David M. Tanenbaum

Osler-Loucks Professor in Science; Professor of Physics; Chair of Physics and Astronomy
  • Expertise

    Expertise

    David Tanenbaum is an experimental physicist in the field of condensed matter physics, with a strong emphasis on materials and surface science. His research has always been very applied, focusing on growth, characterization, processing and patterning of thin films for solid-state device applications.

    When speaking with those outside the scientific community, he explains that his research interests are related to solar cells, microscopy and methods for fabricating computer chips. Among scientists, he describes his research areas as plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition, hydrogenated amorphous silicon, photovoltaics, scanning probe microscopy, nanometer-scale lithography and nanofabrication processes.

    Research Interests

    • Plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition
    • Hydrogenated amorphous silicon
    • Photovoltaics
    • Scanning probe microscopy
    • Nanometer-scale lithography
    • Nanofabrication processes

    Areas of Expertise

    PHYSICS

    • Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
    • Materials Science
    • Nanotechnology
    • General Physics
  • Work

    Work

    “An Interlaboratory Study on the Stability of All-Printable Hole Transport Material–Free Perovskite Solar Cells,” Energy Technology, 29 April 2020.

    “PbZrTiO 3 ferroelectric oxide as an electron extraction material for stable halide perovskite solar cells,” Sustainable Energy & Fuels, 3, 382-389, 2019, doi: 10.1039/C8SE00451J.

    “Stability of organic solar cells with PCDTBT donor polymer: An interlaboratory study,” Journal of Materials Research, 33(13), 1909-1924. doi:10.1557/jmr.2018.163.

    “Comparative Indoor and Outdoor Degradation of Organic Photovoltaic Cells via Inter-laboratory Collaboration,” Polymers 2016, 8, 1. Special Issue on Organic Photovoltaics, doi:10.3390/polym8010001.

    “Metal Oxides in Photovoltaics: All-Oxide, Ferroic, Organic, and Perovskite Solar Cells,” Book Chapter in The Future of Semiconductor Oxides in Next-Generation Solar Cells 267-356, Elsevier 2018.

    “Comparative Indoor and Outdoor Degradation of Organic Photovoltaic Cells via Inter-laboratory Collaboration,” Polymers 2016, 8, 1. Special Issue on Organic Photovoltaics, doi:10.3390/polym8010001.

    “Worldwide outdoor round robin study of organic photovoltaic devices and modules,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, November 2014, 130, 281-290, ISSN 0927-0248.

    “Stability and degradation of organic photovoltaics fabricated, aged, and characterized by the ISOS 3 inter-laboratory collaboration,” Proc. SPIE 8477, Organic Photovoltaics XIII, 847704 (September 25, 2012); doi:10.1117/12.930451.

    “TOF-SIMS investigation of degradation pathways occurring in a variety of organic photovoltaic devices – the ISOS-3 inter-laboratory collaboration,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2012, 14, 11780-11799, doi: 10.1039/C2CP41787A.

    “On the stability of a variety of organic photovoltaic devices by IPCE and in-situ IPCE analyses - The ISOS-3 inter-laboratory collaboration,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2012.

    “Investigation of the degradation mechanisms of a variety of organic photovoltaic devices by combination of imaging techniques-the ISOS-3 inter-laboratory collaboration,” in Energy & Environmental Science, 2012, 5(4) 6521-6540.

    "The ISOS-3 inter-laboratory collaboration focused on the stability of a variety of organic photovoltaic devices," RSC Advances (2012).

    "Edge sealing for low-cost stability enhancement of roll-to-roll processed flexible polymer solar cell modules," Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, online 19 October 2011, ISSN 0927-0248, 10.1016/j.solmat.2011.09.064.

    "Quality control of roll-to-roll processed polymer solar modules by complementary imaging methods," in Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, online 22 October 2011, ISSN 0927-0248, 10.1016/j.solmat.2011.10.005.

    "Generation of native polythiophene/PCBM composite nanoparticles via the combination of ultrasonic micronization of droplets and thermocleaving from aqueous dispersion," Nanotechnology, 22, 475301 doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/22/47/475301.

    "Current Collecting Grids for ITO-Free Solar Cells," Advanced Energy Materials. doi: 10.1002/aenm.201100552.

    “The OE-A OPV demonstrator anno domini 2011,” Energy and Environmental. Science, 2011, 4, 4116-4123 doi: 10.1039/C1EE01891D.

    "Roll-to-Roll Processing of Inverted Polymer Solar Cells using Hydrated Vanadium(V)Oxide as a PEDOT:PSS Replacement," Materials, Vol. 4, No. 1, 169-183 Jan 2011.

    “Mechanical Properties of Suspended Graphene Sheets,” Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, Vol. 25, No. 6, 2558-2561 Nov/Dec. 2007.

    “Electromechanical Resonators from Graphene Sheets,” Science, Vol. 315 (5811), 490-493, Jan. 2007.

    “Measurement of the Adhesion Force between Carbon Nanotubes and a Silicon Dioxide Substrate,” Nano Letters., Vol. 6, No. 5, 953-957 (2006).

