High-profile nature conference: Advancing Perovskite-Based Photovoltaics

"I am proud because our university has the privilege to host such a renowned conference in partnership with Nature. And because we have already witnessed an incredible exchange of ideas, engaging presentations, and the vibrant discussions that make this conference so special“, said Prof. Peter Middendorf, rector of the University of Stuttgart, on the occasion of the international Nature conference "Advancing Perovskite-Based Photovoltaics". The conference offers an opportunity to explore, collaborate, and push the frontiers of renewable energy research together.

"Perovskites represent a remarkable class of materials,” explained Prof. Michael Saliba, head of the Institute for Photovoltaics (ipv) at the University of Stuttgart. “They are currently considered one of the most exciting areas in semiconductor research.” Perovskites are highly efficient, lightweight, and inexpensive to manufacture and are thus opening up new possibilities for a new generation of solar cells. They also show great potential for applications in medical technology, lighting systems, and satellite power supply. So it is no surprise that they are not only the focus of international photovoltaic research; the business world is also showing growing interest in the new technologies made possible by perovskites.

What progress has been made, and what challenges remain, in the development of highly efficient solar cells based on perovskites? How can novel PV technologies be transferred from basic research to industrial development and practical application? At the invitation of the University of Stuttgart and Nature, international scientists, industry researchers, and engineers came together to exchange views on these and related questions. Prominent guests included Prof. Michael Grätzel from Switzerland, Prof. Maria Antonietta Loi from the Netherlands, Prof. Nam-Gyu Park from South Korea, and Prof. Tsutomu Miyasaka from Japan. Their common goal: to forge interdisciplinary connections and help shape the future of solar energy.

The agenda included findings from basic research on materials and components, production technology, industrial standards, and solutions for the sustainable integration of perovskite solar cells in real-world environments.