PHOTOSOL - Research project

This work focuses on the development of functional sol-gel thin films structu-red at the micro- and nanoscale to improve light harvesting and energy con-version efficiency. The goal is to apply these materials to solar energy sys-tems, including both photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices, by combining photonics, materials science, and process engineering to design efficient, low-cost, and scalable fabrication strategies.
The approach is based on sol-gel nanoimprint lithography (NIL), a soft-chemistry technique that enables the replication of nanostructured patterns over large areas with high precision, low cost, and high throughput. By integra-ting NIL with optical lithography and sol-gel chemistry, the project aims to produce nanophotonic coatings capable of trapping and guiding light within active layers, thereby enhancing photon absorption and overall conversion efficiency.
These nanostructured sol-gel films are multifunctional, providing optical func-tions such as light trapping and scattering control, as well as chemical and catalytic properties relevant to hydrogen production and solar energy harves-ting. Their low-temperature processing ensures compatibility with a wide range of substrates and supports sustainable, low-carbon manufacturing approaches.
Ultimately, this work demonstrates the potential of large-area, low-cost nano-photonic devices for renewable energy conversion, validated through proto-type fabrication and performance evaluation under realistic operating condi-tions.