Expertise
Photovoltaics, advanced crystalline silicon solar cells, perovskite and multi-junction ultra-high efficiency devices, solar module technology and reliability, building integrated photovoltaics, energy systems and storage, specialty detectors with thin and thick film absorber.
Mission
PV‑Lab’s major mission is to advance photovoltaic science, technology, as well as its grid integration, as a cornerstone of the global energy transition, by combining scientific excellence with impactful innovation. Another mission is to capitalize on the immense knowledge and infrastructure for electronic coatings to develop new generation of detectors.
Major research topics
Perovskite–silicon tandem and multi‑junction solar cells, and stability of Perovskite solar cellsHigh‑efficiency crystalline silicon solar cellsNext generation photovoltaicsAdvanced detectors (fast, single photon, ...)Transparent conductive oxides (TCOs) and advanced thin‑film electronicsPackaging, reliability, and lifetime science of PV modulesIntegration of photovoltaics into buildings, vehicles, and energy systems,
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 including reccord novel generation Perovskite on silicon tandem cells, 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.From 2013 to end of 2026, C.Ballif has also been the initiator and the director of the CSEM Sustainable Energy Center, also located in Neuchâtel. This Center focuses on industrialisation and technology transfer in the field of solar energy, including energy management and storage. CSEM operates several "pilot lines" for various kinds of solar cells manufacturing, with advanced coating technologies, wet chemistry processes for crystalline silicon, metalisation techniques for solar cells, perovskite and tandem solar cells, as well as unique platform for developing "ideal packaging solutions and polymers" for PV modules. The joined facitilites between CSEM and EPFL of over 2000 m2 are available for poylmers modules manufacturing, measurement and accelerated aging test. Under his guidance the CSEM sustainable Energy center also pushed for the establishement of full teams and infrastructured related cated to battery storage (from front end batteries to advanced BMS systems), as well as to activities related to the grid and digitalisation of the energy systems.He (co-) authored over 700 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.
Teaching & PhD PhD Students Hilal Aybike Can, Jonas Lasse Diekmann, Vojtech Kliner, Tabea Krucker, Kazem Meraji, Seyedehmaryam Mirirostamkolaei Past EPFL PhD Students Eleonora Annigoni (2018), Luca Antognini (2022), Olatz Arriaga (2023), Kerem Artuk (2025), Rémi Biron (2013), Lionel Bloch (2020), Mathieu Boccard (2012), Alejandro Borja Block (2024), Grégory Bugnon (2013), Jean Cattin (2020), Marine Cauz (2024), Peter Cuony Bühlmann (2011), Bénédicte Demaurex (2014), Laura Ding (2013), Marina Dorokhova (2021), Julie Dreon (2022), Marion Dussouillez (2024), Lorenzo Fanni (2016), Peter Fiala (2022), Andrea Franco (2014), Samira Frey (2023), Jonas Geissbühler (2015), Luca Gnocchi (2022), Quentin Jean-Marie Armand Guesnay (2023), Simon Hänni (2014), Jordan Holweger (2021), Noémie Jeannin (2026), Thomas Andreas Lanz (2013), Hengyu Li (2013), Janina Löffler (2021), Ana Martins (2019), Gizem Nogay (2018), Ebrar Özkalay (2024), Hugo James André Quest (2025), Yannick Samuel Riesen (2016), Oscar Esteban Rucavado Leandro (2019), Florent Sahli (2020), Johannes Peter Seif (2015), Laurie-Lou Senaud (2021), Karin Söderström (2013), Michael Stuckelberger (2014), Josua Andreas Stückelberger (2018), Andrea Tomasi (2016), Arttu Tuomiranta (2020), Deniz Türkay (2026), Jérémie Werner (2018), Simon Jérôme Zeder (2024) Past EPFL PhD Students as codirector Ezgi Genç (2024), Julien Hurni (2026), Mario Lehmann (2022) Courses Energy supply, economics and transition ENG-410 This course examines energy systems from various angles: available resources, how they can be combined or substituted, their private and social costs, whether they can meet the energy demand, and how the transition to a renewable energy system can be fostered. Fundamentals & processes for photovoltaic devices MICRO-565 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.
Awards Becquerel Prize Commission Européenne 2016 Global Solar Scientists Award for outstanding contribution to the technological advancement of solar Energy worlwide SNEC / China 2024 Dr. Honoris Causa University of Ljubljana 2024
