People and recognition

Physica prize 2014 for Albert Polman

AMOLF group leader Albert Polman has been honored with the prestigious Physica prize of the Netherlands Physical Society (NNV). The NNV grants the prize to Albert Polman for his outstanding contributions, both in the Netherlands and internationally, of the physics of light

.

The NNV press release states: ”Lights plays an important role in our modern society. Large quantities of data are transported all over the world through glass fiber networks. Albert Polman is a world leader in the research and application of light. In his work, Polman shows an outstanding timing, making him always stay ahead in new research areas. He was the first to use ion implantation for the optical doping of materials. Not long afterwards, he showed how to control the optical properties of materials by structuring them at the nanoscale, making light behave completely differently. In this manner he recently demonstrated optical metamaterials with properties that do not occur in natural materials: refractive indices that can become zero or negative. A few years ago Albert Polman started a revolution in solar cell research with his suggestion that there is much to win by using light management.”

The Physica prize is granted yearly to an eminent physicist working in the Netherlands. Albert Polman will receive the prize on April 1st at the FYSICA 2014 conference in Leiden. He will then also hold the Physica lecture.

photonic materials albert polman

Albert Polman

Share article
What's happening

Most recent news items

All news items
Joining forces to study perovskite interfaces
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.

Read news item
Wim Noorduin and Arian van Asten presenting their scientific journey
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.

Read news item
Natural phenomena ‘hyperuniform disorder’ enables highly efficient, thin silicon solar cells
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).

Read news item
Stay informed

Get the latest research highlights, events, and news from our institute delivered to your inbox