NanoSYD leads new large EU project on organic solar cells
The FP7 Marie Curie programme Initial Training Network (ITN) has granted around 29 million DKK for establishment of a new network led by NanoSYD, The Mads Clausen Institute. The project will focus on development of new types of energy devices based on organic materials. Among other things, the network will include research in and development of new types of solar cells based on organic thin-films, which in the future is aimed at playing a role in reducing the use of fossil fuels.
14 PhD research stipends in one network
The network consists of five universities, one research organisation and two companies located in Denmark, Italy, Austria, France and Spain. Together, they will work on solving some of the current challenges that are faced in the development of organic energy devices such as organic solar cells, which are extremely thin and light weight, mechanical flexible as well as potential cheap compared to the Silicon solar cells available on the market today.
The network has been granted funds for 14 PhD stipends, which should investigate different aspects of organic based energy devices in order to all together improve the state-of-the-art technology in the field. This is ensured by e.g. improving the efficiency and lifetime of organic solar cells, and this will be the focus of two of the PhD projects hosted at NanoSYD. The cooperation also includes Danfoss, which will have a special focus on lifetime tests of larger solar cell systems.
Training and education of future research and developers for the industry
By putting together courses from the different partners across the countries, as well as adding training activities hosted by the involved industries, completely new and unique education profiles will be assembled for the young researchers in the network. These are assembled with focus on the competences and qualities the industry will demand for the future research and developers in the field. This demand is expected to increase substantially in the future.
The project is led by NanoSYD at the Mads Clausen Institute. For more information please contact:
Assistant Professor Morten Madsen: madsen@mci.sdu.dk
Professor Horst-Günter Rubahn: rubahn@mci.sdu.dk