Faculty and Staff

Christos Ferekides, PhD

Professor
IEEE Senior Member

Office: ENB 379B 

Phone: 813-974-4818

Email

Christos Ferekides


Research Interests

Dr. Ferekides research is in the area of opto-electronics with emphasis on thin film photovoltaics.  His research group has worked on thin film PV materials including cadmium telluride (CdTe) and alloys, copper indium gallium diselinide (CuInGaSe2) and its alloys, and transparent conductors and buffers.  Sponsors of his research include federal agencies, private industry and international organizations such as the Department of Energy (DOE), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) of Japan, the Research Promotion Foundation  (RPF) of Cyprus, Umicore, Spire Corporation, Constellation Technology, and others.

Current and Recent Grants

Current
Title Toward High Efficiency n-Cd(Se)Te Solar Cells
Funding Agency NREL
Amount $375,000
Duration 07/2023 – 01/2026
Title An Organized Revolution for the Professional Formation of Electrical Engineers
Funding Agency NSF
Amount $2,000,000
Duration 07/2020 – 07/2025

 

Recent
Title Novel n-type Device Architectures to Achieve 1 Volt VOC in Thin Film CdTe cells
Funding Agency DOE
Amount $1,000,000
Duration 10/2019 – 09/2023
Title Understanding and Harnessing Structural Defects, Doping, Passivation, and Alloying to Increase VOC and Efficiency of CdTe Solar Cells
Funding Agency NSF
Amount $225,000
Duration 09/2017 – 08/2020

Biography

Dr. Ferekides received his PhD in Electrical Engineering from the University of South 51ÔÚÏß (USF) in 1991.
He is currently a professor and chair of the Electrical Engineering Department at USF.

Back to top


Teaching

  • EGN 3373 Electrical Systems I
    A first course in electrical systems: AC/DC circuit analysis, electronics (diodes, transistors, operational amplifiers), digital circuits (logic gates, K-maps), control systems concepts (final value theorem), electrical safety, and AC power
  • EEE 3302 Electronics 1
    A course in the physical principles of electronic devices with emphasis on semi-conductor electronics. Includes the analysis and design of amplifiers and switching circuits.
  • EEE 3394 Electrical Engineering Science I - Electronic Materials 
    This course provides electrical and computer engineering students with a strong background in material science and quantum physics as they relate to electrical/electronic material and device properties and applications.
  • EEL 3115L Laboratory I
    Basic circuit theory applications; computer-aided design tools, electrical measurement techniques.
  • EEE 6354 Semiconductor Device Physics Foundations
    This is the first module in a sequence of modules which address the topic of Semiconductor Device Theory. Its objective is to provide the Physics foundations needed to develop and understand the operating principles of semiconductor devices.
  • EEE 6352 Electronic Materials, Defects, and Junctions
    This course addresses the fundamental properties of electronic materials used to fabricate semiconductor devices. The objective is to understand these properties and be able to manipulate them to provide the full range of options for fabricating devices. The effect of defects on these properties is discussed. Contacts between materials and junction formation is then addressed.

Back to top


People

Former PhD Students

  • Chih-An Hsu (PhD EE 2019)


  • Shamara Collins (PhD EE, 2018)


  • Imran Khan (PhD EE 2017)


  • Vamsi Evani (PhD EE 2017)


  • Vassilios Palekis (PhD EE 2010)

  • Deidra Hodges(PhD EE 2009)


  • Hehong Zhao, (PhD EE 2008)


  • Bhaskar Tetali, (PhD EE - 2001)


  • Vijay Viswanathan, (PhD EE 2001)


  • Robert Mamazza (PhD ES - 2003)


  • Igor Tarasov, (PhD EE)

  • Valery Komin (PhDEE - 2001)


  • Zhiyong Zhao (PhD EE - 2000)


  • Dmitriy Marinsky, (PhD EE - 1998)

 

Post-Doctoral Fellows

  • Iuliana Caraman; Visiting Fulbright Scholar; 2015-2016
  • Sergiu Vatavu; Visiting Fulbright Scholar; 2013-2014


  • Xianjin Feng;  2011-2013

  • Dongna Shen; 2009-2011


  • Nowshad Amin; 2000-2001

Back to top