Susanne Richter of the Fraunhofer CSP has received the Young Scientist Prize of the Heinz-Bethge-Stiftung foundation for applied electron microscopy

Press Release /

The physicist Dr. Susanne Richter has received the Young Scientist Prize of the Heinz-Bethge-Stiftung foundation for applied electron microscopy. The 32-year old researches at the Fraunhofer Center for Silicon Photovoltaics CSP and received the award worth 500 euros during the foundation’s annual meeting on 17 November 2016 in Halle. The results of her research could help to develop further the reliability of solar cells and high-efficiency solar cell concepts.

Preis Ehrung Doktorwuerde Photovoltaik
© Fraunhofer CSP
Physicist Dr. Susanne Richter received an award for her dissertation.
Auszeichnung angewandte Elektronenmikroskopie Verleihung
© Heinz-Bethge-Stiftung
Dr. Sylke Meyer of the Fraunhofer CSP received the prize on behalf of her colleagues, which was handed over by Prof. Dieter Katzer, Deputy Chairman of the Heinz-Bethge-Stiftung, Mirko Potthast, Manager of the Commerzbank branch in Halle, and Prof. Goerg Michler, Chairman of the Heinz-Bethge-Stiftung (from left).

With its Young Scientist Prize the Heinz-Bethge-Stiftung acknowledges outstanding Masters, degree and doctorate or PhD work, which focuses on theoretical or rather experimental contributions to microscopy or microstructure elucidation by means of microscopic or electron optical techniques. »The doctoral thesis of Susanne Richter shows how important these methods are, for example, for research into a sustainable energy supply in an impressive way. With the prize we would like to promote student and young scientists’ examination of microscopic techniques«, said Professor Dieter Katzer, Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Bethge-Stiftung.

In her doctoral thesis Susanne Richter scrutinized the crystallisation process of silicon. Structural defects in the material are caused by non-metallic foreign elements such as carbon, nitrogen and oxygen – such faults in the three-dimensional crystal lattice can have a negative effect on the efficiency or life of the subsequent solar cells, for example, if short circuits occur.

The objective of the work on the »Formation and characterisation of non-metallic impurity phases in silicon crystallisation processes for photovoltaics« was to acquire a deeper understanding of the processes that take place. First a method of measurement was developed further to enable high-resolution examination of the composition of the microscopically small impurity phases. Richter examined different crystallisation methods (float zone, Czochralski, vertical gradient freeze) and determined from what value the concentration o f carbon, nitrogen and oxygen in silicon becomes critical, how the impurity phases formed can be classified and how their properties can be used to draw conclusions about their formation conditions in the silicon crystal.

The findings contribute to detecting highly defective material at an early stage. This ensures that it is not processed further and the manufacturing costs can be optimized. »I am very pleased to receive this award, because it confirms to me that it pays to research, in order to understand the world and to bring it a little bit further forward«, said Richter, who was unable to accept the prize herself.

In her future research work in the »Solar cells diagnostics« group of the Fraunhofer CSP, in which she has worked since 2008 , the physicist will mainly be engaged in the structural and chemical analysis of surfaces and interfaces on alternative substrates. »The Heinz-Bethge-Stiftung prize is a great incentive«, said Richter. » The defects examined by me in the submicrometre to millimetre range required the application of different light and electron microscopic methods. This was not only essential for my work, but also shows the overall importance of these methods for the further development of photovoltaics.«

The prizewinner was selected by an international jury, which assessed the relevance of the work submitted for application-orientated issues, the originality of the approach to the solution for structural elucidation, the complexity of the microscopic characterisation or preparation methodology and the scientific quality. The prize money is donated by Commerzbank AG.