Previous and Current Research

Previous research:

• Methods for improvement of the efficiency of silicon solar cells at the using porous and nanomaterials (nanosilicon inclusions, new methods of passivations, etc.) were developed. It was shown a significant increase of the short circuit current of multicrystalline silicon solar cell due to re-emission effect and Rayleigh scattering in porous silicon. Optimisation of thin film interdigitated back contacts solar cells was suggested.
• It was developed the general theory of chemical sensors based on metal-nanocrystalline silicon-silicon heterostructures and nanocatalysts. Developed new types of effective chemical sensors for detecting hydrogen, moisture, hydrogen-carbon compounds, heavy metals and organic substances, using fluorescent and electrical transducers based on porous silicon, titanium oxide, graphene and other nanomaterials. The effects of surface states on the kinetics and sensitivity of the chemical sensors of Schottky type were investigated.
• A method of producing hydrogen from porous silicon composites was elaborated. It is based on creation of the solid-state hydrogen sources in the form of tablets based on porous silicon powder, catalyst and silica, support of continuous H₂ generation through the activation of tablet with clean water under normal conditions.

Current research

• Development of new types of efficient silicon solar cells, including the solar cells of 3-d generation, Bragg mirrors antireflection coatings, organic layer photoluminescent concentrators, “all silicon” conception.
• Elaboration of photovoltaic sensors and recognition systems (electronic tongue) which makes it possible to perform the integral express identification of different liquids and gases. The sensor is based on a semiconductor structure with special surface modification which provides different responses at the expose to the liquids. The set of responses (light induced photovoltaic signals) obtained at various experimental conditions is individual for the certain substance and can be used for its selective recognition. To improve the efficiency and the accuracy of the recognition, obtained data are analyzed by mathematical methods (pattern recognition analysis).
• The research and development of the methods for preparation of colloidal solutions of Si and SiC quantum dots (QDs) by the method of electrochemical etching of bulk silicon and silicon carbide. Different operation principles and key mechanisms for application of the quantum dots in bioimaging for living cell are studied.
  
  

Fig.1 The original structure of electronic tongue based on photoelectrical transducer and experimental 2D distribution of induced current with water drop on the rear side of p-n junction.

Fig.2. Electronic fingerprints of deionized and Vittel™ waters obtained at various polarization potentials on a p-type silicon wafer patterned with thin film SiN_X rectangles.

Fig.3 Fluorescence and visible microscopy images of 3T3-L1 cells: (a) without SiC QDs; (b) labeled with negatively charged SiC–CO₂H(-30) QDs; (c) labeled with quasineutral SiC–NH₂  (+4) QDs and (d) labeled with positively charged SiC–NH₂  (+100) QDs.

Fig.4 Kinetics of hydrogen generation: (1) the interaction of pure porous silicon powder with water; (2) the application of the proposed method (activation of the developed pills with water).

Fig.5 Photo of model of portable power supply based on porous silicon hydrogen source and fuel cell.

Participation in Current International Research Projects (Coordinator or Principal Investigator)

• Project MastMST N530785-TEMPUS-1-2012-1-PL-TEMPUS-JPCR “Curricula Development for New Specialization: Master of Engineering in Microsystems Design”, 2012-2016.
• «Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) H2020-MSCA-RISE-2015» #690945“Carbon-based nano-materials for theranostic application” (CARTHER), 2016-2019.

Methodological and Technical Expertise

R&D of various semiconductor devices, MEMS, opto-and nano-electronics, such as solar cells, chemical and gas sensors, radiation sensors, solid-state hydrogen sources. Principal experimental techniques include electronic and atomic force microscopy, optical spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence, electrical and photoelectric methods. 

Selected Publications

Contacts