news & views neighbouring spins are pointing in opposite directions) as a proximity layer is a new approach in the context of magnetic topological insulators. Antiferromagnets and 'artificial antiferromagnets' (engineered heterostructures in which the coupling between ferromagnetic layers can be tuned) are widely used in magnetic memory applications. One of their advantages is the absence of a ...

Organic Photovoltaics In article number 2300249, Antoine Bousquet, Natalie P. Holmes, Sylvain Chambon, and co-workers achieve power conversion efficiencies approaching 10% by careful control of the nanoparticle thin film morphologies thanks to surface energies considerations. This approach opens route low environmental footprint photovoltaics. Representing a promise this sustainable direction i...

This report describes recent aspects of advanced inorganic materials for photovoltaics or solar cell applications. Specific materials examined will be high-efficiency silicon, gallium arsenide and related materials, and thin-film materials, particularly amorphous silicon and (polycrystalline) copper indium selenide. Some of the advanced concepts discussed include multijunction III-V (and thin-f...

Introducing nanophotonics into photovoltaics sets the path for scaling down the surface texture of crystalline-silicon solar cells from themicroto the nanoscale, allowing to further boost the photon absorptionwhile reducing siliconmaterial loss. However, keeping excellent electrical performance has proven to be very challenging, as the absorber is damaged by the nanotexturing and the sensitivit...

IMEC started up its activity on organic solar cells in 1998 and since 2005 this topic became one of the key technologies of the Flemish Innovation Policy in the field of Photovoltaics. The aim of the paper is to present the overall Flemish approach and strategy to this field as well as to highlight the recent achievements of the Organic Photovoltaics Technology Program. The strategy of this pro...

TiO2, a photosensitive semiconducting material, has been widely reported as a good photoanode material in dye-sensitized solar cells and new emerging perovskite cells. Its proper electronic band structure, surface chemistry and hydrophilic nature provide a reactive surface for interfacing with different organic and inorganic photon capturing materials in photovoltaics. Here, we review its enabl...

Charge transport is one of the five main steps in the operation of organic photovoltaics, but achieving balanced hole and electron transport with high mobility has been challenging in devices. Here, we report improved charge transport in organic photovoltaics via incorporation of nanostructured inorganic electron transport materials into the active layers of devices. Co-depositing TiO2 nanowire...

The emergence of third-generation photovoltaics based on Si relies on tunable bandgap materials with embedded nanocrystalline Si. One of the most promising approaches is based on the mixed-phase Si1 - xCx. We have investigated the light absorption controllability of nanocrystalline Si-embedded Si1 - xCx produced by thermal annealing of the Si-rich Si1 - xCx and composition-modulated superlattic...

The field of organic photovoltaics has developed rapidly over the last 2 decades, and small solar cells with power conversion efficiencies of 13% have been demonstrated. Light absorbed in the organic layers forms tightly bound excitons that are split into free electrons and holes using heterojunctions of electron donor and acceptor materials, which are then extracted at electrodes to give usefu...