Project description
Phase-change materials for photovoltaics in indoor environments
Indoor environments often lack reliable power, leading to reliance on disposable batteries. This is the case with smoke alarms and remote controls. Although dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs) perform well in low light, they suffer from heat sensitivity and inefficient charge transport. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the PHASION project explores how phase-change materials (PCMs) can enhance DSSCs for capturing indoor light. The project will develop PCMs that melt and solidify at moderate temperatures to regulate solar cell temperatures and improve ion and electron flow. It will shed light on how partially molten PCMs can stabilise charge carriers, boosting DSSC performance and lifespan. Overall, PHASION aims to improve the efficiency of indoor dye-sensitised solar cells.
Objective
Indoor environments - such as offices, homes, and smart devices - often lack a reliable, self-sustaining power source, forcing us to rely on disposable batteries. My work tackles this challenge by examining fundamental scientific principles that govern how phase-change materials (PCMs) can be combined with dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) to capture ambient light more efficiently. Unlike conventional solar cells designed for strong outdoor sunlight, DSSCs optimally convert low-intensity indoor lighting into electricity. However, they still face obstacles - namely, heat sensitivity and inefficient charge transport under fluctuating indoor temperatures.
I plan to synthesize and study molecularly tailored PCMs - compounds that repeatedly melt and solidify at modest temperatures - investigating how these transformations help regulate a solar cell’s internal temperature and facilitate ion/electron flow within the device. Using advanced spectroscopy and microscopy, I will pinpoint the exact ways in which a partially molten PCM may stabilize or enhance charge carriers in DSSCs, thereby boosting their overall performance and extending their operational lifespan.
By integrating this adaptive material into indoor PV modules, the project delivers a robust, self-optimising power source tailored for low-illumination environments and the next generation of edge-AI sensors. Ultimately, this fundamental research aligns with the EU’s commitment to groundbreaking science, paving the way for more reliable, greener technology in our everyday lives.
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.
- humanities arts musicology popular music studies
- engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
You need to log in or register to use this function
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.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
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-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
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) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
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.
NE1 7RU Newcastle Upon Tyne
United Kingdom
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.