Achievement

Trainee Steve Shelton from the Peidong Yang group recently completed a project designed to improve the energy conversion efficiency of organic solar cells. To accomplish this goal, he incorporated a layer in the device design that facilitated charge collection. This development is used to process second-generation photovoltaics at a low cost. Historically solar panels have been impeded from market penetration by cost. If second generation technologies perform well at a competitive price, they could be a significant player in the energy economy. This work was done in conjunction with Ilan Jen-La Plante and Talib Mokari at the Molecular Foundry who specialize in inorganic chemical synthesis. Collaborations like these have spread nanocrystal fabrication techniques to a growing range of researchers who will in turn apply them to new discoveries.