K. Xerxes Steirer PhD

Publications available at Google Scholar.

My scientific research so far includes a heavy emphasis on photoelectron spectroscopy, device physics and emerging materials for renewable energy applications.  Successful collaborations with leading scientists, professors, postdocs and students have led to several rewarding accomplishments.  Grant writing and new funding efforts continue to play a growing role in my research with new ideas generated from the interdisciplinary research environment offered at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).  My role at NREL has been a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow, which has provided me great freedom to invent and create new experimental methods for the study of condensed matter. I’m now applying these new approaches on key materials for energy generation, conversion and storage.

• Improving Photostability of Cesium-Doped Formamidinium Lead Triiodide Perovskite
  Anthony Donakowski, D Westley Miller, Nicholas C Anderson, Anthony Ruth, Erin M Sanehira, Joseph J Berry, Michael D Irwin, Angus Rockett, K Xerxes Steirer
  ACS Energy Letters 6,574-580
• Anomalous electronic properties in layered, disordered ZnVSb
  Erik A Bensen, Kamil Ciesielski, Lídia C Gomes, Brenden R Ortiz, Johannes Falke, Orest Pavlosiuk, Daniel Weber, Tara L Braden, Kenneth X Steirer, Damian Szymański, Joshua E Goldberger, Chang-Yang Kuo, Chien-Te Chen, Chun-Fu Chang, Liu Hao Tjeng, Dariusz Kaczorowski, Elif Ertekin, Eric S Toberer
  Physical Review Materials 5(1), 015002

• Advances in multiscale modeling of lignocellulosic biomass
  Peter N Ciesielski, M Brennan Pecha, Aaron M Lattanzi, Vivek S Bharadwaj, Meagan F Crowley, Lintao Bu, Josh V Vermaas, K Xerxes Steirer, Michael F Crowley
  ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering 8 (9), 3512-3531

• Graded catalytic-protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode
  John Augustus Turner, Jing Gu, Jeffery Andrew Aguiar, Suzanne Ferrere, Kenneth Xerxes Steirer, Yong Yan, XIAO Chuanxiao, James Luke Young, AL-JASSIM Mowafak, Nathan Richard Neale
  US Patent 10532927

• Simultaneous ozone and granular activated carbon for advanced treatment of micropollutants in municipal wastewater effluent
  H Vatankhah, SM Riley, C Murray, O Quiñones, KX Steirer, …
  Chemosphere
• Electrochemical Properties and Challenges of Type II Silicon Clathrate Anode in Sodium Ion Batteries
  X Li, KX Steirer, L Krishna, C Xiao, K Fink, S Santhanagopalan
  Journal of The Electrochemical Society 166 (13), A3051-A3058

• Multi-Messenger In-situ Tolerance Optimization of Mixed Perovskite Photovoltaics
  Xerxes Steirer
  Department of Energy Funded Project, Energy.Gov
• Graded catalytic-protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode
  JA TURNER, J Gu, JA AGUIAR, S FERRERE, KX STEIRER, Y Yan, …
  US Patent App. 15/865,874
• Operando X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of solid electrolyte interphase formation and evolution in Li 2 SP 2 S 5 solid-state electrolytes
  KN Wood, KX Steirer, SE Hafner, C Ban, S Santhanagopalan, SH Lee, …
  Nature Communications 9 (1), 2490
• An artificial interphase enables reversible magnesium chemistry in carbonate electrolytes
  SB Son, T Gao, SP Harvey, KX Steirer, A Stokes, A Norman, C Wang, …
  Nature chemistry 10 (5), 532
• Critical Interface States Controlling Rectification of Ultrathin NiO–ZnO p–n Heterojunctions
  KX Steirer, KL Ou, NR Armstrong, EL Ratcliff
  ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 9 (36), 31111-31118
• Doubly Triggered Conductance Across Thin Zinc Oxysulfide Films
  A Givon, KX Steirer, E Segre, H Cohen
  Applied Physics Letters 113 (9), 091602

