Gerrit Boschloo group

Our research

Gerrit Boschloo's research group investigates fundamental aspects of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSC) and perovskite solar cells (PSC). Both technologies offer the prospect of low-cost solar energy conversion, but need further research since the precise function of these complex systems is not well understood.

In DSC, organic dye molecules are adsorbed onto nanostructured metal oxide electrodes, leading to solar cells that can have all the colors of the rainbow. By careful tuning of the molecular design of dye and redox mediator or hole conductor, highly efficient solar cells can be made.

Perovskite solar cell research started 2012 in the Boschloo group. Lead halide perovskites are hybrid (organic-inorganic) materials with fascinating properties: they are highly light absorbing semiconductors that can be used in optoelectronics, such as solar cells and LEDs. Solar cells have reached more than 26% efficiency. These perovskites are also ion conductors, which can affect their long-term stability.