Research

Clean Energy, Policy and Innovation

Dr. Pradeep Haldar’s Research Interests and Community Initiatives
phaldar@usf.edu

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Solar Photovoltaics

Acceleration of research, development, manufacturing, field testing, commercialization, and deployment of next-generation solar photovoltaic technologies including Silicon and thin film PV technologies. Collaboration with utilities and other stakeholders to identify barriers to interconnections and opportunities for beneficial PV deployment. Evaluation methods for project finance and to reduce interconnection costs and shorten deployment timelines. Study of life cycle assessment (LCA) of thin film solar technology comparing the environmental performance of several emerging alternative materials and processes to understand production of solar modules sustainably.

Current Project: Several student based teams are working with Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council and their partners: Hillsborough County, Pinellas County, City of Largo and Manatee County to create a regional framework to assist the partners to evaluate opportunities for solar-plus-storage and microgrid applications that can contribute to local disaster mitigation and resilience efforts. For more information on the Clean Sky Tampa Bay project .

Energy Storage


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Sustainable manufacturing of energy storage devices with zero waste requires breakthroughs in design, new materials, performance, lower costs, and increased lifetime for widespread acceptance of this approach. Leveraging the ability to understand sustainability requirements to follow a circular economy methodology that includes design and modeling for life cycle manufacturing; resource efficient manufacturing; efficient recycling and repurposing; and cross cutting life-cycle analysis of eco- manufacturing innovations. Identifying basic science challenges based on the understanding of critical integration issues of various components and their potential impact on manufacturing of next generation electro-chemical batteries.

 

Current Project: The proposed research to National Science Foundation follows a circular economy methodology and includes design, modeling of energy storage devices for life cycle manufacturing; resource efficient manufacturing; efficient recycling and repurposing; and cross cutting life-cycle analysis of eco-manufacturing innovations. This effort will identify, prioritize and pursue basic science challenges based on the understanding of critical integration issues of various components and their potential impact on manufacturing of next generation electro-chemical batteries.


Nanotechnology and Energy

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Nanotechnology is about organizing molecules and atoms into nanometer-sized building blocks to construct new or enhanced materials and devices. The research challenge is to find innovative ways to manipulate nanomaterials by altering a material’s mechanical, optical, electrical and magnetic properties, creating innovative solar cells, batteries, power electronics, sensors and other energy generation or conversion systems with high efficiency and lower costs. 

Energy Efficiency

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Study and evaluate of emerging technologies, controls and systems integration that represent key building blocks for greater coordination of energy efficient smart building operation. Smarter building control systems that provide functions such as optimization of on-site generations, real-time peak load management, responding to dynamic energy prices, net-zero-energy performance monitoring, and Smart Grid interactions such as automated demand response.

Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Impact of public-private partnerships that further the commercialization of next generation clean energy, semiconductor and medical device technologies. Developing and commercialization of new solutions for the future. Assisting, mentoring and consulting budding entrepreneurs, scientists and innovators with business acceleration and innovation support using proven customer discovery and market validation concepts and methodologies.

Fuel Cells and Hydrogen

Refine technologies to validate performance, demonstrate implementation of hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. Perform cost reduction analysis and efforts for hydrogen production, storage and delivery. Materials development, core-shell catalysts and electrode optimization utilizing 3-D architectures, integration of design, speed of manufacturing and materials selection for PEM and SOFC based fuel cells. 

Policy and Finance

Policies play a major role in influencing investors, industry and stakeholders in redefining their future courses of action. For example, the global shift towards clean energy sources, encouraged and supported by policymakers, is now redefining the business models and implementation of sustainability projects and energy efficiency targets that enable commitments and investments in renewable energy technology and innovation. Focus on evaluating performance of policies and financing instruments by creating roadmaps for solar, hydrogen, and efficiency demonstrations.

