Young scientist makes cheap solar cells

34-year-old Cyrus Wadia scientist of Berkeley Laboratory and University of California (Berkeley, California, USA) has just been recognized by Technology Review magazine as one of the world's leading inventors under the age of 35.

Jason Pontin, editor-in-chief of Technology Review, said the TR35 list honors young inventors with projects that have a great impact on the world.

Wadia is developing low-cost solar cell technology that everyone in the world can buy.

Technology Review is the oldest technology magazine in the world, published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Since 1999, Technology Review has annually voted for the world's top young scientists under the age of 35 (TR35). The TR35 list in 2009 was published by Technology Review magazine on August 18. These are the inventors selected from over 300 young scientists nominated for their research on medicine, computers, communication and nanotechnology.

Cyrus Wadia said he was honored to be voted on this list. Wadia's goal is to be able to create cheap solar energy that everyone on the planet can accept, especially with 1.2 billion people currently living without electricity. To achieve this goal, Wadia and her colleagues are developing solar cells from natural, readily available materials such as iron sulphide and copper sulfide.

Young scientist Cyrus Wadia (Photo: RSC)

These cheap and readily available materials can be used to replace the materials being used to create solar batteries. Current materials have limitations that hinder the widespread use of solar cells. Silicon has a lot but prices are still quite expensive. Thin films are cheap and can conduct electricity at a lower cost than silicon. But both these materials and other semiconductor materials cannot be created in large quantities to meet electricity demand around the world.

Cyrus Wadia and other young inventors on the 2009 TR35 list will be awarded at the ceremony held at the MIT Institute in late September.

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