While solar-panel installations have impressively increased throughout the last decade, corresponding to a total electrical peak power of 40 GWp in 2010 (thereof 17 GWp in Germany) further breakthroughs in efficiencies and in low-cost materials and processes are necessary. Optics & Photonics research can contribute in various ways to the goal of affordable future solar electricity: Light management by means of tailored plasmonic or dielectric structures can reduce the costs since it allows for a thickness reduction of the solar cells. Smart light management could also give a further boost for highest efficiency solar cells based on III-V-epitaxial films which are used in photovoltaic concentrators. Another central aspect is novel materials with improved photovoltaic properties. Cost reduction can not only be achieved by improved efficiencies but also by reduced deposition costs. Thus the study of semiconductors that can be deposited by cost effective methods is another important aspect of solar cell research.

Research Highlights

• Thin Film Photovoltaics
• Organic Solar Cells
• Light Management

Involved KIT Institutes and Faculties

• Institute for Applied Physics (Faculty of Physics)
• Institute of Inorganic Chemistry (Faculty of Chemistry and Biosciences)
• Institute of Nanotechnology
• Institute of Organic Chemistry (Faculty of Chemistry and Biosciences)
• Institute of Physical Chemistry (Faculty of Chemistry and Biosciences)
• Light Technology Institute (Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology)