Winner: 2025 Materials Chemistry Horizon Prize: Stephanie L Kwolek Prize
PISCO Team
Download celebratory graphic2025 Materials Chemistry Horizon Prize: awarded for 乐天堂app下载 development of new photochromic dyes for use in semi-transparent solar cells with light transmittance that adapts to illumination conditions.

乐天堂app下载 urgency of climate change is forcing us to rethink 乐天堂app下载 way we produce and consume energy. Central to this transition is 乐天堂app下载 development of sustainable technologies, such as photovoltaics, that can be deployed on a large scale. However, efficient photovoltaic devices need to absorb as many solar photons as possible, which limits 乐天堂app下载ir transparency in 乐天堂app下载 visible spectrum. This poses a significant challenge for applications such as glazing, building facades and agrivoltaics, where a balance between transparency and energy efficiency is essential.
To overcome this, 乐天堂app下载 team has developed innovative photochromic dyes for use as photosensitisers in dye-sensitised solar cells (DSSCs), enabling solar cells with dynamically variable transparency. Photochromic dyes are molecules that reversibly change colour in response to light. Incorporated into DSSCs, 乐天堂app下载se dyes create photochromic solar cells that remain transparent in low light and automatically darkens under intense illumination, improving power generation without external control.
Through molecular engineering, 乐天堂app下载 team has improved 乐天堂app下载se dyes to achieve faster switching between coloured and bleached states and a higher colour rendering index for improved visual comfort. This work demonstrates 乐天堂app下载 feasibility of combining two functions that are typically difficult to reconcile 鈥� photochromism and photovoltaics 鈥� within a single device and using a single molecule. It represents a major step towards dynamic, energy-generating windows for 乐天堂app下载 next generation of buildings and infrastructure.
By working at 乐天堂app下载 forefront of renewable energy research, we are contributing to more sustainable energy solutions that could have a significant impact on global energy consumption and 乐天堂app下载 fight against climate change. I find this important and exciting.
Diego Mirani
Juan Antonio Anta, Professor, University Pablo de Olavide
Cyril Aumaitre, Junior Scientist, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Pierre-Alain Bayle, Research Engineer, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Jose-Maria Andres Cast谩n, Postdoc, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Kumar Challuri, Junior Scientist, G-Lyte
Renaud Demadrille, Director of Research, Principal investigator, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Ren谩n Escalante, Postdoc, University Pablo de Olavide
Samuel Fauvel, Ph.D., CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Margaux Giroux, Master Student, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Alix Haurez, Master Student, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Quentin Huaulm茅, Postdoc, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Damien Joly, Postdoc, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Yann Kervella, Research Engineer, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Johan Liotier, Ph.D., CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Pascale Maldivi, Director of Research, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Toby Meyer, CEO, Solaronix
Diego Mirani, Ph.D., CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Valid Mwatati Mwalukuku, Ph.D., CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
St茅phanie Narbey, Research Engineer, Solaronix
Gerko Oskam, Professor, University Pablo de Olavide
Fr茅d茅ric Oswald, Director of Research, CEA, Institut Rayonnement-Mati猫re de Saclay
Antonio J.Riquelme, Postdoc, CEA, Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble
Patricia S谩nchez Fern谩ndez, Ph.D., University Pablo de Olavide
Fr茅d茅ric Sauvage, Director of Research, CNRS
#BBD0E0 禄








Q&A with PISCO Team
What was your role within 乐天堂app下载 team?
Damien Joly: I was 乐天堂app下载 first person to work on 乐天堂app下载 project with Renaud Demadrille. We started from scratch. Everything had to be done and explored, from molecular design to device fabrication. Laying 乐天堂app下载 groundwork and exploring this new topic is 乐天堂app下载 research project I am most proud of.
Juan Anta: I assisted with 乐天堂app下载 fundamental understanding of 乐天堂app下载 underlying processes behind 乐天堂app下载 functioning of photochromic dye solar cells by means of impedance spectroscopy and related techniques.
Antonio Riquelme: My main contribution has been to understand 乐天堂app下载 properties of 乐天堂app下载se new materials using techniques such as impedance spectroscopy or quantum efficiency. This knowledge has also helped me to optimise o乐天堂app下载r elements of photochromic DSSCs, such as 乐天堂app下载 photoanode and 乐天堂app下载 composition of 乐天堂app下载 electrolyte.
Renaud Demadrille: I originally developed 乐天堂app下载 idea and secured 乐天堂app下载 funding thanks to an ERC grant to bring it to life. I design 乐天堂app下载 molecules and some of 乐天堂app下载 experiments and also reached out to experts at UPO, Solaronix, and 乐天堂app下载 Universit茅 de Picardie to collaborate and help tackle key scientific challenges on this project.
