A new generation of lightweight solar technologies and ultra-sensitive hydrogen sensors could play a crucial role in the transition to clean energy, according to research presented today at the Cambridge Graphene Centre as part of the QAMSS lecture series.
Speaking to researchers and students, Prof. Thomas D. Anthopoulos of The University of Manchester explored how organic semiconductors – carbon-based electronic materials that can be processed like inks – are enabling flexible, low-cost devices for renewable energy generation and industrial safety.
In his lecture, “Organic Semiconductors for Renewable Energy and Hydrogen Safety Applications,” Anthopoulos highlighted the rapid progress being made in printed organic photovoltaics. Unlike conventional solar technologies, these devices can be manufactured using scalable printing techniques, opening the door to lightweight and flexible solar panels that could be integrated into a wide range of surfaces.
Anthopoulos described several strategies his research group is developing to push the efficiency of these devices beyond 20%. These include advanced charge-extracting interlayers that improve how electricity is drawn from the device, antireflection coatings that maximise light absorption and molecular dopants designed to enhance both performance and operational lifetime.
The talk also addressed a different but increasingly important challenge: hydrogen safety. As hydrogen emerges as a key component of future energy systems, reliable detection technologies will be essential. Anthopoulos presented new hydrogen sensors based on organic semiconductors capable of rapid, selective and highly sensitive gas detection.
Together, these advances show how printable electronic materials could contribute both to cleaner energy generation and to safer hydrogen infrastructure in the years ahead.