Benoit Marsan in Québec-Sciences

Among the 10 Discoveries of the Year

The scientific magazine Québec Science has just released, as every year, the list of ten scientific discoveries that marked the year 2010 in Quebec. Among this list is one of the discoveries of Pr. Benoit Marsan.

Towards more efficient and less expensive solar cells

Solar energy is expensive. That’s why, despite the huge potential, it is rarely used. One of the most promising solar cells was designed in the early 1990s by Professor Michael Graetzel of the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. Inspired by the principle of photosynthesis, this battery is theoretically very interesting. Unfortunately, two problems relating to the materials used hindered its development. Thanks to two technologies developed by the team of Professor Benoit Marsan of NanoQAM these problems could be solved. The scientific and commercial future of solar cells could therefore be completely transformed and it is this contribution that the jury of Quebec Science decided to recognize in energy / chemistry.