1986 …2023

Research Activity per Year

Overview

Personal Profile

Sarah Kurtz is a research fellow with the National Center for Photovoltaics and a professor at the University of California Merced. As a research fellow, she contributes to select NREL projects. Kurtz is a world-renowned expert in the fields of multijunction photovoltaics (PV), concentrator PV, and PV reliability. Kurtz and NREL colleague Jerry Olson championed the early use of multijunction solar cells by showing that a top cell of gallium indium phosphide (GaInP) and a bottom cell of gallium arsenide (GaAs) can capture and convert photons more efficiently into electricity than previous attempts at using other materials. This breakthrough was embraced by NASA, which uses multi-junction solar cells based on this invention to power many space satellites, as well as the Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity. 

Education/Academic Qualification

PhD, Chemical Physics, Harvard University

Bachelor, Chemistry and Physics, The Manchester College

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Collaborations and Top Research Areas From the Past 5 Years

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