Michael McGehee
Professor • James M & Catherine Patten Chair in Chemical Engineering • Fellow, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI)
Chemical and Biological Engineering • Materials Science and Engineering Program • Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute

Office: SEEC C379
Mailbox: 027 UCB

Education

PhD, University of California at Santa Barbara (1999)
AB, Princeton University (1994)                   

Awards

  • Fellow of the Materials Research Society
  • Kosuke Ishii Award for Industry Education Innovation (2012)
  • Global Climate and Energy Project Distinguished Lecturer (2012)
  • Ranked by Thomas Reuters as the materials scientist with the 11th highest scientific impact (102 citations/paper) in the world for the period between Jan. 2000 and Oct. 2010
  • Mohr Davidow Venture Innovators Award (2007)
  • Vance and Arlene Coffman Faculty Scholar Award (2007)
  • Materials Research Society Outstanding Young Investigator Award (2007)
  • Gilbreth Lecturer at the National Academy of Engineering's Meeting (2006)
  • NSF CAREER Award (2001)
  • DuPont Young Faculty Award (2001)
  • Dreyfus New Faculty Award (2000)

Selected Publications

  1. “Factors that Determine the Length Scale for Uniform Tinting in Dynamic Windows Based on Reversible Metal Electrodeposition,” M.T. Strand, C.J. Barile, T.S. Hernandez, T.E. Dayrit, L. Bertoluzzi, D.J. Slotcavage, M.D. McGehee, ACS Energy Letters, 3 (2018) 2823-2828.
  2. “Minimizing Current and Voltage Losses to Reach 25% Efficient Monolithic Two-Termina Perovskite-Silicon Tandem Solar Cells,” K.A. Bush, S. Manzoor, K. Frohna, Z. J. Yu, J.A. Raiford, A.F. Palmstrom, H.P. Wang, R. Prasanna, S.F. Bent, Z.C. Holman, M.D. McGehee, ACS Energy Letters, 3 (2018) 2173-2180.
  3. “Challenges for Commercializing Perovskite Solar Cells,” Y.G. Rong, Y. Hu, A.Y. Mei, H.R. Tan, M.I. Saidaminov, S.I. Seok, M.D. McGehee, E.H. Sargent, H.W. Han, Science, 361 (2018) 1214-1221.
  4. “Opportunities and Challenges for Tandem Solar Cells Using Metal Halide Perovskite Semiconductors,” T. Leijtens, K.A. Bush, R. Prasanna, M.D. McGehee, Nature Energy, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0190-4.
  5. “Bistable Black Electrochromic Windows Based on the Reversible Metal Electrodeposition of Bi and Cu,” T.S. Hernandez, C.J. Barile, M.T. Strand, T.E. Dayrit, D.J. Slotcavage, M.D. McGehee, ACS Energy Letters, 3 (2018) 104-111.
  6. “Band Gap Tuning via Lattice Contraction and Octahedral Tilting in Perovskite Materials for Photovoltaics,” R. Prasanna, A. Gold-Parker, T. Leijtens, B. Conings, A. Babayigit, H.G. Boyen, M.F. Toney, M.D. McGehee, Journal of the American Chemical Society, 139 (2107) 11117-11124.
  7. “Towards Enabling Stable Lead Halide Perovskite Solar Cells; Interplay Between Structural, Environmental, and Thermal Stability,” T. Leijtens, K.A. Bush, R. Cheacharoen, R.E. Beal, A.R. Bowring, M.D. McGehee, Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 5 (2107) 11483-11500.
  8. “Dynamic Windows with Neutral Color, High Contrast, and Excellent Durability using Reversible Metal Electrodeposition,” C. J. Barile, D. J. Slotcavage, J. Hou, M. T. Strand, T. S. Hernandez, M. D. McGehee, Joule 1 (2017) 133.
  9. “23.6%-Efficient Monolithic Perovskite/Silicon Tandem Solar Cells with Improved Stability,” K.A. Bush, A.F. Palmstrom, Z.J. Yu, M. Boccard, R. Cheacharoen, J.P. Mailoa, D.P. McMeekin, R.L.Z. Hoye, C.D. Bailie, T. Leijtens, I.M. Peters, M.C. Minichetti, N. Rolston, R. Prasanna, S. Sofia, D. Harwood, W. Ma, F. Moghadam, H.J. Snaith, T. Buonassisi, Z.C. Holman, S.F. Bent, M.D. McGehee, Nature Energy, 2 (2017) 17009.
  10. “Progress in Understanding Degradation Mechanisms and Improving Stability in Organic Photovoltaics,” W.R. Mateker, M.D. McGehee, Advanced Materials, 29 (2017) 1603940.
  11. “Perovskite-Perovskite Tandem Photovoltaics with Optimized Bandgaps,” G.E. Eperon, T. Leijtens, K.A. Bush, R. Prasanna, T. Green, J.T.W. Wang, D.P. McMeekin, G. Volonakis, R.L. Milot, R. May, A. Palmstrom, D.J. Slotcavage, R.A. Belisle, J.B. Patel, E.S. Parrott, R.J. Sutton, W. Ma, F. Moghadam, B. Conings, A. Babayigit, H.G. Boyen, S. Bent, F. Giustino, L.M. Herz, M.B. Johnston, M.D. McGehee, H.J. Snaith, Science, 354 (2016) p. 861-865.
  12. “Light-Induced Phase Segregation in Halide-Perovskite Absorbers,” D.J. Slotcavage, H.I. Karunadasa, M.D. McGehee, American Chemical Society Energy Letters, 1 (2016) p. 1199-1205.
  13. “Semi-transparent perovskite solar cells for tandems with silicon and CIGS,” C.D. Bailie, M.G. Christoforo, J.P. Mailoa, A.R. Bowring, E.L. Unger, W.H. Nguyen, J. Burschka, N. Pallet, J.Z. Lee, M. Gretzel, R. Noufi, T. Buonassisi, A. Salleo, M.D. McGehee, Energy & Environmental Science, 8 (2015), p. 956-963.
  14. “Reversible photo-induced trap formation in mixed-halide hybrid perovskites for photovoltaics,” E.T. Hoke, D.J. Slotcavage, E.R. Dohner, A.R. Bowring, H.I. Karunadasa, M.D. McGehee, Chemical Science, 6 (2015), p. 613-617.

