Becquerel Prize for outstanding merits in Photovoltaics
Prof. Christophe Ballif
Director EPFL “Photovoltaics and Thin Film Electronics Laboratory”
and “CSEM PV- Center”, Neuchatel, Switzerland
is the Becquerel Prize winner 2016.
He receives the award in honour of his scientific merits in the development of silicon heterojunction solar cells. The decision of the Becquerel Prize Committee is based in particular on the outstanding work of Prof. Ballif on silicon thin-film and silicon wafer solar cells and the transfer of PV-technologies to industry. His research on tandem solar cells with a focus on silicon/perovskite and silicon/III-V compounds is highly recognized.
Prof. Ballif is one of the pioneers in the development of high efficiency crystalline solar cells with heterojunctions and passivated contacts. His work spans the field from fundamentals to novel manufacturing processes, pilot tools and production lines.
Prof. Ballif has published very extensively, and is one of the most highly cited researchers in the field of solar cells. His unwavering enthusiasm has energized dozens of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows. His passionate promotion of solar energy technology as the main electricity source for the future of humankind has contributed enormously to its acceptance by society.
