Project description
Three-band semiconductors for next-gen photovoltaics
For decades, semiconductors have powered our digital and solar revolutions. Now, researchers are rewriting the rules with three-band materials (3BMs). The ERC-funded TANGO project is taking a step beyond the classic two-band model. Its goal is to stabilise, in the same material, three distinct electronic populations at room temperature. This will be achieved by embedding quantum dots in a perovskite matrix (QDIP) to create thermally decoupled energy bands. Such innovation could lead to the first-ever operational three-band solar cell, boosting efficiency and lowering costs. Additionally, TANGO targets the creation of a three-band transistor, a breakthrough in multivalued logic with the potential to revolutionise computing speed and data storage.
Objective
Semiconductors, halfway between metals and insulators, are at the heart of the optoelectronic applications that have revolutionized our world for the last 70 years. Their hallmark characteristic is the existence of two electronic bands—the conduction and valence bands (CB and VB)—separated by a forbidden energy gap, which enables electrical and optical access to two distinct electronic populations. 3-band materials (3BM) represent a new class of semiconductor featuring three electronic bands and three energy gaps (one between each pair of bands). The driving force behind two decades of 3BM research has been the development of high-efficiency solar cells. Yet, all the attempts to fabricate an operational 3-band solar cell either failed or proved to be unpractical mainly due to a fundamental reason: the impossibility of the 3BM candidates to maintain three distinct electronic populations at room temperature (RT), due to strong interband thermal coupling. TANGO aims to overcome this hurdle by implementing an innovative band-engineering strategy. A family of functional 3BMs will be achieved via precise tailoring of the band structure of hybrid heterocrystals comprising quantum dots (QD) in a perovskite matrix (QDIP). In this approach, the QD electronic states give rise to a third band thermally decoupled from the VB and CB even at RT. The successful implementation of QDIP-based 3BMs (Objective 1) will permit the fabrication of the first operational 3-band solar cell (Objective 2), setting a new landmark that could lead to cheap high-efficiency photovoltaics.Beyond solar cells, the unique properties of 3BMs, which allow for external access to three electronic populations, will be leveraged to develop a groundbreaking device: the 3-band transistor (Objective 3), able to switch among three logic states. The demonstration of such a 3-state element would imply a breakthrough in the field of multivalued digital logic, which promises enhanced computation and storage capacity.
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-2024-COG
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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.
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.