• Ru-Sn/AC for the Aqueous-Phase Reduction of Succinic Acid to 1, 4-Butanediol under Continuous Process Conditions
  DR Vardon, AE Settle, V Vorotnikov, MJ Menart, TR Eaton, KA Unocic, …
  ACS Catalysis 7 (9), 6207-6219
• Effect of ZnSe/GaAs interface treatment in ZnSe quality control for optoelectronic device applications
  K Park, D Beaton, KX Steirer, K Alberi
  Applied Surface Science 405, 247-254
• A Molecular Cobalt Catalyst Architected and TiO2 Modified p-GaInP2 Photoelectrode for Hydrogen Production
  J Gu, Y Yan, J Young, K Steirer, NR Neale, JA Turner
  NREL (National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States))
• Covalent Surface Modification of Gallium Arsenide Photocathodes for Water Splitting in Highly Acidic Electrolyte
  LE Garner, KX Steirer, JL Young, NC Anderson, EM Miller, JS Tinkham, …
  ChemSusChem 10 (4), 767-773
• Solution processed metal oxide thin film hole transport layers for high performance organic solar cells
  KX Steirer, JJ Berry, JP Chesin, MT Lloyd, NE Widjonarko, A Miedaner, …
  US Patent 9,543,537
• A graded catalytic–protective layer for an efficient and stable water-splitting photocathode
  J Gu, JA Aguiar, S Ferrere, KX Steirer, Y Yan, C Xiao, JL Young, …
  Nature Energy 2, 16192
• Defect Tolerance in Methylammonium Lead Triiodide Perovskite
  KX Steirer, P Schulz, G Teeter, V Stevanovic, M Yang, K Zhu, JJ Berry
  ACS Energy Letters 1 (2), 360-366

• Effects of humidity during formation of zinc oxide electron contact layers from a diethylzinc precursor solution
  SA Mauger, KX Steirer, J Boé, DP Ostrowski, DC Olson, SR Hammond
  Organic Electronics 31, 63-70
• Water reduction by a p-GaInP2 photoelectrode stabilized by an amorphous TiO2 coating and a molecular cobalt catalyst
  J Gu, Y Yan, JL Young, KX Steirer, NR Neale, JA Turner
  Nature materials 15 (4), 456-460
• Experimental and computational investigation of acetic acid deoxygenation over oxophilic molybdenum carbide: Surface chemistry and active site identity
  JA Schaidle, J Blackburn, CA Farberow, C Nash, KX Steirer, J Clark, …
  ACS Catalysis 6 (2), 1181-1197
• cis, cis-Muconic acid: separation and catalysis to bio-adipic acid for nylon-6, 6 polymerization
  DR Vardon, NA Rorrer, D Salvachúa, AE Settle, CW Johnson, MJ Menart, …
  Green Chemistry 18 (11), 3397-3413
• Remarkable stability of unmodified GaAs photocathodes during hydrogen evolution in acidic electrolyte
  JL Young, KX Steirer, MJ Dzara, JA Turner, TG Deutsch
  Journal of Materials Chemistry A 4 (8), 2831-2836
• Quantitative Study on the Chemical Solution Deposition of Zinc Oxysulfide
  M Reinisch, CL Perkins, KX Steirer
  ECS Journal of Solid State Science and Technology 5 (2), P58-P66
• Phosphonic Acid Modification of GaInP2 Photocathodes Toward Unbiased Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
  BA MacLeod, KX Steirer, JL Young, U Koldemir, A Sellinger, JA Turner, …
  ACS applied materials & interfaces 7 (21), 11346-11350

• Effects of deposition termination on Cu 2 ZnSnSe 4 device characteristics
  IL Repins, JV Li, A Kanevce, CL Perkins, KX Steirer, J Pankow, G Teeter, …
  Thin Solid Films 582, 184-187
• Co-solvent enhanced zinc oxysulfide buffer layers in Kesterite copper zinc tin selenide solar cells
  KX Steirer, RL Garris, JV Li, MJ Dzara, PF Ndione, K Ramanathan, …
  Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 17 (23), 15355-15364
• Nickel oxide interlayer films from nickel formate–ethylenediamine precursor: influence of annealing on thin film properties and photovoltaic device performance
  KX Steirer, RE Richards, AK Sigdel, A Garcia, PF Ndione, S Hammond, …
  Journal of Materials Chemistry A 3 (20), 10949-10958
• Band alignment of CBD deposited Zn(O,S)/Cu(In_1−xGa_x)Se₂ interface
  JW Pankow, KX Steirer, LM Mansfield, RL Garris, K Ramanathan, …
  Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC), 2014 IEEE 40th, 1670-1673

• Photoelectron spectroscopy, and photovoltaic device study of Cu₂ZnSnSe₄ and ZnO_xS_1−x buffer layer interface
  KX Steirer, RL Garris, C Beall, A Kanevce, K Ramanathan, I Repins, …
  Photovoltaic Specialist Conference (PVSC), 2014 IEEE 40th, 0847-0851
• Pentafluorophenoxy Boron Subphthalocyanine (F5BsubPc) as a Multifunctional Material for Organic Photovoltaics
  GE Morse, JL Gantz, KX Steirer, NR Armstrong, TP Bender
  ACS applied materials & interfaces 6 (3), 1515-1524
• Energy Level Alignment and Morphology of Ag and Au Nanoparticle Recombination Contacts in Tandem Planar Heterojunction Solar Cells
  KX Steirer, GA MacDonald, S Olthof, J Gantz, EL Ratcliff, A Kahn, …
  The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 117 (43), 22331-22340

