Private. December 2018 - December 2019
Namkoong, G. and Marsillac, S. "SoLar Engineering Academic Program. Federal. July 2014 - June 2019
Marsillac, S. "Hybrid Solid and Gas Phase Deposition of Hydrogenated Silicon for Photovoltaic. Federal. November 2015 - October 2018
Marsillac, S. "Virginia Solar Pathways. Federal. January 2015 - December 2017
Marsillac, S. "Generalizable Mechanistic Understanding of Module-level Light-, Moisture- and Thermal-Induced Instabilities in CIGS Photovoltaics. Federal. December 2015 - November 2017
Namkoong, G. and Marsillac, S. "MRI Consortium: Acquisition of a Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting System for Multidisciplinary Research and Education. Federal. September 2014 - August 2017
Marsillac, S. "Development of a test facility for Photovoltaic systems. Private. February 01, 2013 - December 30, 2016
Marsillac, S. "Novel Contact Materials for Improved Voltage and Performance in CdTe Solar Cells" $300,000. Federal. March 01, 2012 - August 31, 2015
Marsillac, S. "High throughput CIGS solar cell fabrication via ultra-thin absorber layer with optical confinement and (Cd, CBD)-free heterojunction partner" $1,117,403. Federal. November 01, 2011 - August 31, 2015
Seek, M., Marsillac, S. and Ayala, O. "Advanced Single Axis Solar Tracking System for Enhanced Energy Generation. Federal. June 2014 - May 2015
Namkoong, G., Marsillac, S. and Suh, Y. "Collaborative Research: Developing a Student Learning Strategy to Bridge Virtual Learning and Hands-on Activity in Organic Solar Energy Education. Federal. June 2013 - May 2015
Dhali, S. K. and Marsillac, S. "Smart combiner for fixed commercial photovoltaic systems. Federal. June 01, 2013 - May 31, 2014
Dhali, S. K. and Marsillac, S. "Embedded Health Monitoring for Large-scale Solar Power Systems" $150,000. July 14, 2012 - July 13, 2013
Dhali, S. K. and Marsillac, S. "Trabant Rooftop Tracking HT-60" $220,000. Private. May 01, 2012 - April 04, 2013
Dhali, S. K., Namkoong, G. and Marsillac, S. "Installation of a Roof-top tracking photovoltaic system at ¹ÏÉñÍø" $200,000. Private. September 01, 2011 - August 31, 2012
Marsillac, S. "CIGS Solar Cell Deposition and Substrate Analysis Phase 2" $150,000. Private. August 01, 2011 - July 31, 2012
Dhali, S. K., Namkoong, G. and Marsillac, S. "Roof-top tracking photovoltaic system as a learning tool for engineering students" $40,000. State. September 01, 2011 - June 30, 2012
Marsillac, S. "Thin Film & Next Generation PV Devices" $303,249. Federal. January 01, 2011 - June 30, 2012
Marsillac, S. "Rapidly deployable solar electricity and fuel sources. Federal. January 01, 2011 - March 31, 2012

Research Interests

Research Interests:
- Microelectronics
- Solar cells
- Inorganic Materials synthesis and deposition
- Materials and Devices Characterization
- Thin films and devices fabrication

Articles

Ava et al., T. (2019). A Review: Thermal Stability of Methylammonium Lead Halide Based Perovskite Solar Cells. Applied Sciences 9(1) .
Karki et al., S. (2019). Analysis of Recombination Mechanisms in RbF-Treated CIGS Solar Cells. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 9 (1) , pp. 313-318 .
Karki et al., S. (2019). Degradation Mechanism in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Material and Solar Cells Due to Moisture and Heat Treatment of the Absorber Layer. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 9(4) .
Rajan et al., G. (2019). Impact of post-deposition recrystallization by alkali fluorides on Cu (In, Ga) se2thin-film materials and solar cells. Thin Solid Films 690.
