EMM3
Emerging Materials and Methods for 3rd generation solar cells
| Coordinatore | ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
Organization address
address: BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 contact info |
| Nazionalità Coordinatore | Switzerland [CH] |
| Totale costo | 250˙392 € |
| EC contributo | 250˙392 € |
| Programma | FP7-PEOPLE
Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) |
| Code Call | FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IOF |
| Funding Scheme | MC-IOF |
| Anno di inizio | 2010 |
| Periodo (anno-mese-giorno) | 2010-09-01 - 2013-08-31 |
Partecipanti
| # | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE
Organization address
address: BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 contact info |
CH (LAUSANNE) | coordinator | 250˙392.00 |
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Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)
'Third generation solar cells represent alternatives to traditional bulk and thin film devices. They constitute a novel way to improve the ratio between photovoltaic efficiency and total cost, by including new physical principles and materials. This proposal combines two complementary aspects of third generation solar cells: new materials and new materials combinations and new physical mechanisms for photovoltaic conversion. The initial phase of the proposed research is mainly material characterization oriented: (i) Study of the combination of materials –such as InGaN, InN superlattices- which can lead to the formation of intermediate bands through the implementatuion of nanofrabrication technologies (ii) combination of optical spectroscopy and electronic transport techniques for the study of physical phenomena such as up/down conversion and intermediate band formation. In a second phase, the initial results and methodologies will be combined with the know-how within the host institutions through close collaborations, and the research will evolve towards the realization of photovoltaic devices based on nanostructured material.'
Descrizione progetto (Article)
The world is entering the third generation of such device concepts. New mechanisms of photoconversion and novel materials to increase efficiency while decreasing cost are required. The EU-funded project 'Emerging materials and methods for 3rd generation solar cells' (EMM3) investigated both.
One part of the project focused on understanding the mechanisms that limit current photoconversion and elucidating the transport phenomena of such materials. The second part focused on developing materials that exhibit the properties required for third generation PV concepts and enhancing performance while reducing cost.
Scientists discovered one of the major conditions affecting optical properties of a promising semiconductor. They also created new nanowires with novel crystalline structures, demonstrating a simple alternative to a more complex conventional method. Finally, intermediate-band solar cells (IBSCs) with more than one bandgap offer the possibility to increase the efficiency beyond that of a single-bandgap cell. They increased overall lifetime of ion IBSC and enhanced efficiency by several orders of magnitude using core-shell nanowires.
EMM3 made significant advances in the field of third generation solar cells. Scientists are one step closer to realisation of new technologies offering increased efficiency and/or decreased cost. These improvements will encourage the widespread uptake of PV technology with important benefits for industry, consumers and the planet.