15 Dec 2025
Exciting Opportunity Ahead!
On February 2, 2026, WASP and WISE will launch a joint call for proposals for five-year NEST projects.
16 Dec 2025
WISE supports solar cell research
Research on organic solar cells at Karlstad University is advancing with support from WISE.
The research focuses on developing efficient, flexible, and low-cost solar cells based on carbon-based materials, offering new possibilities for renewable energy applications.
According to Ellen Moons, professor of physics and research group leader, participation in WISE provides valuable access to Sweden’s materials research community and strengthens efforts to make emerging technologies more sustainable. Postdoctoral researcher Saurabh Pareek, who joined Karlstad University through WISE, works on improving the efficiency, durability, and environmental performance of next-generation solar cells. With a background in materials science and nanomaterials for solar energy, his work explores how molecular-level design can significantly enhance solar cell performance.
The research group aims to address two key challenges: durability and sustainable manufacturing. By replacing toxic solvents with environmentally friendly alternatives such as alcohol or water, and by controlling the nanoscale structure of the solar cell’s active layers, the team seeks to develop safer, cheaper, and easier-to-manufacture solar cells. The work is carried out in collaboration with Professor Ergang Wang at Chalmers University of Technology.
For Pareek, WISE provides access to expertise, infrastructure, and advanced facilities such as MAX IV in Lund and Solaris in Poland, while supporting his long-term goal of contributing to sustainable energy technologies and establishing himself as an independent researcher in organic electronics.
– For researchers like me, WISE provides the environment, expertise, and infrastructure needed to explore new ideas that can have measurable impacts on sustainability, says Saurabh Pareek. It has also given me the opportunity to conduct experiments at the MAX IV synchrotron facility in Lund and at Solaris in Poland. I have participated in several WISE initiatives, including networking days, study visits, and synchrotron school.
