The goal of the project "UltimatePV – Ultimate Photovoltaics" is to rethink the solar cell and develop a future generation of resource-saving photovoltaic technologies with highest conversion efficiencies. By using photonic structures, the optical properties of the solar cells are to be significantly improved, and material consumption is to be reduced by a factor of ten. In the resulting ultra-thin solar cells, the concentration of charge carriers increases significantly—this allows the extraction of light-excited charge carriers using energy-selective contacts before they lose some of their energy through thermalization.

"Such novel solar cells could enable efficiencies far beyond the current state of the art and significantly contribute to the energy transition," says Glunz. The project is funded by the ERC with nearly ten million euros and is supported by additional partner institutions such as the Centre Suisse d’Electronique et de Microtechnique (CSEM), the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (C2N), and the Institut Photovoltaïque d’Île-de-France (IPVF).

With Synergy Grants, the ERC funds international interdisciplinary research teams whose work meets the criteria of scientific excellence and shows promise of significant results. This year, 66 out of 712 submitted applications were selected for funding.