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Australian research institute awarded AUD$320,000 grant to increase organic polymer solar cells efficiency

Researchers at the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute (IPRI) at the University of Wollongong in Australia have been awarded a new Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Grant of AUD$320,000 over three years. As such, they will work with Konarka Technologies in an effort to increase the efficiency of organic polymer solar cells.

The research institute is part of the University of Wollongong. Image: University of Wollongong.

With this grant, the institute said Dr. Attila Mozer, Dr. Tracey Clarke and Professor David Officer will look at developing a fundamental understanding of how electrical charges are generated under solar irradiation in organic materials, which will be used to increase the efficiency of organic solar cell technology.

According to IPRI/ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science executive director, Professor Gordon Wallace, “this funding is critical in being able to build on our capabilities in solar cell science”.

“We have invested substantially into developing state-of-the-art characterisation facilities at IPRI, and it is exciting that we are now able to collaborate with Konarka to achieve what will hopefully be continued, significant progress towards efficient polymer solar cell development,” he said.