Christophe Ballif

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Full Professor

christophe.ballif@epfl.ch +41 21 695 43 36 http://pvlab.epfl.ch/

EPFL STI IMT PV-LAB
MC A2 304 (Bâtiment MC)
Rue de la Maladière 71b, CP 526
CH-2002 Neuchâtel 2

+41 21 695 43 36
+41 21 695 42 09
Office: MC A2 304
EPFL > STI > IEM > PV-LAB

Web site: Web site: https://pvlab.epfl.ch/

EPFL STI SMT-GE
MC A2 304 (Bâtiment MC)
Rue de la Maladière 71b, CP 526
CH-2002 Neuchâtel 2

+41 21 695 43 36
Office: MC A2 304
EPFL > STI > STI-SMT > SMT-ENS

EPFL AVP-PGE EDMX-ENS
MXF 110 (Bâtiment MXF)
Station 12
CH-1015 Lausanne

+41 21 695 43 36
Office: MC A2 304
EPFL > VPA > VPA-AVP-PGE > AVP-PGE-EDOC > EDMX-ENS

EPFL CEN
BAC 104 (Château de Bassenges)
Station 5
CH-1015 Lausanne

+41 21 695 43 36
Office: MC A2 304
EPFL > VPA > VPA-AVP-CP > CEN > CEN-GE

Web site: Web site: https://energycenter.epfl.ch/

EPFL Comité Campus Neuchâtel
Rue de la Maladière 71b
CP 526
CH-2002 Neuchâtel 2

+41 21 695 43 36
Office: MC A2 304
EPFL > VPO > VPO-DC > EPFLNE > EPFLNE-CC

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Administrative data

Biography

Christophe Ballif is director of the Phototovoltaics and Thin Film Electronics Laboratoryb) (PV-Lab at the institute of microengineering (IMT) in Neuchâtel (part of the EPFL since 2009). The lab focus is on the science and technology of high efficiency heterojunction crystalline cells,so-called passivating contacts for solar cells, multi-junction solar cells include novel generation Perovskite on innovative optical high speed detector and on various macroelectronics application. It also deals with energy management with a focus on integration of solar electricity into the energy system. The PV-Lab has strongly contributed to technology transfer and industrialization of novel devices and full technology with numerous companies.
Christophe Ballif graduated as a physicist from the EPFL in 1994, where he also obtained in 1998 his Phd degree working on novel PV materials. He accomplished his postdoctoral research at NREL (Golden, US) on compound semiconductor solar cells (CIGS and CdTe). He worked then at the Fraunhofer ISE (Ge) on crystalline silicon photovoltaics (monocrystalline and multi-crystalline) until 2003 and then at the EMPA in Thun (CH) before becoming full professor at the University of Neuchâtel IMT in 2004, taking over the chair of Prof. A. Shah.
Since 2013, C.Ballif is also the director of the new CSEM PV-Center, also located in Neuchâtel. The CSEM PV-Center is focussing more on industrialisation and technology transfer in the field of solar energy, including solar electricity management and storage. At the core of the CSEM PV-center activities lies several "pilot lines" for various kinds of solar cells manufacturing, with a focus coating technologies, wet chemistry processes for crystalline silicon, metalisation techniques for solar cells, and a platform for developing "ideal packaging solutions and polymers" for PV modules. In addition, joined facitilites between CSEM and EPFL of over 800 m2 are available for modules manufacturing, measuring and accelerated aging. CSEM PV-center has also full team dedicated to storage and energy systems and operates a joined center with BFH in Biel for research on electrochemical storage.
He (co-) authored over 500 journal and technical papers, as well as several patents. He is an elected member of the SATW, member of the scientific council of the Swiss AEE, and member of the board of the EPFL Energy center. In 2016, he recieved the Becquerel prize for his contributions to the field of high efficiency photovoltaics.

Publications

Other publications

Most publications available on
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/
http://pvlab.epfl.ch/publications
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=VHureMkAAAAJ&hl=fr&oi=ao

Teaching & PhD

Teaching

Microengineering

PhD Programs

Doctoral Program in Materials Science and Engineering

Doctoral Program in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Doctoral Program in Photonics

Doctoral Program in Energy

Doctoral Program in Physics

Doctoral program in advanced manufacturing

PhD Students

Antognini Luca Massimiliano, Arriaga Arruti Olatz, Artuk Kerem, Borja Block Alejandro, Cauz Marine Dominique C., Dreon Julie Amandine, Dussouillez Marion Solange Madeleine, Fiala Peter Joseph, Frey Samira Alexandra, Genç Ezgi, Gnocchi Luca, Guesnay Quentin Jean-Marie Armand, Lehmann Mario Joe, Quest Hugo James André, Türkay Deniz, Zeder Simon Jérôme, Özkalay Ebrar,

Past EPFL PhD Students

Annigoni Eleonora , Biron Rémi , Bloch Lionel Benjamin , Boccard Mathieu Gérard , Bugnon Grégory , Cattin Jean , Cuony Peter , Demaurex Bénédicte , Ding Laura , Dorokhova Marina , Fanni Lorenzo , Franco Andrea , Geissbühler Jonas , Holweger Jordan , Hänni Simon , Lanz Thomas Andreas , Li Hengyu , Löffler Janina Christine Isabelle , Nogay Gizem , Oliveira Martins Ana Cristina , Riesen Yannick Samuel , Rucavado Leandro Oscar Esteban , Sahli Florent , Seif Johannes Peter , Senaud Laurie-Lou , Stückelberger Josua Andreas , Stückelberger Michael Elias , Söderström Karin , Tomasi Andrea , Tuomiranta Arttu Matias , Werner Jérémie ,

Courses

Energy supply, economics and transition

This course examines the supply of energy from various angles: available resources, how they can be combined or substituted, their private and social costs, whether they can meet the demand, and how the transition to a renewable energy system can be fostered.

NRG2019: Energy Systems: managing the transition to renewables

This Summer School will try to bring to together these very disparate topics including energy policy, modeling and technologies in one coherent single event and give the participants a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges of the coming energy transition.

Fundamentals & processes for photovoltaic devices

The objective of this lecture is to give an in-depth understanding of the physics and manufacturing processes of photovoltaic solar cells and related devices (photodetectors, photoconductors). The principle and techniques addressed in this lecture will be useful in a wide range of related fields.

Large-area electronics: devices and materials

Introduction to the physical concepts involved in the description of optical and electronic transport properties of thin-film semiconductor materials found in many large-area applications (solar cells, displays, imagers, etc) and introduction to the physics of the related devices.

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