Kuan (Alan) Liu

Research Interests

My research projects investigate the reliability of conventional silicon PV modules and new-generation perovskite modules, which is important as we make the shift to renewables and away from fossil fuels! The conventional silicon PV reliability project is in collaboration with NREL and Sandia National Labs, with the following techniques used: adhesion testing, DSC, FTIR, Soxhlet extraction (gel content), gel permeation chromatography, rheometer-DMA, and computational fracture mechanics modeling. I also help out with the modeling side for the perovskite reliability projects.

Feel free to check out the projects that I’m working on below, and reach out if you'd like to discuss getting involved with the group or have questions on mechanical and polymer testing. In my free time, I like to compete in open water swimming, play tennis, check out tattoo art, and listen to rock music.

Projects:

• Predicting Encapsulation Delamination in Photovoltaic Modules Bridging Photochemical Reaction Kinetics and Fracture Mechanics
• Optically Monitored Degradation of Perovskite Solar Modules
• Thin-film thermal debonding fracture analysis of perovskite solar cell device layers

Publications

• K. Liu, D. C. Miller, N. Bosco, R. H. Dauskardt, "Determining the Photochemical Degradation and Crosslinking Kinetics in Photovoltaic Encapsulants Using Accelerated Aging", 2024 IEEE PVSC, accepted.
• K. Liu, P. Thornton, Dagmar R. D'hooge, R.H. Dauskardt, “Predicting Encapsulation Delamination in Photovoltaic Modules Using Photochemical Reaction Kinetics and Fracture Mechanics,” Progress in Photovoltaics, 2023. DOI: 10.1002/pip.3771 http://doi.org/10.1002/pip.3771 
• T.W. Colburn, K. Liu, O. Elsafty, R.H. Dauskardt, "Thin-film debonding fracture model for rapid structural screening of multi-layer perovskite devices", submitted to Advanced Energy Materials.
• M. Fievez, J. Huxel, K. Liu, A. Flick, T.W. Colburn, R.H. Dauskardt, "High-Throughput Optical Monitoring of Spray-coated Perovskite Photovoltaics Under Thermal Stress", in preparation.

Conference Proceedings and Presentations

• Kuan Liu, "Predictive mechanics and photochemical degradation kinetics modeling for polymeric encapsulants", DuraMAT Webinar, April 8, 2024. Oral Presentation. https://www.duramat.org/news-and-events/webinars 
• K. Liu, R.H. Dauskardt, David Miller, Nick Bosco, "Predictive mechanics and photochemical degradation kinetics modeling for polymeric encapsulants", NREL Photovoltaic Reliability Workshop, Lakewood, CO, February 28, 2024. Oral Presentation
• K. Liu, R.H. Dauskardt, David Miller, Nick Bosco, "Degradation mechanisms and the role of sequenced accelerated testing to ensure long-term solar module encapsulation", NREL Photovoltaic Reliability Workshop, Lakewood, CO, February 27-29, 2024. Poster Presentation
• R.H. Dauskardt, K. Liu, D. Miller, N. Bosco, “Predictive Fracture and Photochemical Reaction Kinetics Modeling for Module Encapsulants”, NIST/UL Solutions Workshop on PV Materials Durability, December 5-6, 2023. Oral Presentation
• A. Liu, R.H. Dauskardt, David Miller, Nick Bosco, “Improving Predictive Mechanics and Photochemical Degradation Kinetics Modeling for Polymeric Encapsulants”, Durable Materials Consortium, Albuquerque, NM, September 26, 2023. Oral Presentation
• A. Liu & R.H. Dauskardt, “Predictive fracture mechanics and photochemical reaction kinetics modeling of PV module reliability”, Materials Research Society, San Francisco, CA, April 11 2023. Oral Presentation
• A. Liu & R.H. Dauskardt, “Predictive fracture mechanics and photochemical reaction kinetics modeling of PV module reliability”, Durable Materials Consortium, Breckenridge, CO, August 30, 2022. Oral Presentation

Teaching and Tutoring

• Lecturer & Teaching Assistant (Winter 2024): Matsci 358: Fracture and Fatigue of Materials and Thin Film Structures
• Teaching Assistant (Fall 2023, Fall 2021): Matsci 251: Microstructure & Mechanical Properties
• Teaching Assistant (Spring 2022): Matsci 163/173: Mechanical Behavior Laboratory
• Teaching Assistant: Energy@Stanford & SLAC (Apr. 2021 - Sep. 2021, Apr. 2022 - Sep. 2022)
• Freelance tutor in Santa Clara County (Sep. 2021 - present) (3 hours/wk)
• STEM Tutor for SARC at Stanford (June 2023 - Aug 2023) (18 hours / week)
• High school math & science tutor for DoDream Academy (Aug. 2020 - June 2021) (15 hours/wk)
• Coding Instructor for CodeFu, Volunteer and Freelance Tutor in Alameda County (2015-2019) (3 hours/wk)

Other Contributions:

• FY 2023 DuraMAT Annual Report: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/88805.pdf 
• FY 2022 DuraMAT Annual Report: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy23osti/85350.pdf 

Papers Reviewed (Invited Reviewer):

• JPV-2024-02-0059-R