YSU PhD Student Publishes Research on Improving Solar Materials through Spray Pyrolysis

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Oct. 4, 2025 - PRLog -- Solomon Atta, a PhD student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Youngstown State University, has published a new research article exploring how a simple spray technique can improve materials used in solar energy devices.

The paper, titled "Unraveling Spray Pyrolysis Mechanisms: Droplet Dynamics and Film Formation in CdTe Thin-Film Photocathodes," was published in the Current Journal of Applied Science and Technology (2025).

Atta's research explains how droplets of chemical solutions behave during the spray pyrolysis process—a low-cost method used to create thin layers of material that convert sunlight into electricity. His study shows how adjusting temperature, droplet size, and solution chemistry can improve the quality and performance of cadmium telluride (CdTe) films used in solar cells and photocathodes.

"My goal is to develop cleaner, more affordable methods for producing solar materials that can make renewable energy accessible to more communities," Atta said.

The full article can be accessed at:

• DOI:
• 10.9734/cjast/2025/v44i94607 (https://doi.org/10.9734/cjast/2025/v44i94607)