• Highly‐Tunable Nickel Cobalt Oxide as a Low‐Temperature P‐Type Contact in Organic Photovoltaic Devices
  PF Ndione, A Garcia, NE Widjonarko, AK Sigdel, KX Steirer, DC Olson, …
  Advanced Energy Materials 3 (4), 524-531
• Structure–processing–property correlations in solution-processed, small-molecule, organic solar cells
  BH Wunsch, M Rumi, NR Tummala, C Risko, DY Kang, KX Steirer, …
  Journal of Materials Chemistry C 1 (34), 5250-5260
• Titanium dioxide electron-selective interlayers created by chemical vapor deposition for inverted configuration organic solar cells
  KL Ou, D Tadytin, KX Steirer, D Placencia, M Nguyen, P Lee, …
  Journal of Materials Chemistry A 1 (23), 6794-6803
• Understanding energy level alignment in PCDTBT: PC 70 BM solar cells
  EL Ratcliff, A Garcia, SR Cowan, J Meyer, KX Steirer, SA Paniagua, …
  Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2012 38th IEEE, 003377-003379

• Solution processed metal oxide thin film hole transport layers for high performance organic solar cells
  KX Steirer, JJ Berry, JP Chesin, MT Lloyd, NE Widjonarko, A Miedaner, …
  US Patent App. 13/301,389
• Energy level alignment in PCDTBT: PC 70 BM solar cells: solution processed NiOx for improved hole collection and efficiency
  EL Ratcliff, J Meyer, KX Steirer, NR Armstrong, D Olson, A Kahn
  Organic Electronics 13 (5), 744-749
• Alkyl Surface Treatments of Planar Zinc Oxide in Hybrid Organic/Inorganic Solar Cells
  CG Allen, DJ Baker, TM Brenner, CC Weigand, JM Albin, KX Steirer, …
  The Journal of Physical Chemistry C 116 (16), 8872-8880
• Evidence for near-Surface NiOOH Species in Solution-Processed NiO x Selective Interlayer Materials: Impact on Energetics and the Performance of Polymer Bulk Heterojunction …
  EL Ratcliff, J Meyer, KX Steirer, A Garcia, JJ Berry, DS Ginley, DC Olson, …
  Chemistry of Materials 23 (22), 4988-5000

• Enhanced efficiency in plastic solar cells via energy matched solution processed NiOx interlayers
  KX Steirer, PF Ndione, NE Widjonarko, MT Lloyd, J Meyer, EL Ratcliff, …
  Advanced Energy Materials 1 (5), 813-820
• Solution deposited NiO thin-films as hole transport layers in organic photovoltaics
  KX Steirer, JP Chesin, NE Widjonarko, JJ Berry, A Miedaner, DS Ginley, …
  Organic Electronics 11 (8), 1414-1418

• ZnO nanorod hybrid organic/inorganic solar cells and the effect of surface modifications
  CC Weigand, DJ Baker, JM Adamson, CG Allen, MR Bergren, KX Steirer, …
• Optimization of organic photovoltaic devices using tuned mixed metal oxide contact layers
  KX Steirer, NE Widjonarko, AK Sigdel, MT Lloyd, DS Ginley, DC Olson, …
  Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2010 35th IEEE, 000102-000104
• Enhanced lifetime in unencapsulated organic photovoltaics with air stable electrodes
  MT Lloyd, DC Olson, JJ Berry, N Kopidakis, MO Reese, KX Steirer, …
  Photovoltaic Specialists Conference (PVSC), 2010 35th IEEE, 001060-001063
• Bulk-heterojunction Solar Cells: Improved Efficiency Via Nickel Oxide Front Contacts
  KX Steirer
  Colorado School of Mines
• Ultrasonic spray deposition for production of organic solar cells
  KX Steirer, MO Reese, BL Rupert, N Kopidakis, DC Olson, RT Collins, …
  Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells 93 (4), 447-453

• Ultrasonically sprayed and inkjet printed thin film electrodes for organic solar cells
  KX Steirer, JJ Berry, MO Reese, MFAM van Hest, A Miedaner, …
  Thin Solid Films 517 (8), 2781-2786
• Use of direct write methods for reduced cost photovoltaics
  MFAM van Hest, A Miedaner, CJ Curtis, J Leisch, P Hersh, K Steirer, …
  NIP & Digital Fabrication Conference 2008 (2), 902-902

• Advancing spray deposition for low-cost solar cell production
  KX Steirer, MO Reese, BL Rupert, N Kopidakis, DC Olson, DS Ginley, …