Physics

Prof. Nitin P. Padture
Institute for Molecular and Nanoscale Innovation Brown University, USA

Revered as the giver of life and thought in ancient scriptures, the sun is attracting renewed attention for addressing the modern day global energy and environmental crisis. While harnessing solar energy to produce electricity is not new, an unprecedented gathering of environmental/ecological, local-/geo-political, economic/market, and scientific/technological forces is putting us at the cusp of a possible solar energy revolution. Here, I will discuss the nature of these forces and their complex interplay. In this context, I will present exciting new research on a new type of solar cell (photovoltaic) based on ‘perovskite’ materials offering hope for the efficient and inexpensive generation of solar power, together with a discussion of the challenges and the opportunities that lay ahead.