A new EU-funded project is turning to nanotechnology in a bid to dramatically ramp up the efficiency of solar cells. Called ROD-SOL ('All-inorganic nano-rod based thin-film solar cells on glass'), the three-year project has a budget of EUR 4 million, EUR 2.9 million of which will come from the 'Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies' (NMP) Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

The aim of the project is to develop new, more cost-effective nanomaterials for solar cells. In a time of rising energy prices, the race is on to develop new, cheaper ways of exploiting renewable energy sources. 'Photovoltaics is an important pillar of this effort, as solar energy is available in almost unlimited amounts,' commented project coordinator Dr Silke Christensen of the Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT) in Germany.

In total, the project counts seven research organisation partners, based in Austria, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Switzerland and the USA, and four industrial partners from Germany, Slovenia and Finland.