Research network for photovoltaics

Prof. Dr. Harald Oberhofer, Chair of Theoretical Physics VII - Computational Material Design, is forming the "OPVstability" network together with groups from Austria, Germany, Spain, Denmark, Schwerden and Israel. He tells us what this is all about in an interview with UBTaktuell.

UBTaktuell: You are now a member of the "OPVstability" network. What is this network all about?

Prof. Dr. Harald Oberhofer: OPVstability is an international network for the training of doctoral students and is funded by the EU within the framework of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Programme.

The network comprises eleven research institutions from seven countries and three industrial partners. Doctoral students are supervised by a main supervisor at one of the research institutions, but will also be seconded to at least two of the other locations during the course of their doctorate. This not only promotes cooperation between the groups but, together with planned meetings and courses, also ensures that the doctoral students receive the most rounded education possible.

You are the Principal Investigator (PI) in the network. What is your task here?

As PI in OPVstability, I am in charge of one of the ten research projects that will deal with simulations and data-based design of stable organic photovoltaic materials. I also act as a second supervisor for one of the other research projects and am responsible for training the doctoral students in the network in handling and analysing large amounts of data.

What are the goals of the network?

The aim of the network is to identify efficient and stable organic photovoltaic materials and to understand the degradation mechanisms of such materials. Furthermore, methods for predicting the stability of the materials are to be developed and strategies for the production of long-lasting organic solar cells are to be devised. Due to the complexity of this issue, OPVstability is based on a holistic research approach that includes high-throughput methods, Big Data analyses, multi-scale characterisations, and simulations.

How does your involvement affect your work at UBT?

OPVstability gives my group access to research data and methods from other leading research groups in the field of organic photovoltaics. Collaboration with other groups therefore strengthens our own research and provides new impetus. For UBT, such large international consortia result in a strong increase in global visibility. Cooperation with new partners from industry could, possibly, open up new research horizons in the future.