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Materials that convert energy
IRL has specialist expertise and research that focuses on the discovery of new materials, known as quantum dots, for energy conversion. Read about their application in solar energy research below.
Solar research
IRL is developing novel technology that will lead to the next generation of photovoltaic cells.
The widespread uptake of photovoltaics by the mass market is limited by its high capital cost so the payback period (more than 20 years) is a key barrier for consumers.
Our research targets new photovoltaic cells which will dramatically improve the cost/energy performance by reducing the costs of materials and doubling the efficiency of energy harvesting.
Our research goal is to develop a prototype nanostructured solar photovoltaic cell with higher efficiency and lower cost of production than commercially available titania cells.
This will significantly increase photovoltaic efficiency through integration of quantum dot technologies (initially monodisperse PbS materials) with simple manufacturing techniques by using low cost dye-sensitised solar cells.
Our research targets new photovoltaic cells which will dramatically improve the cost/energy performance by reducing the costs of materials and doubling the efficiency of energy harvesting.