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 (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2022-COG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
28040 MADRID
Spain
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.