By Josh Perry, Editor
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A new study being led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will study hybrid organic-inorganic semiconductors (HOIS) to better understand and control spin, charge and light-matter interactions in these materials with the goal of unlocking new energy technologies.

The study could lead to improvements in energy technologies. (Wikimedia Commons)

According to a report from the NREL, the study came from initial studies of lead-halide perovskites for solar cells and hopes to spread the technology out to other energy applications.

“The crystal lattice structure of HOIS incorporates both organic and inorganic components,” the report explained. “These components can act individually and in concert in a range of ways due to their varied chemistries. They can also interact as extended systems that display unusual, so-called emergent behaviors that cannot be predicted based on a sum of the individual parts.”

HOIS crystals and films can be produced from solutions at or near room temperature, instead of high-temperature processes, which allows researchers easier control of the material and easier tuning of its properties.

The research project will include scientists from various backgrounds and disciplines.

Matthew Beard, lead principal investigator for CHOISE (Center for Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Semiconductors for Energy) said, “We believe that we have a tremendous opportunity to develop foundational knowledge that will drive a new paradigm in semiconductor science and technology.”