TalTech 5GSOLAR/Laboratory for Thin Film Energy Materials

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TalTech 5GSOLAR/Laboratory for Thin Film Energy Materials

Welcome to the official FB page of TalTech's Laboratory for Thin Film Energy Materials In 2001, a research group was established by prof.

Malle Krunks as a portion of the Department of Materials that focused on the development of chemical technologies for deposition of thin films. In 2011 the group was convened under the official name The Laboratory of Thin film Chemical Technologies. As of 2017, the laboratory operated as a division of the Department of Materials Science and Environmental Technology. Starting from 1st of March, 2023, the group has a new name: Laboratory for Thin Film Energy Materials. The main research topic of the Laboratory for Thin Film Energy Materials is the development of metal oxide and sulphide thin films and nanostructured materials for solar cells, electronics and environmental applications by chemical technologies such as spray pyrolysis, chemical bath deposition and sol-gel. The technologies that are developed in the laboratory are simple, inexpensive and easily transferrable to industrial scale. A new type of ultra thin absorber based solar cell design and its component layers were developed in the laboratory and secured by several international patents. Students have always been keen on participating in such a theme of research. We have offered opportunities to engage in complex subject studies for a number of bachelor, master, and doctoral students. In addition to high-level technological equipment, the laboratory has the capability to analyse the composition, structure, optical, and electrical properties of materials. We are open to collaboration with both research institutions and companies.

24/09/2026

☀️ Exploring the next generation of photovoltaics!

From 8–10 September, our colleagues Jekaterina Rsts, Robert Aleksander, Alessandra Palmieri, Chris Don and Nicolae Spalatu participated in the 7th Next Generation High Efficiency Photovoltaics International School and Workshop (NEXTGEN 2026) in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
This year’s theme, “Integrated PV: from materials to applications,” brought together researchers, industry experts and early-career scientists to exchange knowledge and discuss the latest developments in emerging photovoltaic materials, technologies and applications. 🔬☀️
The three-day programme featured master classes, invited talks, research presentations and a poster session, covering emerging photovoltaic materials and technologies as well as their integration into applications such as indoor photovoltaics and other innovative PV solutions.

We were also proud to have Nicolae Spalatu serving as one of the workshop chairs, representing TalTech in the organization of this international event. 🌍
It was a great opportunity for our team to share their research, exchange ideas and connect with the international photovoltaic research community working towards the next generation of solar energy technologies!

21/09/2026

☀️🔬 What happens when light, materials science and bright minds come together?

This summer, they came together in Tartu! From 6–9 July, the Summer School “Light-Activated Materials for Emerging Applications” brought together PhD students, early-career researchers and senior researchers for four days of learning, practical activities and scientific exchange.

The programme covered light-activated materials synthesis and characterization, photocatalytic assessment and photovoltaics, combining lectures, practical exercises, individual tasks and participant presentations. The final day also focused on self-development, presentation skills and career development. 💡🔬

The Summer School was jointly organized by researchers and administrative staff from the Institute of Physics and the Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology at the University of Tartu, together with the Laboratory for Thin Film Energy Materials at TalTech - Tallinna Tehnikaülikool

A big thank you to everyone who contributed to organizing the Summer School and to all the participants who made these four days in Tartu such an engaging and inspiring experience! 🙌

04/09/2026

🎓 Congratulations to Mike A. Koltsov on defending his PhD thesis at Tallinn University of Technology!

Today, on 4 September 2026, Mykhailo defended his doctoral thesis entitled “Development of Bi₂S₃-Based Materials by Close-Spaced Sublimation for Thin-Film Solar Cell Applications.”
His research focused on developing bismuth sulfide-based materials and antimony–bismuth sulfide solid solutions for thin-film solar cell applications.
The thesis was supervised by Nicolae Spalatu and Ilona Oja Acik at TalTech’s Department of Materials and Environmental Technology.
Opponents: Dr. Galina Gurieva (Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin) and Prof. Dr. Sven Lange (University of Tartu).

👏 Congratulations, Mykhailo, on this important achievement!

Read the dissertation: https://t.ly/j9sx-

21/08/2026

♻️☀️ What happens to valuable materials in solar cells at the end of their life?

TalTech postdoctoral researcher Jekaterina Sydorenko is developing recycling strategies for thin-film solar cells, with a particular focus on antimony (Sb) – a critical raw material whose demand is rapidly growing, while its recycling rate remains below 10%.

🔬 The research explores how antimony can be recovered from solar cells and given a new life in valuable materials. Instead of becoming waste, recovered antimony could be reused in new solar cells, energy-storage applications, or wastewater treatment. 🔋🌱

As part of her postdoctoral project, Jekaterina carried out research in Germany within the project PUTJD1320 “Development of recycling strategies for Sb-chalcogenide thin-film solar cells” (https://t.ly/NdeCo). Her work highlights why recyclability should already be considered at the laboratory stage when developing next-generation photovoltaic technologies.

