Photovoltaics and Energy Technologies
Novel materials, devices, and methods are required for efficient solar cells, photovoltaic energy systems as well as energy harvesting and cooling systems with high power density.
At IMT we develop concepts for solar, mechanical and thermal energy harvesting. Our solar energy research ranges from new materials and characterization techniques to next generation devices and photovoltaic systems for the developing world. Our research on energy technologies includes the characterization of coupling effects in multiferroic materials as well as the design, performance simulation and fabrication of energy harvesting and solid-state microcooling devices.
The energy contained within small temperature differences or low frequency vibrations can be harvested via abrupt changes of physical properties in novel magnetic shape memory alloys.
Superelastic shape memory alloys exhibit large changes of latent heat and miniaturization enables rapid heat transfer, as well as higher cycling frequencies and cooling power.
Nanostructured matter exhibits exiting ways to tailor the light propagation within a solar cells or LEDs.
Spectral conversion materials are able to tune the wavelengths at which light is absorbed and emitted, enhancing the efficiency of solar energy conversion.
At IMT, we pursue the fundamental physical understanding of light absorption and electronic transport in advanced energy conversion materials.
We investigate the design, develop and prototype nanophotonic materials for perovskite/silicon tandem solar cells.
We investigate and implement novel PV concepts at the module level, including spectral conversion, coloured PV for architectural applications, anti-reflection and self-cleaning coatings.
We develop PV-powered brackish water treatment systems to remove salt and dissolved contaminants in groundwater, as well as photocatalytic systems for membranes.