Distinguished Lectures at HZB: Prof. T. Krauss will talk about Photovoltaics and Photonic nanostructures

Solar power has the highest potential among all renewable energy sources, it is clean and practically inexhaustible. Despite the already very high performance of silicon solar cells with 25% efficiency and low costs, a lot of research is yet required in order to realise the vision of a solar-powered society. Can we reduce module cost by integrating solar cells into buildings? Can we improve efficiency without increasing cost, by adding low-cost materials such as perovskites? What role can photonic nanostructures play to help control the flow of light?

One of the main problems of photovoltaics is that the sun does not shine much in winter or at night. Can nanophotonics contribute to the storage problem? Thomas Krauss will discuss these and related questions with the goal of informing future research into nanostructures for photovoltaics.

The D-lecture will open the European Workshop on Nanophotonics for Solar Energy – Current Trends and Future Challenges on 25th and 26th November.

Time and location:
We cordially invite you to the talk of Prof. Thomas Krauss, York University, UK.
Date: 25th November 2015 at 11 o’clock am.
Location: lecture hall of the Wilhelm-Conrad-Röntgen-Campus of HZB

After Prof. Krauss’ presentation we will have a lunch buffet and time for informal discussion in the BESSY foyer.

About the speaker:
TF Krauss is a full professor at the University of York, UK, where he leads the Photonics research group and the cleanroom facility in the York Nanocentre. He has published 280 refereed journal articles, with 12000 lifetime citations and an “h” factor of 59, as well as 5 patents. His expertise is in the design and fabrication of photonic crystals and photonic nanostructures where he has made pivotal contributions that turned photonic crystals from an academic curiosity into the ubiquitous concept in Photonics that they are today.

(red)

  • Copy link

You might also be interested in

  • Magnetic field during catalyst synthesis triples ammonia yield
    Science Highlight
    01.06.2026
    Magnetic field during catalyst synthesis triples ammonia yield
    Applying an external magnetic field during the synthesis of CoFe₂O₄ electrocatalysts triples the ammonia yield during electrocatalytic conversion. The magnetic field alters the surface states of the spinel oxide thin films, making catalytically active sites more accessible. In the journal 'Advanced Functional Materials', a team led by Marcel Risch at HZB and Sanjay Mathur at University of Cologne demonstrates a scalable strategy for developing next-generation electrocatalysts for efficient and sustainable chemical production.
  • Materials chemistry shapes the future of catalysis
    Science Highlight
    29.05.2026
    Materials chemistry shapes the future of catalysis
    The synthesis of materials can serve as a tool for developing smart, adaptive electrocatalysts. This rapidly evolving field of research involves in-situ analytics, data-driven discoveries and autonomous robotics. These new approaches could accelerate the discovery of long-lasting and efficient catalysts for future energy conversion and the decarbonisation of the chemical industry. A recent article by Dr Prashanth Menezes and his team in the renowned journal Angewandte Chemie provides an overview of this research.
  • Cool vaccines in rural Kenya: solar solution has been awarded by UN
    Interview
    11.05.2026
    Cool vaccines in rural Kenya: solar solution has been awarded by UN
    In May 2026, Tabitha Awuor Amollo is spending some weeks as a guest scientist at HZB, analysing perovskite thin films at BESSY II. The Kenyan physicist from Egerton University, Nairobi, was recently recognised for her achievements in research and teaching. For the development of a solar-powered refrigeration system for use in rural health centres, she  has been awarded the 2026 Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World (OWSD)-Elsevier Foundation Award. An interview on exceptional projects and daily struggles of a scientist. Questions were asked by Antonia Rötger.