Michael Graetzel
Professor of Physical Chemistry
Photonics and Interfaces
Ecole
Switzerland
Biography
Professor of Physical Chemistry at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Michael Graetzel directs there the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces. He pioneered research in the field of energy and electron transfer reactions in mesoscopic systems and their use in energy conversion systems, in particular photovoltaic cells and photo-electrochemical devices for the splitting of water into hydrogen and oxygen and the reduction of carbon dioxide by sunlight as well as the storage of electric power in lithium ion batteries. He discovered a new type of solar cell based on dye sensitized nanocrystalline oxide films which successfully mimic the light reaction occurring in green leafs and algae during natural photosynthesis. Dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) are currently produced by industry and sold commercially on the megawatt scale as light-weight flexible cells for powering portable electronic devices and as electricity producing glass panels for application in building integrated photovoltaics. The DSSC has engendered perovskite solar cells (PSCs) that have revolutionized the whole field of photovoltaics reaching over 22% efficiency only a few years after their inception. This exceeds the performance of polycrystalline silicon solar cells.
Research Interest
Mesoscopic dye-sensitized solar cells. Perovskite solar cells. Light emitting diodes, electroluminescent devices and redox flow batteries. New pigments and sensitiMesoscopic dye-sensitized solar cells. Perovskite sMesoscopic dye-sensitizeMesoscopic dye-sensitized solar cells. Perovskite solar cells. Light emitting diodes, electroluminescent devices and redox flow batteries. New pigments and sensitizers, ionic liquids and solid state hole conductors.d solar cells. Perovskite solar cells. Light emitting diodes, electroluminescent devices and redox flow batteries. New pigments and sensitizers, ionic liquids and solid state hole conductors.olar cells. Light emitting diodes, electroluminescent devices and redox flow batteries. New pigments and sensitizers, ionic liquids and solid state hole conductors.zers, ionic liquids and solid state hole conductors.