👉 Read more about the research in ERR Novaator (in Estonian):
https://t.ly/6Ct8K

09/07/2026

🔋 Looking back at the 4th ReNewPV Workshop & 16th European Kesterite Conference!

We proudly look back on the successful 4th ReNewPV Workshop & 16th European Kesterite Conference, which recently brought together researchers from across Europe and beyond in Tallinn, Estonia.

Over several inspiring days, participants shared the latest advances in thin-film photovoltaics, kesterite and antimony chalcogenide solar cells, novel materials, characterization techniques, and sustainable energy technologies. The conference provided an excellent platform for scientific discussions, knowledge exchange, and new research collaborations.

As the local organizing team, we would like to sincerely thank all speakers, participants, sponsors, and volunteers for making this event such a success. Your engaging presentations, insightful discussions, and collaborative spirit created an inspiring atmosphere throughout the conference.

We are grateful to everyone who contributed to this memorable scientific gathering and to strengthening the international photovoltaic research community.

📍 Tallinn, Estonia

02/07/2026

🔬🌍 Research is not only about experiments in the laboratory—it is also about collaboration, learning, and access to world-class research facilities.

Our PhD student Mike A. Koltsov recently visited the elektronen-synchrotron DESY in Hamburg, Germany, where he carried out X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) measurements at the P65 beamline. The visit was made possible through the collaboration between our lab and researchers from UNIVERSITÄT LEIPZIG.

The beamtime provided a unique opportunity to characterize samples using advanced techniques and to work alongside experts in the field, highlighting the importance of international collaboration in materials science and photovoltaic research.

Read more about Mykhailo's experience in his own LinkedIn post:
🔗 https://t.ly/ZFYIN

We are proud to see our young researchers gaining valuable international experience and contributing to cutting-edge research. 👏

26/06/2026

🌍🔬 Our team had a fantastic opportunity to present our latest research at the 2026 E-MRS Spring Meeting in Strasbourg, France!

Our researchers participated in Symposium A: Thin-film Chalcogenide Materials for PV and Solar Energy Conversion, sharing recent advances in antimony chalcogenide solar cells and next-generation photovoltaic technologies. ☀️

🎤 We are especially proud that three of our PhD researchers delivered oral presentations:

👩‍🔬 Athulya Babu Suseela – Prospects in the Development of Ultrathin Sb2(S,Se)3 Thin Films by Close-Spaced Sublimation for Photovoltaic Applications.

👨‍🔬 Ernest Asare – Enhancing USP-deposited Sb2S3 Solar Cell Performance via Annealing Process for Interfacial Defect Passivation.

👩‍🔬 Hadeer Saleh – Conformal ultrathin Sb2S3 growth via interface modification for high V_OC semi-transparent solar cells.

👏 Congratulations to Athulya, Ernest, and Hadeer for their oral presentations. Special recognition also goes to Nicolae Spalatu, who played a key role in organizing the Renew-PV COST Action Session (COST Action CA21148), helping create an inspiring platform for scientific exchange and collaboration.

Events like E-MRS provide an excellent platform to share ideas, build collaborations, and advance the future of sustainable solar energy technologies. 🌱☀️

17/06/2026

The 4th ReNewPV + 16th European Kesterite Conference has begun in Tallinn – hosted here for the second time! ✅

09/06/2026

🎬✨ We have reached the final video in our researcher spotlight series!

In this video, Athulya presents the key results and achievements of her research, highlighting her contributions to the development of advanced photovoltaic materials and sustainable energy technologies. ☀️🔬
Her work reflects the dedication, innovation, and scientific curiosity that drive progress in renewable energy research.
💡 From laboratory discoveries to solutions with real-world potential, Athulya's research contributes to shaping a more sustainable future.

🎥 Watch the video to learn more about her research and scientific achievements.

🙌 Thank you for following our researcher spotlight series and getting to know the people and research behind our laboratory's scientific achievements. Stay tuned for more exciting science from our team!

05/06/2026

🎬🔬 Our researcher spotlight series continues!

This time, Ernest Adiyiah Asare shares the key achievements and findings of his research on antimony sulfide (Sb₂S₃) solar cells and sustainable photovoltaic technologies. ☀️

💡Through his work, Ernest has contributed to advancing our understanding of thin-film photovoltaics and developing more efficient approaches for next-generation solar energy solutions.
From innovative materials research to practical applications, his work helps move clean energy technologies closer to everyday use.

🎥 Watch the video to learn more about the science and discoveries behind his research.

Address

Ehitajate Tee 5, Building U06
Tallinn
19086

Telephone

+3726203369

Website

https://taltech.ee/en/laboratory-thin-film-energy-materials, http://5gsolar.taltech.ee/, https://www.linkedin.com/compan

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