Kurt Barth

Dr. Kurt Barth is an Associate Research Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Colorado State University, affiliated with the Walter Scott, Jr. College of Engineering. He serves as Associate Director of the Next Generation Photovoltaics Center and holds expertise in CdTe photovoltaic materials, strategic leadership, and thin-film solar R&D. His work bridges academia and industry, including co-founding Abound Solar, a CdTe solar manufacturer that secured over $300M in funding.

Education: Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Colorado State University. Research focuses on photovoltaic materials science, thin-film semiconductor fabrication, and advanced module architectures. Key contributions include optimizing ZnO buffer layers, CdSeTe alloy processing, and non-lamination encapsulation techniques for cost-effective solar modules.

His articles emphasize CdTe efficiency improvements, material characterization, and manufacturing innovations. Over $20M in federal project funding highlights his leadership in federally sponsored programs. Current work addresses agrivoltaic systems and durability of anti-soiling coatings for solar modules.

Labs/Teams: Active in the Next Generation Photovoltaics Center, collaborating on material discovery, advanced fabrication, and scalable solar technologies.