Energy research: Dye sensitized organic solar cells
Solar energy still costs around 10 times more than conventionally sourced energy. The research department of Chemical Engineering conducts research into cheaper solar cells with adequate levels of efficiency.
Organic material
A way to produce cheaper solar cells is to use less expensive materials - for example, a combination of an organic material that absorbs the light (e.g. a polymer or dye) and an electron-accepting material such as titanium dioxide. The efficiency of this type of solar cell can still be improved. Read more about more affordable solar cells.
(Organic solar cell with dye layer, Illustration Eric Verdult, Kennis in Beeld)
Improve efficiency
Ferdinand Grozema, researcher Opto-electronic Materials at the Department of Chemical Engineering conducts research into dye sensitized solar cells. Grozema is one of fifteen Dutch winners of the European Research Council's (ERC) Starting Grant competition. In the coming five years, Grozema can use the grant's 1.2 million Euros to develop new molecules in which one photon does not excite just the one, but more electrons. This process could significantly improve the efficiency of this type of solar cells.
- Read more about the ERC Starting Grant for Grozema
- Listen to the Energy podcast September 2009 about Grozema's research.