Research Interests

The McGehee group is currently doing research on perovskite solar cells as well as dynamic windows that have adjustable tinting. This research builds on our prior investigations of organic light-emitting diodes and lasers, light extraction from LEDs, light trapping in solar cells, charge transport in organic semiconductors, nanopatterning, organic and dye-sensitized solar cells and semi-transparent electrodes based on meshes of carbon nanotubes or silver nanowires. The group is inspired to develop technology that can provide humanity with clean energy and solve environmental problems. Although all of our projects have a clear application and we interact closely with companies, we take a fundamental scientific approach that involves sophisticated characterization and advanced modeling.

Perovskite Solar Cells: Our goal is to demonstrate that it is possible to make perovskite tandem solar cells with 30% power conversion efficiency that will last for more than 25 years under typical operating conditions and can be manufactured cost-effectively. Starting in June 2018 we will be using the facilities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and collaborating closely with researchers there to accomplish this goal. We are adjusting the composition of A, B and X in the ABX3 formula to tune the bandgap and adjust the defect chemistry.  We make extensive use of x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, XPS, spectroscopy, device characterization and device modeling to form a complete picture of how all the composition and processing affect the properties and in turn the performance of the solar cells.

Dynamic Windows: There is a tremendous opportunity to use windows with adjustable attempting to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and provide people with a more pleasing environment with optimized natural lighting. Although there are companies that produce electrochromic windows, the market has not yet exploded due to a combination of the windows not having a neutral color, switching too slowly and being too expensive. We are taking a different approach that is based on reversibly electroplating metal on transparent electrodes. Our glazing’s have a very neutral color and have excellent potential to be more cost-effective. We are developing methods for improving the conductivity of our transparent electrodes which should enable large windows to switch in under 30 seconds. This project involves electrochemistry, optics, the development of polymer electrolytes and long-term durability testing.