Belfore et al., B. (2019). Modeling Diffusion of Impurities in Molybdenum Thin Films as a Function of Substrate Temperature. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 9 (1) , pp. 339-343.
Deitz, J. I., Karki, S., Marsillac, S., Grassman, T. J. and McComb, D. W. (2018). Bandgap profiling in CIGS solar cells via valence electron energy-loss spectroscopy. Journal of Applied Physics 123 (11) , pp. 1-6.
Rajan et al., G. (2018). Characterization and Analysis of Ultrathin CIGS Films and Solar Cells Deposited by 3-Stage Process. Journal of Spectroscopy .
Deitz, J. (2018). Characterization of Sub-Bandgap Energy States in CuInxGa(i-x)Se2 and Transparent Conducting Oxides with Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy. Microscopy and Microanalysis 24 (S1) , pp. 2.
Ibdah et al., A. Optical simulation of external quantum efficiency spectra of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 solar cells from spectroscopic ellipsometry inputs. Journal of energy chemistry 27 (4) , pp. 1151-1169.
Pradhan, P., Aryal, P., Attygalle, D., Ibdah, A., Koirala, P., Li, J., Bhandari, K. P.., Liyanage, G. K.., Ellingson, R. J.., Heben, M. J.., Marsillac, S., Collins, R. W.. and Podraza, N. J.. (2018). Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Analysis of First Stage CuIn1−xGaxSe2 Growth: Indium-Gallium Selenide Co-Evaporation. Materials 11 (1).
Adhikari, D., Junda, M. M.., Marsillac, S., Collins, R. W.. and Podraza, N. J.. (2017). Nanostructure evolution of magnetron sputtered hydrogenated silicon thin films. Journal of Applied Physics 122 (7) , pp. 075302.
Ibdah, A., Koirala, P., Aryal, P., Pradhan, P., Marsillac, S., Rockett, A. A.., Podraza, N. J.. and Collins, R. W.. (2017). Spectroscopic ellipsometry for analysis of polycrystalline thin-film photovoltaic devices and prediction of external quantum efficiency. Applied Surface Science 421 , pp. 601 - 607.
Ibdah, A. R., Koirala, P., Aryal, P., Pradhan, P., Heben, M. J., Podraza, N. J., Marsillac, S. and Collins, R. W. (2017). Optical simulation of external quantum efficiency spectra of cuin1- xgaxse2 solar cells from spectroscopic ellipsometry inputs. Journal of Energy Chemistry.
Bailey, C. G., McNatt, J., Babcock, S., Lichty, M., Rajan, G., Ashrafee, T., Marsillac, S., Maximenko, S., Walters, R. J., McClure, E., Smith, B. L. and Hubbard, S. M. (2016). Thin-film vapor-liquid-solid growth of InP for III-V photovoltaics. SPIE Photonic West Conference.
Huang, Z., Dalal, L. R., Junda, M. M., Aryal, P., Marsillac, S., Collins, R. W. and Podraza , N. J. (2015). Characterization of Structure and Growth Evolution for nc-Si:H in the Tandem Photovoltaic Device Configuration. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 5 (6) , pp. 1516-1522.
Erkaya, Y., Moses, P., Flory, I. L. and Marsillac, S. (2015). Development of a Solar Photovoltaic Module Emulator. 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Paul, P. K., Cardwell, D. W., Jackson, C. M., Galiano, K., Aryal, K., Pelz, J. P., Marsillac, S., Ringel, S. A., Grassman, T. J. and Arehart, A. R. (2015). Direct nm-scale spatial mapping of traps in CIGS. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 5 (5) , pp. 1482-1486.
