Diego Colombara
Associate Professor in Inorganic Chemistry
@ DC Group
Università degli Studi di Genova
Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry
Università degli Studi di Genova
Via Dodecaneso 31, 16146 Genova (Italy)
390103356083
diego.colombara@unige.it
Education
Education
2012
PhD in Physical Chemistry
University of Bath - Bath, United Kingdom
Investigation of Chalcogenide Absorber Materials for Photovoltaic Applications
Chalcogenides - Electrodeposition - Chemical vapour transport
- https://researchportal.bath.ac.uk/en/studentTheses/investigation-of-chalcogenide-absorber-materials-for-photovoltaic
PhD in Physical Chemistry
Supervisors: Prof. Laurence M. Peter and Prof. Frank Marken
EPSRC project “SuperGen” Photovoltaic materials for the 21st Century.
Investigation of Chalcogenide Absorber Materials for Phototvoltaic Applications
During my PhD project, I electroplated thin films of the Cu-Sb-S and Cu-Bi-S systems and I investigated semiconductor alternatives to Cu(In,Ga)Se2 for photovoltaic applications. The thesis focused on the implications of thermodynamics and kinetics of thin film formation on phase segregation and morphological properties of the resulting chalcogenide films. I also synthesized single crystals of Cu2ZnSnS4 via chemical vapour transport for fundamental structural studies.
2008
Master's degree in Chemical Sciences
Università degli Studi di Genova - Genova, Italy
Mo/CuInS2/CdS/TCO thin film photovoltaic systems - 110/110
Photovoltaics - Crystallography - Sputtering
2006
Bachelor's degree in Chemistry
Università degli Studi di Genova - Genova, Italy
Synthesis of γ-LiAlO2 for matrixes of molten carbonate fuel cells - 110/110 cum laude
Ceramics - Crystallography - Molten salts
Language skills
Italian - Native or bilingual
English - Expert or full professional
French - Good
Turkish - Elementary or limited professional
German -
Academic and research experience
2017 - 2019
Research Fellow in Microfabrication, Photovoltaics
International Nanotechnolgy Laboratory - Braga, Portugal
- https://www.inl.int/
Marie Curie Fellow c/o Quantum Materials Science and Technology Department
H2020 NanoTrain for growth project (lab. budget: 18 k€).
My research at INL was devoted to the development of template-free micropattern electrodeposition with exploratory applications in photovoltaics (Nanostructured Solar Cells Laboratory, led by Dr. Sascha Sadewasser) and water splitting (Nano Materials for Energy Laboratory, led by Dr. Lifeng Liu). It led to one patent application.
- https://www.inl.int/
2015 - 2017
Principal Investigator in Photovoltaics
Université du Luxembourg - Belval, Luxembourg
- https://www.uni.lu/en/
Core Junior Fellow c/o Laboratory for Energy Materials, FNR-funded project GALDOCHS (budget: ca. 450 k€).
As the PI, I studied a novel gas-phase strategy to dope Cu(In,Ga)Se2 solar cell absorbers with Na and K. Partners involved: LIST (Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology), University of Surrey (UK), Université de Versailles (France), La Sapienza University of Rome (Italy) and EMPA (Swiss federal laboratories for materials science and technology).
• Planning and leading the project; coordinating partners’ contributions and project meetings; dissemination.
• Teaching one bachelor course; scientific mentoring of PhD students/colleagues; doctorate evaluation committee.
• Overseeing chemical safety and chemical waste disposal for the Electrochemistry laboratory; administration.
- https://www.uni.lu/en/
2012 - 2015
Postdoc in Photovoltaics
Université du Luxembourg - Belval, Luxembourg
- https://www.uni.lu/en/
FP7 project Scalenano.
Study of electrodeposition and conversion of Cu-Sn-Zn metal films to Kesterite Cu2ZnSnSe4 absorber layers for Earth-abundant PV, and development of an on-line testing tool for photoelectrochemical assessment of the PV absorbers.
• Designing/assembling new custom-made apparatuses, involving the coordination of several international suppliers (ThermCraft, AnnealSys, Hositrad, Vacom, Carbolite).
• Coordinating scientific collaborations/reporting with project partners in the framework of two work packages.
• Disseminating 19 scientific outcomes of two WPs through peer-reviewed and conference contributions.
• Supervision of one MSc student (Erika Robert) and one PhD candidate (Alexandre Crossay). Teaching of one bachelor course (Inorganic Chemistry).
- https://www.uni.lu/en/
2008 - 2012
PhD candidate in Physical Chemistry
University of Bath - Bath, United Kingdom
- https://www.bath.ac.uk/
Demonstrator of Physical Chemistry Laboratory to MSc students (2009) and at the International Electrochemistry Winter School (2009-2010).
- https://www.bath.ac.uk/
2006 - 2008
Part-time researcher in Fuel cells
Fabbricazioni Nucleari S.p.A. - Alessandria, Italy
- https://www.enea.it/en/
I designed a demonstration pilot plant for the production of γLiAlO2 for molten carbonate fuel cells out of a formulation that I had devised during my previous Bachelor internship spent at the company.
- https://www.enea.it/en/