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EffIcient Fullerene-Free organic solar cELls

Project description

Non-fullerene acceptors power Europe’s organic photovoltaics

The urgent shift away from fossil fuels has intensified demand for competitive solar technologies. Organic photovoltaics (OPV) – lightweight, inexpensive and made from abundant, non-toxic materials – offer enormous potential for large-scale energy production. However, breakthrough organic molecules called non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs) have been developed, primarily in China. They are destined to replace traditional, fullerene derivatives, threatening Europe’s leading position in OPV. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the EIFFEL project aims to develop the next generation of NFA-based OPV. Through an innovative combination of computational chemistry, materials science, physics and computer science, EIFFEL will also train 10 early-career researchers, strengthening Europe’s standing in this strategically vital sector.

Objective

The accelerated urgency of transitioning away from fossil fuels is driven by climate change, but also by the European energy crisis in
the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. It reinforces the demand for competitive solar energy conversion technologies. Organic
photovoltaics (OPV), based on non-toxic abundant raw materials offer an inexpensive technology with vast opportunities for largescale
roll-to-roll production that is scalable to the multi-terawatt level. After a decade of R&D, several European companies are
entering the market with OPV products. However, new materials, so-called non-fullerene acceptors (NFAs), have recently been
discovered and have yielded higher power conversion efficiencies. This development occurred mainly in China, so that Europe is at
risk of losing its leading industrial position to the Asia. To reverse this alarming trend, Europe needs to increase its strategic
investments into OPV research. Two key directions of particular importance are: tailored novel NFA materials and NFA-based solar
cells with long operational lifetime.
Our scientific goal within EIFFEL – EffIcient Fullerene-Free organic solar cELs – is to recruit, train and supervise 10 talented Early Stage
Researchers (ESRs) to design and synthesise novel NFAs suitable for both solution and vacuum processing, for the next generation of
efficient and stable OPV. In EIFFEL, the unprecedented combination of targeted simulations, organic synthesis, device
characterisation and engineering based on industrial needs paves the way to products that overcome OPV’s present-day limitations.
EIFFEL’s training programme is uniquely designed to provide the ESRs with multidisciplinary training interlinking chemistry, materials
science, physics, computer science, and transferable skills. EIFFEL’s ambition is to form a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial
and innovative young researchers with the organisational abilities needed to succeed in interdisciplinary high-tech sectors.

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-DN - HORIZON TMA MSCA Doctoral Networks

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2022-DN-01

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Coordinator

LEIBNIZ INSTITUT FUR FESTKORPER UND WERKSTOFFORSCHUNG DRESDEN EV
Net EU contribution
€ 260 539,20
Address
HELMHOLTZSTRASSE 20
01069 Dresden
Germany
Region
Sachsen Dresden Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost
No data

Participants (10)

Partners (12)