Current Project: The research examined the significant growth of environmental and economic benefits of Florida’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which mobilized investment in disaster resiliency and sustainability in local communities across the state. The research study, funded by Ygrene, identified positive sustainability growth in Florida PACE communities. For more information on the PACE report click here.


1.  S Higashiya, AP Schulz, DM DeRosa, MV Rane-Fondacaro, P Haldar, “Synthesis, Thermochemical, and Thermomechanical Characterization of High Conductivity 4-Azoniaspiro [3, 4] octane Salts”, Organic Preparations and Procedures International 50 (3), pages 323-331(2018).
Publications:

2.  Shanika Amarakoon, Cyril Vallet, Mary Ann Curran, Pradeep Haldar, David Metacarpa, David Fobare, Jennifer Bell, “Life cycle assessment of photovoltaic manufacturing consortium (PVMC) copper indium gallium (di) selenide (CIGS) modules”, The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment, 23 (4), pages 851-866 (2018).

3.  Adam Schulz, Donald DeRosa, Seiichiro Higashiya, Manisha Rane-Fondacaro, Hassaram Bakhru, Pradeep Haldar, “Evaluating the effect of solid electrolyte interphase formers on lithium depth profiles of the solid electrolyte interphase layer and bulk electrode material in LiNi0.4Mn0.4Co0.2O2/graphite pouch cells obtained with lithium nuclear reaction analysis”, Journal of Energy Storage 14, pages 106–111 (2017).

4.  Donald DeRosa, Seiichiro Higashiya, Adam Schulz, Manisha Rane-Fondacaro, Pradeep Haldar, “High performance spiro ammonium electrolyte for Electric Double Layer Capacitors” Journal of Power Sources, Volume 360, pages 41-47 (2017).

5.  Gopal G. Pethuraja, John W. Zeller, Roger E. Welser, Harry Efstathiadis, Pradeep Haldar, Priyalal S. Wijewarnasuriya, Nibir K. Dhar, Ashok K. Sood, “Development of Nanostructured Antireflection Coatings Infrared Technologies and Applications”, Proceedings Volume 10404, Infrared Sensors, Devices, and Applications VII; 104040S; doi: 10.1117/12.2277957 (2017).

6.  Adam Schulz, Hassaram Bakhru, Don DeRosa, Seiichiro Higashiya, Manisha Rane-Fondacaro, Pradeep Haldar, “Quantifying lithium in the solid electrolyte interphase layer and beyond using Lithium- Nuclear Reaction Analysis technique.” Journal of Power Sources Volume 360, pages 129-135 (2017).

7.  Ashok K. Sood, John W. Zeller, and Yash R. Puri, Caitlin Rouse, Pradeep Haldar, and Harry Efstathiadis, Nibir K. Dhar, Priyalal S. Wijewarnasuriya, “SiGe Focal Plane Array Detector Technology for Near-Infrared Imaging.” International Journal of Engineering Research and Technology, ISSN 0974-3154, Volume 10, Number 1 pages 81-103 (2017).

8.  Sravan Sunkoju, Sandra Schujman, Dhairya Dixit, Alain Diebold, Jian Li, Robert Collins, Pradeep Haldar, “Spectroscopic ellipsometry studies of 3-stage deposition of CuIn1−xGaxSe2 on Mo-coated glass and stainless steel substrates”, Thin Solid Films, Volume 606, pages 113-119 (2016).

9.  Jesse Claypoole, Steve Novak, Mark Altwerger, Dan Dwyer, Pradeep Haldar, Matt Eisaman, Harry Efstathiadis, “Sputter rate measurements of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber layers with varied Ga ratios, primary voltage, and angle of incidence by secondary ion mass spectrometry”, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Volume 696, Pages 808-813 (2016).

10.  R Sundaramoorthy, Jim Lloyd, David Metacarpa, Pradeep Haldar, “Comparison of performance of PV modules subjected to “solar thermal humidity cycles” with modified and extended IEC protocols” IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (43rd PVSC), pages 0921-0924 (2016).

