For over a decade, The University of Tulsa and four other Oklahoma universities have engaged in an exciting consortium focused on education and research programs related to next generation solar cells.
The Oklahoma Photovoltaic Research Institute (OKPVRI) includes UTulsa, the University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University, Northeastern State University, and the University of Central Oklahoma. Faculty members are drawn from physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering.
Parameswar Hari, a UTulsa professor of physics and engineering physics, initiated OKPVRI in 2012 after receiving a NASA Established Program to Stimulate Collaborative Research grant.
“The then-president of the university, Dr. Steadman Upham, proposed the formation of interdisciplinary institutes at UTulsa around 2011,” said Hari, who serves as director of the institute. “I approached the then-provost, Dr. Roger Blais, to support the formation of a new multidisciplinary institute. Thankfully, it was approved.”
The primary goal of OKPVRI is to foster active and sustainable collaboration across Oklahoma in research, education, and outreach and to consolidate resources in terms of expertise and infrastructure to support such efforts. The institute’s first symposium had 12 attendees in 2012. Last year, there were 65 participants, and participation expanded to Texas.
This year, the OKPVRI Annual Symposium will be held on April 26 at the University of Central Oklahoma. Plenary speakers from the University of Buffalo and Arizona State University will discuss their research.
The 2025 theme is perovskite solar cells. “About 90% of solar cells are made of one material. In the past 10 years, a new material, perovskite, has been discovered,” Hari said. “This new material is revolutionizing solar energy production. There is a lot of excitement about developing high-efficiency solar cells using perovskites.”
The institute is collaborating with NASA to manufacture perovskites under the Artemis project on the moon’s surface. In addition to perovskites, the institute is also working to develop agrivoltaics, a combination of agriculture and solar cells, in Oklahoma and is conducting a project on surface modification of silicon solar cells.
“I enjoy interacting with faculty from different universities and industries in Oklahoma,” Hari concluded. “Through collaborative proposals, we have successfully obtained external funds from federal and state agencies to support our research.”