Alumni

Group leader, Soft Matter Physics

Technical University of Darmstadt Department of Materials Science - Optoelectronics Alarich-Weiss-Str. 2 DE-64287 Darmstadt

Email:	michael.saliba@opto.tu-darmstadt.de
	0000-0002-6818-9781

One hour of sunlight is enough to power the entire planet for over a year. Michael Saliba investigates how we can tap into this abundant energy source in order to produce sustainable electricity in the future. As he explains in this video from Latest Thinking, the perovskite semiconductor – a new material that was discovered about five years ago – has great potential to advance the use of solar energy. The material also poses problems, however, as it is sensitive to humidity, heat, and light. His research team has found a way to tackle these challenges by creating a new composition that proves more stable and by adding a polymeric protective layer. In this stabilized form, the perovskite semiconductor offers tremendous opportunities to be used as a solar cell by industry.

Watch the video here.

Michael was alo named to the MIT Tech Review's 2017 list of 35 Innovators under 35.