Dr. Miller has a background in mechanical engineering with an emphasis on materials science. 

Dr. Miller specializes in weathering and materials characterization of photovoltaic (PV) packaging materials. His current activities include research on: encapsulation and backsheets materials; contamination and abrasion of anti-reflective/anti-soiling coatings; and the dieletectric breakdown of packaging materials. Recent projects include the "optical side" of concentrated PV, including materials for encapsulation and optical components (lenses);adhesives, including the junction box; and reliability of thin-film PV, including transparent conductive oxides.

Advancements related to PV packaging are reflected in the PV standards community, specifically Working Group 2 (PV Modules) of Technical Committee 82 in the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). David presently chairs the following: Task Group 5 of the international PV Quality Assurance Task Force (PVQAT), focusing on ultraviolet weathering of encapsulant materials; PVQAT Task Group 12-3, focusing on the abrasion of incident surfaces; and the IEC 62788-1 encapsulant materials standards group.

Dr. Miller is known for his characterization and reliability assessment of micro- and nanomaterials. Past studies include mechanical robustness of nanoscale thick films, deposited by atomic layer deposition and molecular layer deposition, for chemical permeation barrier applications; galvanic corrosion in silicon/metal systems for microelectromechanical systems applications; mechanical properties of nanowire materials; thermomechanical reliability of gold/silicon system for optical microelectromechanical systems applications.

Memberships

• American National Standards Institute
• The International Society for Optical Engineering

Education

Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado-Boulder

M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota 

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota 

Featured Work

D.C. Miller, E. Annigoni, A. Ballion, J.G. Bokria, L.S. Bruckman, D.M. Burns, X. Chen, L. Elliott, J. Feng, R.H. French, S. Fowler, C.C. Honeker, M.D. Kempe, H. Khonkar, M. Köhl, L.-E. Perret-Aebi, N.H. Phillips, K.P. Scott, F. Sculati-Meillaud, and J.H. Wohlgemuth, “Degradation in PV Encapsulant Strength of Attachment: An Interlaboratory Study Towards a Climate-Specific Test,” Proc. IEEE PVSC 2016, 33. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/65539.pdf.

D.C. Miller, E. Annigoni, A. Ballion, J.G. Bokria, L.S. Bruckman, D.M. Burns, C. Chen, L. Elliott, L. Feng, R.H. French, S. Fowler, X. Gu, P.L. Hacke, C.C. Honeker, M.D. Kempe, H. Khonkar, M. Köhl, L.-E. Perret-Aebi, N.H. Phillips, K.P. Scott, F. Sculati-Meillaud, T. Shioda, S. Suga, S. Watanabe, and J.H. Wohlgemuth, “Degradation in PV Encapsulation Transmittance: An Interlaboratory Study Towards a Climate-Specific Test,” Proc IEEE PVSC, 2015, 972. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/63508.pdf, presentation: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy15osti/64628.pdf.

C. Cai, D.C. Miller, I.A. Tappan, and R.H. Dauskardt, “Degradation of Thermally-Cured Silicone Encapsulant Under Terrestrial UV,” Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 157, 2016, 346–353. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solmat.2016.05.065.

D.C. Miller, M.D. Kempe, M.T. Muller, M.H. Gray, K. Araki, and S.R. Kurtz, “Durability of Polymeric Encapsulation Materials in a PMMA/Glass Concentrator Photovoltaic System,”  in press: Progress in Photovoltaics. DOI: 10.1002/pip.2796, presentation: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy16osti/66332.pdf.

D.C. Miller, J. Apezteguia, J.G. Bokria, M. Köhl, N.E. Powell, M.E. Smith, M.D. White, H.R. Wilson, and J.H. Wohlgemuth, 2013. "Examination of an Optical Transmittance Test for Photovoltaic Encapsulation Materials," Proceedings SPIE 2013, 8825–8. Golden, CO:  National Renewable Energy Laboratory, paper: NREL/CP- 5200-60029. www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/60029.pdf ; presentation: NREL/PR-5200-60379. www.nrel.gov/docs/fy13osti/60379.pdf.

D.C. Miller, J.D Carloni, D.K. Johnson, J.W. Pankow, E.L. Gjersing, B. To, C.E. Packard, C.E. Kennedy, and S.R. Kurtz, 2013. "An Investigation of the Changes in Poly(Methyl Methacrylate) Specimens after Exposure to Ultra-Violet, Heat, and Humidity," Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 111, 2013, 165–80, DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2012.05.043.

D.C. Miller, and S.R. Kurtz, 2011. "Durability of Fresnel Lenses: A Review Specific to the Concentrating Photovoltaic Application," Solar Energy Materials and Solar Cells, 95(8), 2037–68. DOI: 10.1016/j.solmat.2011.01.031.

D.C. Miller, M.D. Kempe, C.E. Kennedy, and S.R. Kurtz, 2011. "Analysis of Transmitted Optical Spectrum Enabling Accelerated Testing of Multi-Junction CPV Designs," Optical Engineering, 50(1), 013003. DOI: 10.1117/1.3530092.