    “A Maskless Photolithographic Prototyping System using a Low-cost Consumer Projector and a Microscope,” American Journal of Physics, October 2005, Vol. 73(10), 980-984.

    “Dual Exposure Glass Layer Suspended Structures (DEGLaSS): A novel fabrication process for glass microfluidic nanostructures on planar substrates,” Micro Total Analysis Systems 2001, p.391 (2001).

    “Dual Exposure Glass Layer Suspended Structures (DEGLaSS): A simplified fabrication process for suspended nanostructures on planar substrates,” Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, 19, 2829 (2001).

    “Charge induced pattern distortion in low energy electron beam lithography,” Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, 18, 3122 (2000).

    “Patterning of octadecylsiloxane self-assembled monolayers on Si(100) using Ar(3P0,2) atoms,” Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, 17, 1087 (1999).

    “Low energy electron beam top surface image processing using chemically amplified AXT resist,” Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, Vol. 15, no. 6, p. 2555, Nov/Dec 1997.

    "High resolution electron beam lithography using ZEP-520 and KRS resists at low and high voltage," Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, Vol. 14, no. 6, p. 3829, Nov/Dec 1996.

    "Fabrication of arrayed glassy carbon field emitters," Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B., Vol. 15, no. 2, p. 343, Mar/Apr 1997.

    "Titanium nitride coated tungsten cold field emission sources," Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, Vol 14, no. 6, p. 3787, Nov/Dec 1996.

    "Surface roughening during plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition of hydrogenated amorphous silicon on crystal silicon substrates," Physical Review B., Vol. 56, no. 7, p. 4243, August 15, 1997.

    "Nanoparticle deposition in hydrogenated amorphous silicon films during rf plasma deposition," Applied Physics Letters., Vol. 68, no. 12, p. 1705, March 18, 1996.

    "Growth and nucleation of hydrogenated amorphous silicon on silicon (100) surfaces," Amorphous Silicon Technology - 1995. MRS Proc. 

    "Nanoscale study of the hydrogenated amorphous silicon surface," Amorphous Silicon Technology - 1994. MRS Proc.

    "Nanoscale study of the as-grown hydrogenated amorphous silicon surface," Journal of Applied Physics., Vol. 74, no. 1, p. 91, July 1, 1993.

    "Construction of silicon nanocolumns with the scanning tunneling microscope," Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 61, no. 8, p. 925, August 24, 1992. 

  • Education

    Education

    Ph.D.
    University of Colorado, Boulder

    Master of Science
    University of Colorado, Boulder

    Bachelor of Science
    Harvey Mudd College

  • Awards & Honors

    Awards & Honors

    National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation award for 2019-2021: $442,960 

    Acquisition of a Standardized Integrated Toolset for Photovoltaics Fabrication and Characterization by J. A. Hudgings, D. M. Tanenbaum and H. Van Ryswyk.

    Hirsch Grant Award for 2018-2020: Fabrication and Characterization of Low-Cost Perovskite Solar Cells.

    NISE Network NanoDays Kit 2013-2015: Outreach program materials funded by the NSF.

    National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation award for 2011-2014: $546,273 

    Acquisition of a Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope at a Primarily Undergraduate Consortium by D. M. Tanenbaum, C. J. Taylor, H. van Ryswk, E. Orwin, N. Lape, J.S. Lackey, and R. R. Gaines.

    The American-Scandinavian Foundation Scan|Design Award for 2010-2011 funded by the Inger and Jens Bruun Foundation.

    National Science Foundation Major Research Instrumentation award for 2006-2007: $159,886

    Acquisition of EDS Microanalysis and Nanometer Pattern Generation Systems for Electron Microscopy Facilities at a Primarily Undergraduate Consortium by D. M. Tanenbaum, C. J. Taylor, and R. R. Gaines.

    National Science Foundation NSEC Award to Cornell University Renewal for 2006-2010: Center for Nanoscale Systems: $11,600,000 (Subcontract to Pomona College: $150,000.)

    Mellon Foundation Semester Research Leave for Spring 2005: $35,000.

    National Science Foundation Research Opportunity Award for 2004-2005: Cornell University Center for Materials Research Visiting Collaboration: $57,986.

    Best Optical Micrograph EIPBN International Symposium (2004) – “Warp speed ahead”

    Most Bizarre Micrograph EIPBN International Symposium (2004) – “Fishing with carbon nanotubes”

    Best Photon Micrograph EIPBN International Symposium (2001) – “Bright Lights – Nano-City”

    National Science Foundation NSEC Award to Cornell University for 2001-2006: Center for Nanoscale Systems: $11,600,000 (Subcontract to Pomona: $150,000.)

    American Chemical Society – Petroleum Research Fund Type G Grant for 2000-2003: Fabrication of Metallic Quantized Conductance Devices by Atomic Force Microscopy: $25,000.

    National Science Foundation Research Opportunity Award for 2000-2001: Lithography and Novel Fabrication Processes for Nanoelectrical Mechanical Systems: $42,531.

    Research Corporation Cottrell College Science Award for 1998-2002: Scanned probe anodic oxidation processing of ultra-thin metallic films for quantized-conductance device fabrication: $39,980.