Michael Grätzel
Encyclopedia
Michael Grätzel is a professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
where he directs the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces. He pioneered research on energy and electron transfer
reactions in mesoscopic-materials and their optoelectronic applications. He discovered a new type of solar cell
based on dye sensitized mesoscopic oxide particles
and pioneered the use of nanomaterials in lithium ion batteries.
Author of over 800 publications, two books and inventor or co-inventor of over 50 patents, he was a visiting professor at the University of California at Berkeley, the École Normale Supérieure de Cachan (Paris) and is presently part-time distinguished visiting professor at the Delft University of Technology
. He was a frequent guest scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) in Golden, Colorado
, was a fellow of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science. He has received numerous awards including the Millennium 2000 European innovation prize, the 2001 Faraday Medal
of the British Royal Society, the 2001 Dutch Havinga Award, the 2004 Italgas Prize, two McKinsey Venture awards in 1998 and 2002 and the 2005 Gerischer Prize. In 2007 he was awarded the Harvey Prize
of Technion for pioneered research on energy and electron transfer reactions in mesoscopic-materials and their optoelectronic applications. In 2009 he was awarded the Balzan Prize
for the Science of New Materials. He holds a doctorate from the Technical University of Berlin
and honorary doctorates from the Universities of Uppsala
, Turin
and Nova Gorica
. He was elected honorary member of the Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles. Dr. Grätzel is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee at the IMDEA Nanoscience Institute.
École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne
The École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne is one of the two Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology and is located in Lausanne, Switzerland.The school was founded by the Swiss Federal Government with the stated mission to:...
where he directs the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces. He pioneered research on energy and electron transfer
Electron transfer
Electron transfer is the process by which an electron moves from an atom or a chemical species to another atom or chemical species...
reactions in mesoscopic-materials and their optoelectronic applications. He discovered a new type of solar cell
Solar cell
A solar cell is a solid state electrical device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photovoltaic effect....
based on dye sensitized mesoscopic oxide particles
Dye-sensitized solar cells
A dye-sensitized solar cell is a low-cost solar cell belonging to the group of thin film solar cells. It is based on a semiconductor formed between a photo-sensitized anode and an electrolyte, a photoelectrochemical system...
and pioneered the use of nanomaterials in lithium ion batteries.
Author of over 800 publications, two books and inventor or co-inventor of over 50 patents, he was a visiting professor at the University of California at Berkeley, the École Normale Supérieure de Cachan (Paris) and is presently part-time distinguished visiting professor at the Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology
Delft University of Technology , also known as TU Delft, is the largest and oldest Dutch public technical university, located in Delft, Netherlands...
. He was a frequent guest scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory , located in Golden, Colorado, is the United States' primary laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory is a government-owned, contractor-operated facility; it is funded through...
(NREL) in Golden, Colorado
Golden, Colorado
The City of Golden is a home rule municipality that is the county seat of Jefferson County, Colorado, United States. Golden lies along Clear Creek at the edge of the foothills of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Founded during the Pike's Peak Gold Rush on 16 June 1859, the mining camp was...
, was a fellow of the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science. He has received numerous awards including the Millennium 2000 European innovation prize, the 2001 Faraday Medal
Faraday Medal
The Faraday Medal is a medal awarded by the Institution of Electrical Engineers The bronze medal is awarded without restriction as regards nationality, country of...
of the British Royal Society, the 2001 Dutch Havinga Award, the 2004 Italgas Prize, two McKinsey Venture awards in 1998 and 2002 and the 2005 Gerischer Prize. In 2007 he was awarded the Harvey Prize
Harvey Prize
The Harvey Prize is awarded by the Technion in Haifa, Israel. It is awarded in different disciplines of Science, Technology, Human Health, and Contributions to Peace in the Middle East. Two awards - each of $75,000 - are given away annually...
of Technion for pioneered research on energy and electron transfer reactions in mesoscopic-materials and their optoelectronic applications. In 2009 he was awarded the Balzan Prize
Balzan Prize
The International Balzan Prize Foundation awards four annual monetary prizes to people or organisations who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of humanities, natural sciences, culture, as well as for endeavours for peace and the brotherhood of man.-Rewards and assets:Each year the...
for the Science of New Materials. He holds a doctorate from the Technical University of Berlin
Technical University of Berlin
The Technische Universität Berlin is a research university located in Berlin, Germany. Translating the name into English is discouraged by the university, however paraphrasing as Berlin Institute of Technology is recommended by the university if necessary .The TU Berlin was founded...
and honorary doctorates from the Universities of Uppsala
Uppsala University
Uppsala University is a research university in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477. It consistently ranks among the best universities in Northern Europe in international rankings and is generally considered one of the most prestigious institutions of...
, Turin
University of Turin
The University of Turin is a university in the city of Turin in the Piedmont region of north-western Italy...
and Nova Gorica
University of Nova Gorica
University of Nova Gorica - UNG , is the fourth university in Slovenia. It is located in the towns of Nova Gorica, Gorizia , and Ajdovščina.-History:...
. He was elected honorary member of the Société Vaudoise des Sciences Naturelles. Dr. Grätzel is a member of the Scientific Advisory Committee at the IMDEA Nanoscience Institute.
Recognition
- On 9 June 2010, Grätzel received Millennium Technology PrizeMillennium Technology PrizeThe Millennium Technology Prize is the largest technology prize in the world. It is awarded once every two years by Technology Academy Finland, an independent fund established by Finnish industry and the Finnish state in partnership. The prize is presented by the President of Finland...
, for development of dye-sensitized solar cellsDye-sensitized solar cellsA dye-sensitized solar cell is a low-cost solar cell belonging to the group of thin film solar cells. It is based on a semiconductor formed between a photo-sensitized anode and an electrolyte, a photoelectrochemical system...
. The cash prize, worth 800,000 euroEuroThe euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
s, was awarded, in HelsinkiHelsinkiHelsinki is the capital and largest city in Finland. It is in the region of Uusimaa, located in southern Finland, on the shore of the Gulf of Finland, an arm of the Baltic Sea. The population of the city of Helsinki is , making it by far the most populous municipality in Finland. Helsinki is...
, Finland, by the President of Finland, Tarja HalonenTarja HalonenTarja Kaarina Halonen is the incumbent President of Finland. The first female to hold the office, Halonen had previously been a member of the parliament from 1979 to 2000 when she resigned after her election to the presidency...
.