Objective
The rapid expansion of indoor electronics, wireless sensors and IoT devices is creating an urgent demand for sustainable, low-cost and maintenance-free energy sources capable of operating efficiently under artificial lighting. Conventional photovoltaic technologies are poorly suited for these conditions, while existing high-performance indoor photovoltaics often rely on scarce, toxic or costly materials, limiting their commercial viability. VIPER aims to translate a novel class of lead-free perovskite solar cells into commercially relevant indoor energy-harvesting products. The project builds on two complementary families of heavy-pnictogen absorbers: silver–bismuth double perovskites and antimony-based vacancy-ordered perovskites. While structurally distinct, both material systems exhibit high environmental stability, low toxicity and a pronounced performance advantage under low-flux indoor illumination. Our recent results demonstrate indoor power conversion efficiencies significantly exceeding outdoor values, with a benchmark approaching 7% under standard indoor lighting. Crucially, both absorber families are compatible with scalable, air-processed ultrasonic spray coating and with carbon electrodes derived from up-cycled waste as hole selective contacts, enabling fully printable, metal-free and circular devices.
VIPER will focus on indoor-specific optimization of device architectures, scale-up of air-based processing in collaboration with the Center for Hybrid and Organic Solar Energy (CHOSE, University of Rome Tor Vergata) and protection/valorization of the emerging intellectual property through patenting and early market validation. Target applications include autonomous sensors, smart buildings and low-power consumer electronics.
By combining indoor-optimized performance, sustainable materials and scalable manufacturing, VIPER addresses a clear market gap and lays the foundation for a new generation of commercially deployable indoor photovoltaics.
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 computer and information sciences internet internet of things
- engineering and technology materials engineering coating and films
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy photovoltaic
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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-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept 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-2026-POC
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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.
10129 Torino
Italy
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.