The project aims to significantly improve the utilization of solar energy. The long term goal is to double the efficiency of solar energy systems. Two new light-absorbing dye systems are to be developed and adapted to different technologies for the production of solar electricity or solar fuel. The first dye allows the utilization of excess energy of high-energy photons. The second dye up-convert the energy of photons that otherwise would have too low energy to contribute. In this way, the two major bottlenecks inherent in today's solar technology are attacked, and maximum utilization of all wavelengths in sunlight is enabled.
The part of the project implemented at Environmental Systems Analysis aims to examine the industrialization potential by studying possible markets for introduction, competition from closely related approaches and potential environmental and resource constraints.
Solar cells, PV, up-conversion, down-conversion, efficiency