SEMINAR

To limit global warming to well below 2°C within this century, we must reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Merely curbing fossil fuel consumption will not suffice, given the anticipated surge in global energy demand. While nuclear and renewable energy sources like photovoltaics are considered green solutions, they often have a substantial carbon footprint. Their energy payback times, which measure how long it takes to recover the energy used in production, can extend between 3 to 10 years.

Semiconductor nanostructures are revolutionizing the design of light energy conversion devices, such as thin-film solar cells and light-emitting devices. Due to low-temperature processing techniques, these thin-film designs have reduced energy payback times. Consuming less energy during production and using fewer materials drastically cuts down their carbon footprint, sometimes bringing energy payback time to under a year. Earlier research efforts were centered on synthesizing diverse semiconductor nanostructures and analyzing their size-dependent optical and electronic traits. However, careful engineering in recent times has led to their successful integration into high-efficiency thin-film solar cells. Notably, metal halide perovskite solar cells can now achieve power conversion efficiencies exceeding 26%, rivaling traditional silicon solar cells.

Looking ahead, energy storage solutions like batteries and solar fuels, such as hydrogen, are needed to fully realize the potential of renewable energy. This presentation will highlight some of the latest developments and explore the promising future of semiconductor architectures in light energy conversion and storage.