BIG PRIZE TO LOW-COST SUN

Solar cell inventor wins tech prize
June 9, 2010 (UK Press Association)

"A Swiss scientist has won the 800,000 euro international Millennium Technology Prize for inventing low-cost solar cells used in renewable energy…

"Michael Graetzel, director of the photonics and interfaces laboratory at Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne, in Lausanne, was awarded the 2010 prize by the Technology Academy of Finland for his innovation, which led to the development of electricity-generating windows and mobile solar panels."

Graetzel dye-sensitized cells (from Wikipedia - click to enlarge)

"The academy described finding ways to replace the diminishing fossil fuel supply as one of mankind's greatest challenges, adding that the sun is…the most obvious…[and that] Graetzel cells [also called dye-sensitized cells] provide a more affordable way of harnessing solar [by using titanium dioxide nanoparticles and a molecular]…

"It was the fourth…biennial Millennium Technology Prize… launched by the [Finland] government and industry in 2004. It is given for achievements in energy and the environment, communications and information, new materials and processes as well as health care and life sciences."

schematic of the Graetzel cell (click to enlarge)

"The previous winner, in 2008, was American Professor Robert Langer from MIT for developing bio-materials used in combatting cancer and heart disease.

"Other winners include Japanese Professor Shuji Nakamura for inventions in laser technology and LED lighting, and Tim Berners-Lee, the MIT scientist credited with inventing the World Wide Web."