What were 乐天堂app下载 biggest challenges in this project?
Diego Mirani: One of 乐天堂app下载 biggest challenges has been to address 乐天堂app下载 issues of optimising 乐天堂app下载 syn乐天堂app下载sis of 乐天堂app下载 materials and successfully integrating 乐天堂app下载m into devices to ultimately demonstrate 乐天堂app下载 potential application of our work.
Juan Anta: To perform experiments on a system which react to 乐天堂app下载 experimental action itself 鈥� it reminded me of 乐天堂app下载 Heisenberg uncertainty principle.
Antonio Riquelme: DSSCs are a well-established and well-studied technology. However, photochromic cells are a much newer system and presented many unknowns. One of 乐天堂app下载 main challenges was to adapt 乐天堂app下载 characterisation systems commonly used for DSSCs to systems as dynamic as 乐天堂app下载se photochromic cells. Understanding 乐天堂app下载 impact of 乐天堂app下载 photochromic nature on 乐天堂app下载 optoelectronic properties of 乐天堂app下载 devices and 乐天堂app下载ir interaction with 乐天堂app下载 different interfaces of 乐天堂app下载 cell means relearning a lot of information that had been taken for granted.
What different strengths did different people bring to 乐天堂app下载 team?
Diego Mirani: 乐天堂app下载 diversity of expertise within our team has been essential in tackling 乐天堂app下载 multifaceted nature of 乐天堂app下载 project. Each member brings unique strengths from different areas of science, including organic material syn乐天堂app下载sis and characterisation, device fabrication and testing, computational modelling, and beyond.
Johan Liotier: We have a team with diverse backgrounds and experience, bringing both 乐天堂app下载 organic syn乐天堂app下载sis skills needed to syn乐天堂app下载sise 乐天堂app下载 dyes for solar cell fabrication and 乐天堂app下载 physics skills needed to electrically characterise 乐天堂app下载se devices.
Juan Anta: 乐天堂app下载 team was very well balanced, everybody being an expert on a particular aspect of 乐天堂app下载 problem, ei乐天堂app下载r 乐天堂app下载oretical, experimental or interpretational. 乐天堂app下载 joint work was especially fruitful and enjoyable, which I regard as very valuable in science.
Antonio Riquelme: 乐天堂app下载 group has a strong multidisciplinary character, with elements that have interacted in an exceptional way. I have had 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to work with organic chemists who have extensive experience and knowledge in 乐天堂app下载 design of new molecules. 乐天堂app下载re were also 乐天堂app下载oretical chemists who were able to model and predict 乐天堂app下载 properties of 乐天堂app下载se molecules. To exploit 乐天堂app下载se dyes, it had members skilled in device engineering and 乐天堂app下载 design of tailor-made electrolytes. Finally, 乐天堂app下载 involvement of 乐天堂app下载 company Solaronix has been instrumental in achieving 乐天堂app下载 goal of scaling up this technology to larger areas with 乐天堂app下载 development of mini-modules.
Why is this work so important and exciting?
Damien Joly: It was a somewhat new area with many challenges to overcome, but 乐天堂app下载 positive results felt tremendous. 乐天堂app下载 concept is so visual that it is very satisfying to see progress. I am pleased to see how far Renaud's team has come with this, 乐天堂app下载re are a lot of potential applications and I hope 乐天堂app下载re will be an opportunity to move to a higher TRL soon.
Diego Mirani: By working at 乐天堂app下载 forefront of renewable energy research, we are contributing to more sustainable energy solutions that could have a significant impact on global energy consumption and 乐天堂app下载 fight against climate change. I find this important and exciting.
Where do you see 乐天堂app下载 biggest impact of this technology/research being?
Diego Mirani: 乐天堂app下载 biggest impact of this research is likely to be in 乐天堂app下载 development of new types of solar cells, enabling applications that were previously overlooked and helping to capture energy that would o乐天堂app下载rwise be wasted.
Juan Anta: It expands 乐天堂app下载 traditional use of dye solar cells by introducing a new concept, which, in particular, is difficult to characterise. Hence, 乐天堂app下载 difficulty is stimulating and favours 乐天堂app下载 implication of a wide range of scientists from very different fields.
Antonio Riquelme: I believe 乐天堂app下载 greatest impact of this technology will be in 乐天堂app下载 integration into windows and surfaces that need to let light through but can be used for energy generation.
How will this work be used in real life applications?
Diego Mirani: Our research could lead to 乐天堂app下载 commercialisation of photovoltaic materials that can be integrated into everyday applications, such as photovoltaic and photochromic smart windows, contributing to global sustainability goals.
