The LIGHT-CAP project seeks to change drastically the state-of-the-art of solar energy conversion and related accumulation, which today is still based mostly on expensive silicon solar panels and cumbersome batteries kept separated in two distinct devices, each one requiring its own maintenance. LIGHT-CAP will introduce new nanotechnology-enabled architectures combining the two functionalities in one single versatile device, in which the main components are constituted of eco-friendly and earth-abundant materials, thus not suffering from future possible risks of supply. The project tackles fundamental challenges like making possible a more efficient solar energy harvesting, conversion, storage, and controlled on-demand release for the fabrication of both portable and static technologies, potentially producing a considerable impact in the field of portable and mobile electronics that will drive the paradigm change towards a future sustainable and zero-emission energy landscape in Europe.
The special combination of nanomaterials such as graphene and its derivatives, together with metal oxide in nanoparticle-form (Indium, Zing, Iron, Tin), already in use within the electronic components of devices currently in use, will allow to realize active interfaces in solid and/or liquid form in which sunlight promotes the occurrence of multiple and reversible transfers of electrical charges, offering large room for improvement in charge storage capacity in comparison with classical batteries and supercaps. In addition, these species present interesting long-term stability and cyclability profiles, which will make them very competitive substitutes for active components in current energy storage technologies.
The ambitious LIGHT-CAP roadmap will allow creating the basis for the ignition of new production lines and products able to promote an innovative and sustainable vision on the energy market that will dominate the future economic scenario in Europe, aiming at the continuous decrease of the carbon footprint. Within this framework, the development of new products and transfer of technology to new markets will be incubated and made available for European R&D, allowing the building of skilled occupations, which can leverage the efforts of the European Commission to attain a globally competitive position.
