INMET
Solar Energy Laboratory
Our mission is to drive the transition to a sustainable future by pioneering next-generation solar energy technologies.
By bridging fundamental science with scalable engineering, our research spans the full spectrum of solar utilization—from high-efficiency photovoltaics to innovative solar hydrogen production and photocatalysis.
Powered by a synergy of advanced materials discovery, deep characterization, and predictive modeling, we unravel nanoscale phenomena to solve macro-scale energy challenges.
By bridging fundamental science with scalable engineering, our research spans the full spectrum of solar utilization—from high-efficiency photovoltaics to innovative solar hydrogen production and photocatalysis.
Powered by a synergy of advanced materials discovery, deep characterization, and predictive modeling, we unravel nanoscale phenomena to solve macro-scale energy challenges.
Research areas
Our Laboratory’s research activities span several strategic directions aligned with national priorities and emerging global challenges:
- Photovoltaic technologies: development of advanced materials for new-generation solar cells and optoelectronics, particularly emerging dye-sensitized, perovskite, and organic photovoltaics (Pt-free counter electrodes, quasi-solid and solid-state electrolytes, interface engineering, printed and flexible next-generation solar cells and exploring back-contact architectures). Exploring light-harvesting nanomaterials, thin-film deposition techniques, and interfacial defect passivation to improve charge transport and energy conversion efficiency.
- Dual-Functional Photocatalysts: design of dye-sensitized photocatalysts that simultaneously generate hydrogen fuel and oxidize organic pollutants.
- Solar Fuel Generation: Designing active catalytic sites for photo-driven and electrocatalytic processes, including solar water splitting (hydrogen evolution) and carbon dioxide CO2 reduction.
- Environmental Decontamination: Fabricating advanced transition metal chalcogenides and metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) utilized in Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOP) to break down complex toxins in wastewater.
- Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV): Developing integrated technologies like electricity-generating architectural glass and solar windows.
- Internet of Things (IoT) Applications: Engineering self-sustaining perovskite photovoltaics to power autonomous electronic devices.
- Indoor photovoltaics: development of photovoltaic systems capable of generating electrical power from artificial light. Customizing wide-bandgap absorber compositions optimized for low-intensity artificial light spectra (LED, fluorescent lamps).