Open Technology Programme (OTP) funding

In the Open Technology Programme (OTP) call for proposals of NWO, Bruno Ehrler and Erik Garnett have received funding to carry out the research plan ‘Achieving Semiconductor Stability from the Ground Up’. The OTP call for proposals is open to excellent research aimed at the possible implementation of the results. In addition to the scientific contribution carried out by AMOLF, the following companies are involved: EDAX (subsidiary of Ametek), CL Solutions (part of Delmic), and Amsterdam Scientific Instruments (ASI). The total project receives 1.1 million euros.

Crystal structure of the perovskite material. Source: AMOLF

Research plan
Halide perovskites have emerged as the most exciting new semiconductor for optoelectronic devices (solar cells, LEDs, radiation detectors) over the last decade. Their performance matches or exceeds that of traditional semiconductors, but their relatively poor stability under a wide variety of stresses (chemical, electrical, light, heat) is limiting their commercialization. We will develop a new characterization tool that allows us to watch how halide perovskites change under light or electrical bias with nanometer spatial resolution. With this understanding we will control the halide perovskite (in)stability either to eliminate degradation or make programmable materials that can be trained to reconfigure their properties according to the desired output.
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People and recognition

Four PhD candidates close their AMOLF chapter

Four PhD students defended their thesis and are about to take the next steps in their career. Congratulations to Colin Meulblok (Mechanical Metamaterials), Francesca Scalerandi (Hybrid Nanosystems), Vashist Gangigude Ramesh (Interacting Photons), and Parisa Omidvar (Hypersmart Matter). We wish you all the best in your next steps!

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People and recognition

Joining forces to study perovskite interfaces

AMOLF group leaders Professor Wiebke Albrecht and Professor Bruno Ehrler have received an NWO ENW-M2 grant for their joint research project, The Dynamic Atomic Interface between Halide Perovskites and Metals. The insights gained will pave the way for sustainable, high-performance solar energy and information technology. Wiebke and Bruno will each hire a PhD student for this project. The grant amounts to €800.000.

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People and recognition

Wim Noorduin and Arian van Asten presenting their scientific journey

On October 8, Professor Wim Noorduin and his collaborator Professor Arian van Asten (University of Amsterdam) presented their scientific journey in a video to the audience at the ‘Avond van Wetenschap en Maatschappij’. They did so alongside the other nominees for the Huibregtsen Prize.

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Research highlights

Natural phenomena ‘hyperuniform disorder’ enables highly efficient, thin silicon solar cells

Silicon solar panels are rigid and heavy, and many rooftops cannot support them. This creates a need for thin, flexible solar cells that can be integrated into building materials. However, making silicon solar cells thinner makes it harder to trap light inside the material. Researchers in the 3D Photovoltaics group found a fascinating way to overcome this challenge using a phenomenon called hyperuniform disorder. They publish their findings in the journal ACS Photonics.

The researchers were able to make highly efficient silicon solar cell materials that are 30 times thinner than conventional ones. They managed to do this by integrating a layer of nanometer sized structures on top of the material. Up close, this pattern looks random, but it is remarkably when you step back: no clumps, no gaps, and no repeating pattern. This is called hyperuniform disorder (or HUD).

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