Objective INNOVASOL aims to develop radically new nanostructured materials for photovoltaic (PV) excitonic solar cells (XSCs) really competitive with traditional energy sources. The main objective is to leapfrog current limitations of third-generation PV devices through a drastic improvement of the materials used for assembling XSCs. The first step is the substitution of the liquid electrolytes, currently used in dye-sensitised solar cells, with solid-state hole conductors. In parallel, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) with tuned band gap, designed to enhance the photon capture efficiency, will replace the organic dyes as light absorbers. A striking improvement is expected from multi exciton generation (MEG) effects, overcoming the Shockley-Queisser efficiency limit of 31% for the PV conversion. In a second step, highly innovative QDs will be designed and synthesized: the QDs will be covered by self-assembled monolayers of amphiphilic dye molecules, mimicking the photosynthetic antenna system. The dye molecules will act as molecular relays (MRs), which connect the QDs to the transparent conductive oxide (TCO). Novel TCO architectures will be developed for efficient interface energy transfer and electron diffusion. Six academic institutions guarantee an interdisciplinary research, based on top level theoretical and experimental approaches. The high degree of knowledge of solid-state physics and chemistry, nanoscience and nanotechnology of the researchers assures that the new concepts and the objectives proposed will be successfully developed/pursued. Fiat research center and Solaronix, a SME leader in the XSCs production, will provide proof-of-concept prototypes to validate the innovative materials developed by the academic partners. Materials and technological solutions of INNOVASOL are original and will pave the way for future generation XSCs alternative to devices so far developed both inside and outside Europe. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicssolid-state physicsnatural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicssemiconductivityengineering and technologynanotechnologynano-materialsnatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons Programme(s) FP7-NMP - Specific Programme "Cooperation": Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies Topic(s) ENERGY.2008.10.1.2 - Novel materials for energy applications (Joint Call NMP) NMP-2008-2.6-1 - Novel materials for energy applications (Joint call with Energy) Call for proposal FP7-ENERGY-NMP-2008-1 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme CP - Collaborative project (generic) Coordinator UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DEL PIEMONTE ORIENTALE AMEDEO AVOGADRO EU contribution € 619 878,33 Address DUOMO 6 13100 Vercelli Italy See on map Region Nord-Ovest Piemonte Vercelli Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Luciano Pugliese (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Participants (7) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE Switzerland EU contribution € 515 839,00 Address BATIMENT CE 3316 STATION 1 1015 Lausanne See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Michael Graetzel (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET DRESDEN Germany EU contribution € 390 709,46 Address HELMHOLTZSTRASSE 10 01069 Dresden See on map Region Sachsen Dresden Dresden, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Sven Kreigenfeld (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE United Kingdom EU contribution € 365 920,00 Address TRINITY LANE THE OLD SCHOOLS CB2 1TN Cambridge See on map Region East of England East Anglia Cambridgeshire CC Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Edna Murphy (Ms.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO Italy EU contribution € 289 426,67 Address VIA GIUSEPPE VERDI 8 10124 Torino See on map Region Nord-Ovest Piemonte Torino Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Alessandro De Filippo (Mr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data UNIVERSIDADE ESTADUAL DE CAMPINAS Brazil EU contribution € 139 995,54 Address CIDADE UNIVERSITARIA ZEFERINO SN 13083 875 Campinas Sp See on map Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Heloise Pastore (Prof.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Total cost No data CENTRO RICERCHE FIAT SCPA Italy EU contribution € 260 100,00 Address STRADA TORINO 50 10043 Orbassano See on map Region Nord-Ovest Piemonte Torino Activity type Research Organisations Administrative Contact Massimo Casali (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data SOLARONIX SA Switzerland EU contribution € 317 641,00 Address CHEMIN DE L'OURIETTE 129 1170 Aubonne See on map Region Schweiz/Suisse/Svizzera Région lémanique Vaud Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments) Administrative Contact Toby Meyer (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data