Project description
How quantum phenomena could boost solar cell conversion efficiency
Quantum coherence – a phenomenon where particles like electrons or photons exist in multiple states simultaneously – has been shown to play a crucial role in energy transport within biological systems. This has sparked interest in applying similar principles to improve solar-to-energy conversion technologies. Understanding and harnessing quantum-coherent dynamics in biological systems could enable designing materials that significantly enhance solar cell efficiency. The ERC-funded Excited project will explore these effects in molecular sensitisers – specialised molecules that absorb sunlight and transfer the energy to other solar cell components. Beyond simply fabricating solar cells, Excited aims to develop tailor-made designs that leverage quantum coherence, molecular hybridisation and orbital coupling. This innovative approach could lead to groundbreaking advancements in thin-film solar cell technologies and energy conversion.
Objective
Excited aims to advance fundamental understanding to light-initiated reactions in molecular sensitizers that can display quantumcoherent behaviour in their excited state dynamics at room temperature. Moreover, it will focus also on the investigation of quantum coherent contributions to the solar-to-energy conversion efficiency in solar cells.
Understanding the importance of quantum-coherent dynamics in biological systems has been key to assess whether this phenomenon is not just present but key for the control, and command, of the energy transport in molecular based systems. It is of utmost importance to validate models in which these quantum phenomena can be translated to materials that provide efficient solar to power conversion technologies.
Excited is not only a project where molecular solar cells will be fabricated and their physical properties will be measured. Excited goes well beyond that, and will pave the way for the development of solar cells that will be tailor-made to make use of quantum coherence, molecular hybridization and orbital coupling effects to increase the solar to energy conversion efficiency. It is clear that this challenge can only be successful under the scope of a multidisciplinary perspective open to new and feasible reasonable hypothesis. Therefore, I will make use of the research group knowledge on synthetic chemistry that has allowed us to obtain numerous sensitizers for solar cells applications, as well as, for semiconductor metal oxides. Moreover, I will take advantage of our experience in advanced experimental time-resolved techniques to study quantum coherent effects and solar cells under operando
conditions. Excited will have a key impact on several fields, from biology to chemistry and physics and will bring paramount breakthroughs in the use of modified interfaces leading to the optimization of novel thin film solar cell technologies taking advantage of the quantum coherence phenomena and orbital coupling effects.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
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-ADG
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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.
43007 Tarragona
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.