MOT DU DIRECTEUR

Since its creation in 2012, the C.R.T.S.E is promoting and developing silicon technologies in Algeria for photovoltaic applications but also optoelectronic systems and detection systems. With about 3650 hours of sun per year for an average of 20 °C, Algeria is definitively a place where photovoltaic and related technologies can have a real impact on the socio-economic situation of the country.
The C.R.T.S.E capitalized since nearly a quarter century of R&D undeniable technological know-how in the field of silicon material and semiconductors in general.
In the field of the materials science and technology, the C.R.T.S.E became the major Algerian R&D actor and developed local partnerships with the best universities and research Centers: University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene (USTHB), University M’Hamed Bougara of Boumerdes (UMBB), University of Tlemcen, University of Constantine, Development Centre of Renewable Energies (CDER), Development Centre of Advanced Technologies (CDTA), and international IEMN (Lille-France), LPMC (Palaiseau – France), INRIM (Torino-Italy), Fraunhofer (Halle-Germany)
The research activities in the C.R.T.S.E are focusing on three main axis, namely:

• Materials technology and devices for photovoltaic applications (solar cells and modules). Our projects are in conformity with the priorities and the trends of the international programs of research and development. That understands research in “crystalline silicon” (90% of the worldwide market for the photovoltaic one), “thin films” (with a significant growth on the market), and research on innovating and emergent new materials (CIGS, InSe, CdTe, ZnO, TiO2, etc.).
• Development and Fabrication of Lithium-Ion Batteries for Energy Storage.
• The study of surfaces and interfaces for applications in sensor devices, optoelectronics and photonics. The research is focused on the design and the manufacturing of devices with structured and hybrid materials for the fields of telecommunication, environment, health and energy. The range of activities includes the simulation and the modeling of the phenomena which proceed on the structure and compound, the analysis of the macro and nano-scale properties based on the physicochemical, the electrochemical, electric and electro-optical techniques.
• The technological crystalline growth, treatment, development and processes.

The C.R.T.S.E is implied in the applied research, and the scientific and technological domains covered by the center are clearly directed towards industry. To fill the existing gap between research and industry, the center developed a partnership with the commercial actors and reinforced the links with the end-user to adopt an approach bottom-up in their research projects.

In 2013, the C.R.T.S.E employed 86 researchers working in 13 research teams, 42 PhD students (coming from 6 partner universities) and 40 supports for research. Our researchers produced many patents and publications of high level and present every year their results in various scientific journals and international conferences, which is a great success for the Center. We organize regularly internationals conferences NaSEC’2014 _ March 2014, ICM3E’2014 _ November 2014, Worshops as WISE’2017 _ March 2017 and WMCPV’2020 _ November 2020 and Applied Research Days “Open Days” as JPO’2022 _ July 2022.

The C.R.T.S.E contributes actively, with the assistance of various Algerian organizations for the development of knowledge and the translation of technological know-how, for the applications necessary to the economic and societal growth.

I hope you appreciate reading this introduction of C.R.T.S.E we are impatient to collaborate with you in the near future.

Director of CRTSE Dr Aissa KEFFOUS