Objective Photovoltaics is called to be a main player in the global transformation of the energy sector the world is facing to fight climate change. Multijunction solar cells, based on classical III-V compound semiconductors, are the most advanced photovoltaic cells holding a record photoconversion efficiency of 38.8%. However, the high cost associated to their manufacturing process has typically relegated this technology to non-terrestrial applications in favour of Si cells. On the contrary, single-junction Si cells are cost-effective, but there is almost no room left to further improve their efficiency, which already approaches its theoretical limit, 29.4%. MIRACLE is created to make true a dream of decades: combining the unbeatable efficiency of multijunction solar cells with the cost-effectiveness of Si technology. The ultimate objective of MIRACLE is the demonstration of both double- and triple-junction solar cells based on III-V materials pseudomorphically grown on top of a Si cell, configurations that promise photoconversion efficiencies of up to 43 and 47%, respectively. Quaternary dilute-nitride alloys are the only III-V compounds that can be grown lattice-matched to Si with ideal band gaps for the fabrication of multijunction solar cells in combination with a bottom Si cell. Nevertheless, despite of their well-known potential, reports on dilute-nitride solar cells are rather scarce yet due to their challenging fabrication with the high structural perfection demanded in photovoltaics. The revolutionary idea of MIRACLE is to make use of quantum engineering to fabricate dilute-nitride compounds lattice matched to Si not as thick layers, as attempted so far, but as short-period superlattices by periodically alternating simpler compounds on atomic-layer scale. Hence, MIRACLE does not only aim to push the efficiency of cost-effective Si-based tandem solar cells to their theoretical limits, but also to unveil the physical properties of unexplored quantum heterostructures. Fields of science engineering and technologymechanical engineeringmanufacturing engineeringnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivitynatural sciencesearth and related environmental sciencesatmospheric sciencesclimatologyclimatic changesengineering and technologyenvironmental engineeringenergy and fuelsrenewable energysolar energyphotovoltaic Keywords dilute nitrides III-V compound semiconductors quantum heterostructures Molecular beam epitaxy and photovoltaic solar cells Programme(s) HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2022-COG - ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS Call for proposal ERC-2022-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants Coordinator UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID Net EU contribution € 2 808 686,00 Address Calle ramiro de maeztu 7 edificio rectorado 28040 Madrid Spain See on map Region Comunidad de Madrid Comunidad de Madrid Madrid Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
