Converting solar energy into clean electricity and fuels

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to mitigate climate change while meeting the growing global energy demand is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Renewable energy technologies, such as photovoltaics (PV), have been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to play a leading role in the necessary transition away from fossil-combustion-based energy sources. However, hurdles for widespread implementation such as cost competitiveness and the inherent energy intermittency of solar energy must be overcome.

At the Laboratory for Solar Energy and Fuels (LSEF), we are interested in the development of functional materials and devices for photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical applications that can convert abundant solar energy into clean electricity or storable fuels. Employing solution-processing methods for thin film layers has the potential to bring down cost and allow for the sustainable growth of renewable energy technologies.