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headshot of Tara Dhakal

Tara Dhakal

Associate Professor; Director

Electrical and Computer Engineering; Center for Autonomous Solar Power (CASP)

Background

Tara P. Dhakal received his BS from Tribhuvan University of Nepal, his MS from Shimane University in Japan, and his PhD from the University of Florida. His research interests include renewable energy, in particular solar energy with the research goal of achieving solar cell technology that is environmentally benign and economically affordable. In last few years, I have been using earth abundant and non-toxic materials to fabricate solar cells so that the cost of electricity from solar cells becomes comparable or lower than that obtained from fossil fuels. My other interests include thin film semiconductor devices and sensors.

Education

  • BS, Tribhuvan University
  • MS, Shimane University, Japan
  • PhD, University of Florida

Research Interests

  • Renewable energy (photovoltaics)
  • Energy storage
  • Thin film semiconductor devices
  • Atomic layer deposition
  • Transparent conductors
  • Spintronics (complex magnetic oxides and dilute magnetic semiconductors

Teaching Interests

  • Semiconductor device physics
  • Micro-fabrication
  • Electromagnetism
  • Quantum physics

Awards

  • NSF CAREER Award for his project "CAREER: Toward Twenty Year Lifetime: Hermetic Sealing for Perovskite Solar Cells"