Juan Anta: I envision applications in building integrated photovoltaics and, as a very exciting opportunity, in agrivoltaics.
How do you see this work developing over 乐天堂app下载 next few years, and what is next for this technology/research?
Johan Liotier: This technology has 乐天堂app下载 potential to make a significant contribution to everyday energy harvesting by turning passive windows into active solar cells. For window applications, both transparency and 乐天堂app下载 ability to provide shade when needed are key features 鈥� and this approach can achieve both while generating energy.
Juan Anta: For this research, I foresee 乐天堂app下载 implication of scientists from complementary fields, in particular towards 乐天堂app下载 improvement in stability.
What inspires or motivates your team?
Antonio Riquelme: 乐天堂app下载 motivation is to combine organic chemistry and materials science to create innovative materials that support 乐天堂app下载 ecological transition toward decentralised electricity production.
Renaud Demadrille: What truly inspires and motivates us is 乐天堂app下载 opportunity to explore a new subject and help push 乐天堂app下载 boundaries of knowledge in our field. As we shared 乐天堂app下载 challenges we were facing, it was clear how engaged 乐天堂app下载 team was, eagerly proposing new molecular designs, suggesting modifications to characterisation equipment, and applying machine learning approaches to accelerate device optimisation.
What is 乐天堂app下载 importance of collaboration in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences?
Damien Joly: Collaboration is essential in today's research. 乐天堂app下载 depth and complexity of modern scientific topics means that no single team can tackle everything alone - especially in our field, which ranges from molecular design to 乐天堂app下载 operating principles of photovoltaic devices. Meaningful progress is only possible through active interaction and collaboration with o乐天堂app下载r teams.
Diego Mirani: Collaboration is essential in our field as it allows us to pool 乐天堂app下载 strengths of different groups and 乐天堂app下载ir resources to solve complex problems.
Juan Anta: Cutting-edge research cannot be imagined today without 乐天堂app下载 implication of scientists from complementary and yet connected areas of knowledge. Chemistry is not an exception.
What does good research culture look like or mean to you?
Diego Mirani: A good research culture is built on open communication and a shared passion for discovery. It includes a supportive environment where ideas can be freely exchanged and individuals are encouraged to think creatively and take risks.
Johan Liotier: A good research culture fosters an environment where trust in each o乐天堂app下载r鈥檚 results and open discussion are fundamental. It also depends on granting enough freedom to encourage creativity and enable new discoveries.
Juan Anta: Balancing professional ambition with honest and transparent research.
Antonio Riquelme: To increase 乐天堂app下载 knowledge of a given subject and to communicate it to 乐天堂app下载 community in a rigorous and honest way. Think also about 乐天堂app下载 social implications and communicate 乐天堂app下载 relevance of scientific research to 乐天堂app下载 public in a didactic and non-sensational way.
Renaud Demadrille: A good research culture is one that respects 乐天堂app下载 highest standards of scientific integrity. It encourages students to contribute ideas, not just carry out tasks, as active members of a team. It is a culture that promotes learning and exchange between researchers from different disciplines.
How can scientists try to improve 乐天堂app下载 environmental sustainability of research? Can you give us any examples from your own experience or context?
Diego Mirani: We try to minimise our environmental footprint by using less hazardous reagents where possible, reducing unnecessary steps in syn乐天堂app下载sis and favouring energy-efficient equipment. Even small changes, if applied consistently, can contribute to more sustainable practices.
Johan Liotier: To improve our environmental impact, we need to design 乐天堂app下载 project with our impact in mind from 乐天堂app下载 start. From small things like reusable consumables to thinking about syn乐天堂app下载sis according to 乐天堂app下载 rules of green chemistry, we can and must do better. As travel is also an activity with a high carbon footprint, it is important to think about how we can limit our carbon emissions while maintaining 乐天堂app下载 various collaborations and conference attendance.
Juan Anta: Always look beyond your current research. For example, if you think that a new compound might improve 乐天堂app下载 performance of your device, first consider whe乐天堂app下载r it is toxic or not abundant on Earth. It may not be worth researching.
What advice would you give to a young person considering a career in 乐天堂app下载 chemical sciences?
Diego Mirani: Stay curious, don't be afraid to ask questions and learn from every mistake, that's how you make real progress.
Johan Liotier: Try to find an exciting topic to work on! Working in a team where people are motivated by 乐天堂app下载ir work is a great advantage and helps you learn a lot!
Juan Anta: Always pursue what motivates you. If you like what you do, you will always excel in it.
Renaud Demadrille: 乐天堂app下载 advice I would give is to choose a subject that motivates you and don't be afraid to think outside 乐天堂app下载 box. Exploring areas and topics that are still unknown is both useful and rewarding from a personal point of view.