Consortium on organic solar cells meets for first time in Wollongong

Feb 02, 2007

Photo/filming opportunity – 10.30am Monday February 5, Intelligent Polymer Research Institute, Bldg 41

Australia has identified the contribution of renewable energy resources as an important approach to the issue of climate control and is vastly well-endowed with a land mass that receives a large flux of solar energy.

Organic solar cell devices will be an important future solution to the provision of renewable energy resources in the world. A project involving the University of Wollongong (UOW) aims to deliver this as a sustainable energy source for Australia.

A group of Australian researchers with world-class ability to contribute in this area has formed an international consortium – this consortium will be meeting for the first time at UOW on February 5 and 6.

The consortium consists of Australian researchers from the University of Melbourne, University of Wollongong (Intelligent Polymer Research Institute), University of Sydney, University of Newcastle, University of Queensland and CSIRO combined with international expertise. The industrial group (Merck) will provide expertise in the possible industrial scale-up of material synthesis and prospects for commercialisation.

Director of the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute and the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Electromaterials Science, Professor Gordon Wallace, said that the consortium would provide breakthrough results that would make Australia a world leader in the technology of large area low cost organic photovoltaic devices.

The successful outcome of this project will allow Australia to develop a new high value export industry, which will attract substantial foreign investment for R&D and the creation of substantial employment opportunities particularly for highly skilled workers, he said.

For further information contact Professor Gordon Wallace on (02) 4221 3127.

For more information, contact:

media@uow.edu.au
University of Wollongong
Ph: (02) 4221 5942; fax (02) 4221 3128