Pradhan, P., Aryal, P., Ibdah, A., Koirala, P., Li, J., Podraza, N. J., Rockett, A., Marsillac, S. and Collins, R. W. (2015). Effect of Molybdenum Deposition Temperature on the Performance of CuIn1-xGaxSe2 Based Solar Cells. 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Ashrafee, T., Aryal, K., Rajan, G., Karki, S., Ranjan, V., Rockett, A., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac, S. (2015). Effect of Substrate Temperature on Sputtered Molybdenum Film as a Back Contact for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells. 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Rajan, G., Aryal, K., Ashrafee, T., Karki, S., Ibdah, A., Ranjan, V., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac, S. (2015). Optimization of Antireflective coatings for CIGS solar cells via Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry. 42nd IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Weiru, C., Wei, C., Talaat, H., Marsillac, S. and Elsayed-Ali, H. (2015). Properties of Cu(In,Ga,Al)Se2 thin films fabricated by pulsed laser deposition. Journal of Materials Science - Materials in Electronic 26 (3) , pp. 1743-1747.
Erkaya, Y., Illa, H., Conway, C., Dhali, S. K. and Marsillac, S. (2014). Development of a String Level Fault Detection System for Solar Tracking Applications. 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Erkaya, Y., Flory, I. L. and Marsillac, S. (2014). Development of a String Level I-V Curve Tracer. 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Koirala, P., Huang, Z., Tan, X., Junda, M., Podraza, N. J., Marsillac, E., Rockett, A. and Collins, R. W. (2014). Doped a-Si1-xCx:H:B as Contact Materials for Improved Performance CdTe Solar Cells. 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Aryal, K., Rajan, G., Ashrafee, T., Ranjan, V., Rockett, A., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac, S. (2014). Effect of selenium evaporation rate on ultrathin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 films. 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Ashrafee, T., Erkaya, Y., Aryal, K., Rajan, G., Rockett, A., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac, S. (2014). Growth Studies and Characterization of Atomic Layer Deposited (Zn,Mg)S Thin Films for Solar cell Applications. 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Rockett, A., Erickson, T., Wang, Z., Aryal, K., Marsillac, S., Koirala, P. and Collins, R. W. (2014). Nitrogen Doped Chalcopyrites as Contacts to CdTe Photovoltaics. 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Ranjan, V., Begou, T., Little, S., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac, S. (2014). Non-destructive optical analysis of band gap profile, crystalline phase, and grain size for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells deposited by 1-, 2-, and 3-stage co-evaporation. Progress in Photovoltaics: Research and Applications 22 (1) , pp. 77–82.
Aryal, K., Rajan, G., Ashrafee, T., Ranjan, V., Aryal, P., Rockett, A., Collins , R. and Marsillac, S. (2014). Real time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Studies of ultrathin CIGS films deposited by 1-stage, 2-stage and 3-stage co-evaporation process. 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Aryal, P., Pradhan, P., Attygalle, D., Ibdah, A., Aryal, K., Ranjan, V., Marsillac, S., Podraza, N. J. and Collins, R. W. (2014). Real-Time, In-Line, and Mapping Spectroscopic Ellipsometry for Applications in Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 Metrology. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics 4 (1) , pp. 333-339.
Herndon, C., Erkaya, Y., Xin, C., Dhali, S. K. and Marsillac, S. (2014). Smart Combiner for Fixed Commercial Photovoltaic Systems Using Power Line Communication. 40th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Koirala, P., Attygalle, D., Aryal, P., Pradhan, P., Chen, J., Marsillac, S., Ferlauto, A. S., Podraza, N. J. and Collins, R. W. (2014). Real time spectroscopic ellipsometry for analysis and control of thin film polycrystalline semiconductor deposition in photovoltaics. Thin Solid Films 571 (3) , pp. 442-446.
Aryal, K., Erkaya, Y., Rajan , G., Ashrafee, T., Rockett, A., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac, S. (2013). Comparative study of ZnS thin films deposited by CBD and ALD as a buffer layer for CIGS solar cell. 39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Dahal, L. R., Huang, Z., Attygalle, D., Salupo, C., Marsillac, S., Podraza, N. J. and Collins , R. W. (2013). Correlations between mapping spectroscopic ellipsometry results and solar cell performance for evaluations of nonuniformity in thin-film silicon photovoltaics. IEEE J. Photovolt. 3 (1) , pp. 387–393.
