Faraday Institution PhD researcher helps develop a new material for solar panel applications

Victor Riesgo-Gonzalez is a PhD researcher based within the Faraday Institution’s Degradation project. His research at the University of Cambridge concerns the synthesis of coating materials from molecular precursors that can improve the lifetime of Li-ion batteries. Victor completed a three-month internship with Lambda Energy, a start-up that develops spectral converters (photoluminescent materials that can be applied to solar cells) to improve solar panels and increase the biomass yield in greenhouses.

The internship project

Solar energy is one of the most abundant and readily available energy sources. However, current technology is limited by the small fraction of the light spectrum that can be converted into electricity. Therefore, the development of devices that can harness this resource more efficiently has the potential to transform the energy economy. This motivation drives Lambda Energy’s work in the photovoltaics industry.

During his internship Victor developed and characterised a new molecular precursor that can be used to deposit a material that absorbs photons of wavelengths that are conventionally not useful for photovoltaics and emit lower-energy photons that can be used to produce electricity, thereby increasing the efficiency of solar panels.

Victor’s day-to-day experience involved working in the lab in Cambridge applying the skills he developed during his PhD to this new problem. He also developed methods to measure the photoluminescence properties of those materials. This involved setting-up a protocol for sample preparation and extensive engagement with the physics department, where he carried out most of the measurements.

The novelty of Lambda’s research is in the way that the materials are prepared, which is being pioneered by Professor Clare Grey’s and Dominic Wright’s groups at the University of Cambridge, in which Victor is pursuing his PhD. This approach differs from more conventional materials synthesis in that the material is produced from bespoke molecular precursors that can decompose under certain conditions, leading to materials with tailored composition that can be deposited over a wide variety of substrates. The approach has enabled Lambda to access a new range of materials that had not been manufactured before, which have a potential use in photovoltaics and agrotechnology. The company has identified a few interesting candidates for useful materials, with a view to commercialising technology in this space.

The experience

During his internship, Victor was able to experience materials development from scratch. It allowed him to apply his expertise in synthesis, materials, and characterisation to optical materials – a topic new to him. It also enabled him to develop his knowledge of fluorescence and photoluminescence spectroscopy.

He found that the scientific approach at Lambda Energy was markedly different to what he was used to working in his group at Cambridge. He noted that during PhD research the failure tolerance is much higher, whereas in industry if something does not work from the beginning it is often abandoned for a new idea. As well as the faster pace, the economics had to be considered at each stage of development to decide whether continued investment was warranted. Victor’s knowledge of the commercialisation of technology was greatly increased; he was involved in discussions with project managers and economists who didn’t have a scientific background, which he found to be an interesting challenge.

Additionally, Victor oversaw the work of an Erasmus student who made a second precursor based on his approach, giving him the opportunity to supervise a more junior researcher.

A highlight of his internship was how open to the collaboration the team at Lambda Energy were, and that they were not only concerned with commercialisation, but extremely interested in the underlying science. He was also pleased that the time he spent there fostered a stronger relationship between Lambda Energy and his group at the University of Cambridge.

I became aware of opportunities and options that I didn’t realise I had.”

Victor’s aspirations of pursuing a career in academia have remained constant. He sees that the three months working in industry will be valuable to his career – it has given him a greater awareness of emerging technologies and allowed him to develop connections in a business environment.