Project description
Improving the conversion efficiency of intermediate band solar cells
In the context of energy transition, it has become paramount to conduct research on new ways to improve the conversion efficiency of solar cells. To tackle this challenge, quantum dots in a perovskite host (CQDs@Perovskite) have emerged as a new type of solution-processed semiconductor material. Its intrinsic opto-electronic properties (high absorbance and strong quantum confinement) make it ideal to be used as absorber material in intermediate band solar cells, which can achieve increased conversion efficiency by exploiting a larger part of the solar spectrum. The EU-funded ENLIGHTEN project will exploit CQDs@Perovskite materials, combined with microstructure-based light trapping techniques. Eventually, the project will pave the way for low-cost high-efficiency photovoltaic technology.
Objective
Europe has set the energy transition to renewable sources as one of its priority policies to minimise the effects of climate change. Photovoltaic energy is called to play a major role in the world’s electricity production in the mid-term. The present market-dominant technology, crystalline silicon, has reached its practical efficiency record of 26% and the energy cost of this technology seems to be stagnating now. For these reasons, research on new ways of increasing the conversion efficiency of solar cells is still extensive. Among the proposed novel concepts for high-efficiency solar cells, the intermediate band solar cell (IBSC) has received great attention by the scientific community. In conventional single-gap solar cells, photons with energy lower than the bandgap of the absorber material are wasted. The IBSC concept allows harvesting below-bandgap photons without voltage loss, which increases the limiting efficiency from 33% to 50%. So far, IBSCs have been realized with epitaxially-grown quantum dot (QD) superlattices of III-V semiconductors. However, no pronounced efficiency enhancement has been yet reported, since this technological approach is unable to produce nanostructured materials with the properties required theoretically. In particular, epitaxial QDs exhibit low absorbance, leading to low photocurrent, and weak quantum confinement, which degrades the voltage of the cell. Recently, a new type of solution-processed semiconductor materials, quantum dots in a perovskite host (CQDs@Perovskite), has been demonstrated. The intrinsic opto-electronic properties of CQDs@Perovskite (high absorbance & strong quantum confinement) make them perfect candidates as absorber material in IBSCs. ENLIGHTEN will exploit CQDs@Perovskite materials combined with microstructure-based light trapping techniques to pave the way for low-cost high-efficiency solar cells. In addition, the cells have an innovative device structure compatible with flexible-substrate technology.
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 earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences meteorology solar radiation
- natural sciences physical sciences electromagnetism and electronics semiconductivity
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
- natural sciences earth and related environmental sciences atmospheric sciences climatology climatic changes
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
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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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H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
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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.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
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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) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
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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.
2829 516 Caparica
Portugal
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.