Aryal, P., Attygalle, D., Pradhan, P., Podraza, N. J., Marsillac, S. and Collins, R. W. (2013). Large-area compositional mapping of Cu(In1−xGax)Se2 materials and devices with spectroscopic ellipsometry. IEEE J. Photovolt. 3 (1) , pp. 359-363.
Rajan, G., Ibdah, A. A., Aryal, K., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac, S. (2013). Multi layered anti-reflective coatings for ultra-thin CIGS solar cells. 39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Koirala, P., Chen, P., Tan, X., Podraza, N. J., Marsillac, S., Rockett, A. A. and Collins , R. W. (2013). Multichannel Spectroscopic Ellipsometry for CdTe Photovoltaics: From Real-Time Monitoring to Large-Scale Mapping. 39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Rockett, A., Erickson, T., Wang, Z., Aryal, K., Marsillac, S. and Collins, R. W. (2013). Nitrogen Doped Chalcopyrites as Contacts to CdTe Photovoltaics. 39th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Attygalle, D., Ranjan, V., Aryal, P., Pradhan, P., Marsillac, S., Podraza, N. J. and Collins , R. W. (2013). Optical Monitoring and Control of Three-Stage Coevaporated Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 by Real-Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry. IEEE J. Photovolt. 3 (1) , pp. 375-80.
Little, S., Ranjan, V., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac, S. (2012). Growth analysis of (Ag,Cu)InSe2 thin films via real time spectroscopic ellipsometry. Applied Physics Letters.
Aryal, P., Attygalle, D., Podraza, N. J., Marsillac, S. and Collins, R. W. (2012). Large Area Compositional Mapping of Cu(In1-xGax)Se2 Materials and Devices with Spectroscopic Ellipsometry. IEEE Journal of Photovoltaics.
Ranjan, V., Begou, T., Little, S., Collins, R. W. and Marsillac , S. (2012). Non-destructive optical analysis of band gap profile, crystalline phase, and grain size for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells deposited by 1-, 2-, and 3-stage co-evaporation. Photovoltaics: Research and Applications.
Li, J., Podraza, N. J., Sainju, D., Stoke, J. A., Marsillac, S. and Collins, R. W. (2007). Analysis and optimization of thin film photovoltaic materials and device fabrication by real time spectroscopic ellipsometry. Proceedings of the SPIE Optics and Photonics Conference San Diego, USA, August 26-30 2007.
Shvydka, D., Drayton, J., Mitra, M., Marsillac, S. and Jacob, F. (2006). . Proceedings of the 2006 IEEE 4th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion (IEEE Piscataway, NJ, USA, 2006) Hawaii, USA, May 7-12, 2006 1 , pp. 3 .

Conference Proceeding

Palmiotti et al., E. (2019). Post-Deposition Recrystallization of Co-Evaporated CuInxGa(1-x)Se2 Films by Bromide Vapor Treatments 44th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Sapkota et al., D. (2019). Structural and Optical Properties of Two-Stage CuInSe2 Thin Films Studied by Real Time Spectroscopic Ellipsometry 44th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Belfore et al., B. (2019). The Impact of Deposition Temperature on Sodium Fluoride Recrystallization in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells 44th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference.
Karki et al., S. (2018). Characterization of Electronic Defects in RbF treated CIGS Solar cells 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
Paul et al., P. (2018). Impact of moisture ingress on the degradation and trap spectrum in Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
Belfore et al., B. (2018). Modeling of Impurities Diffusion in Molybdenum Thin Films as a Function of Substrates Temperature 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
Deitz et al., J. (2018). Nanoscale Electronic Structure Characterization in CIGS with Electron Energy-Loss Spectroscopy 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
Palmiotti et al., E. (2018). Post-Deposition Recrystallization of ChlorideTreated Cu(InxGa(1-x))Se2 Thin-Film Solar Cells 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
Sapkota et al., D. (2018). Spectroscopic Ellipsometry Investigation of CuInSe2 as a Narrow Bandgap Component of Thin Film Tandem Solar Cells 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
Rajan et al., G. (2018). Study of Instabilities and Degradation due to Moisture Ingress in the Molybdenum back contact of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Solar Cells 7th World Conference on Photovoltaic Energy Conversion.