11.  David Fobare, Shanika Amarakoon, Pradeep Haldar, David Metacarpal Jennifer Bell, Cyril Vallet, “Life cycle assessment study highlights for new york state based PVMC modeled thin film roll-to-roll CIGS process”, IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (43rd PVSC), pages 2161-2163 (2016).

12.  Sandra Schujman, Jonathan Mann, Amara Conteh, Crispin Rice, David Metacarpa, Pradeep Haldar, “Outdoor performance prediction of photovoltaic modules based on indoor measurements”, IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (43rd PVSC), pages 2718-2720 (2016).

13.  Jean M. Brownell, Sandra Schujman, Jonathan Mann, Crispin Rice, Linda LaQue, Gary Dufresne, David Metacarpa and Pradeep Haldar. “Effects of Pre-Conditioning and Testing Protocols on Performance of Different PV Technologies”, IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (43rd PVSC), pages 1538-1540 (2016).

14.  Scott McWilliams, R Sundaramoorthy, David Metacarpa, Pradeep Haldar, “PV single axis tracker array tests in the Northeast US with CIGS”, IEEE Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (43rd PVSC), pages 3328-3330 (2016).

15.  Gopal G Pethuraja, John W. Zeller, Roger E Welser, Ashok K Sood, Harry Efstathiadis, Pradeep Haldar, Eric A. DeCuir, Priyalal S Wijewarnasuriya, Nibir K Dhar, “Development of nanostructured antireflection coatings for infrared image sensing technologies” Proc. SPIE 10209, Image Sensing Technologies: Materials, Devices, Systems and Applications IV, 102090D doi:10.1117/12.2268856 (2017).

16.  John W Zeller, Caitlin Rouse, Harry Efstathiadis, Pradeep Haldar, Jay S Lewis, Nibir K Dhar, Priyalal Wijewarnasuriya, Yash R Puri, Ashok K Sood, “Development of silicon-germanium visible-near infrared arrays”, SPIE Commercial+ Scientific Sensing and Imaging, pages 985408-985408-9 (2016).

17.  Ashok K Sood, Isaac Lund, John W Zeller, Yash R Puri, Harry Efstathiadis, Pradeep Haldar, Nibir K Dhar, Jay Lewis, Priyalal Wijewarnasuriya, “Development of graphene-based detectors for EO/IR applications”, SPIE Commercial+ Scientific Sensing and Imaging, pages 98540D-98540D-18 (2016).

18.  Caitlin Rouse, John W Zeller, Harry Efstathiadis, Pradeep Haldar, Jay S Lewis, Nibir K Dhar, Priyalal Wijewarnasuriya, Yash R Puri, Ashok K Sood, “Development of Low Dark Current SiGe Near-Infrared PIN Photodetectors on 300 mm Silicon Wafers”, Optics and Photonics Journal, Vol 6, Issue 05, Pages 61(2016).

19.  NJ Biderman, R Sundaramoorthy, Pradeep Haldar, JR Lloyd, “Dissociative diffusion mechanism in vacancy-rich materials according to mass action kinetics”, AIP Advances, Vol 6, Issue 5, Pages 055211 (2016).

20.  Sravan Sunkoju, Sandra Schujman, Dhairya Dixit, Alain Diebold, Jian Li, Robert Collins, Pradeep Haldar, “Spectroscopic ellipsometry studies of 3-stage deposition of CuIn1−x GaxSe2 on Mo-coated glass and stainless-steel substrates”, Thin Solid Films, Volume 606, Pages, 113-119 (2016). 

21.  Bernadette Peace, Jesse Claypoole, Neville Sun, Dan Dwyer, Matthew D Eisaman, Pradeep Haldar, Harry Efstathiadis, “Characterization of Cu (In, Ga) Se 2 (CIGS) films with varying gallium ratios”, Journal of Alloys and Compounds, Volume 657, Pages 873-877 (2016).