Erkaya, Y. and Marsillac, S. (2017). A PV module emulator based on GaN devices with over 99% peak efficiency Piscataway, NJ: 2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC).
Ibdah, A. R., Pradhan, P., Aryal, P., Podraza, N. J., Marsillac, S. and Collins, R. W. (2017). CuIn1-xGaxSe2 solar cells with thin absorbers analyzed by spectroscopic ellipsometry: Insights into quantum efficiency and optical/collection losses Piscataway, NJ: 2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC).
Ibdah, A. R., Pradhan, P., Aryal, P., Jian, L., Podraza, N. J., Marsillac, S. and Collins, R. W. (2017). High speed mapping of Ga compositional profiles in CuIn1-xGaxSe2 solar cells by spectroscopic ellipsometry Piscataway, NJ: 2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC).
Karki, S., Paul, P., Rajan, G., Ashrafee, T., Aryal, K. and Marsillac, S. (2017). In-situ and ex-situ characterizations of CIGS solar cells with KF post deposition treatment Piscataway, NJ: 2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC).
Rajan, G., Begou, T., Aryal, K., Ashrafee, T., Karki, S. and Marsillac, S. (2017). Optimization of multi-layered anti-reflective coatings for ultra-thin Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cells Piscataway, NJ: 2017 IEEE 44th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC).
  • 2020: Elected member of the International Advisory Committee for the WCPEC,
  • 2020: Eminent Scholar, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2020: Reign on recognition by the Division of student engagement, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2019: Nominated for the 2020 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Awards,
  • 2019: Shining star recognition by the Division of student engagement,
  • 2018: College of Engineering’s Outstanding Faculty in the full professor category , ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2018: Nominated for the 2019 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Awards,
  • 2018: Senior member, IEEE,
  • 2018: Shining star recognition by the Division of student engagement, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2017: Nominated for the 2018 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Awards, State
  • 2017: Shining star recognition by the Division of student engagement, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2016: Excellence Award in Research, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2016: Nominated for the 2017 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Awards (SCHEV), State
  • 2015: IEEE PVSC Napkin award in recognition for the dedication to enhancing the quality of the conference technical program, IEEE PVSC
  • 2015: Nominated as a member of the Virginia Solar Energy Development Authority by the Governor of Virginia, Governor of Virginia
  • 2015: Nominated for the 2015 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Awards,
  • 2015: Shinning star recognition by the Division of student engagement, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2014: Excellence Award in Promoting Undergraduate Research, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2013: Elected Director of the Virginia Institute of Photovoltaics,
  • 2013: Excellence Award in Research, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2013: Nominated for the 2014 Virginia Outstanding Faculty Awards,
  • 2012: Excellence Award in Research, Frank Batten College of Engineering, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2012: Excellence Award in Teaching, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2012: Excellence in Promoting Undergraduate Research, ¹ÏÉñÍø
  • 2008: Elected Associate Director of the Wright Center for Photovoltaics Innovation and Commercialization (PVIC), a Center with total funding of $18.6 M (and with $29.7 M in academic and industrial cost share).,
  • 2004: Elected member of the Research Committee for Materials and Electrical Engineering, University of Nantes
  • 2002: Achieved 16.9% world record solar cell efficiency based on Cu(In,Al)Se2 , IEC
  • 1998: Elected member of the Research Committee for Materials and Electrical Engineering,, University of Nantes
  • 1993: Awarded a 3 year National Ph.D. Scholarship , French Ministry of Education

Organizational Chart