Solar Energy Research Institute(Director: Moon Seung-Hyeon) of Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST/President: SUNO Jung Ho) is a new-regeneration energy research institute established within GIST in Feb. 2009 with the government"s support to secure original technology and to facilitate for practical use of material and element of solar light to meet the national objective of "Low Carbon Green Growth". Currently, there are 15 professors and 10 researchers.

The Research Institute is unfolding active research and development activities based on the second and third generation solar cell technology, a core technology of GIST. In the second generation solar cell, they are developing compound semiconductor for highly efficient light concentrating-type solar cell. In the third generation solar cell, they are performing the research of practicing organic and hybrid ink and dye-induced solar cell on which solar cell"s process technology and solution process is possible. Those solar cells can be printed in the new highly efficient photoactive layer material and flexible substrates of organic solar cell based on Heeger Center for Advanced Materials.

GIST has an international competitiveness in solar cell-related field. Accordingly, the institute is unfolding the strategy of selection and concentration. Among them, III-V family concentrate PV(CPV), a major field of second generation solar cell is a solar cell technology with over 40% high efficiency combined with tandem structure and lens technology, with an objective of improving production efficiency by reusable substrates thin film deposition and separation technology.

Third generation organic solar cell has an international level of cell performance in a lab scale while it has a major task of efficiency improvement for commercialization and self-development of high molecular substance to be used for p-n union.

The Institute is also focusing on solar cells" application technology to resolve the diffcult issue of low price/high performance process technology to lead the original technology and industry growth. It has been already studying solar fuel cells in cooperation with GIST"s major research group, and secured various printing process technology by accumulating research experience and knowhow.

Especially, the Institute decided it a core to reduce solar cells" price compared to performance, and is focusing on the low pricing/ thin film-making that flexible substrates and printing technology can be applied. Besides, GIST is devoted to self development of new photoactive layer substance roundly fitted with low Homo, near infra-red absorption, high electric charge (electronic) movement, and high open voltage to improve organic solar cells" open voltage.

So far, they published in a renowned foreign journal by materializing almost 100% quantum efficiency using PCDTBT and derivative of carbon 71(PC70BM) in joint research with Heeger Center for Advanced Materials.

The Research Institute is planning to focus on securing original patents by developing solar cells manufactured using ink jet printer on the flexible substrates, GIST"s signature organic solar cells, LED and new concept printing ink (organic & hybrid ink, nano ink) - a kernel for display. Research result will be promoted as technology transfer and as a project in the industries of Gwangju and Jeollanam-do region along with GIST"s GTI.

The Institute is holding the first CIGS/CIS and Thin Film-type Solar Cell Workshop in Naju, Jeollanam-do as part of a supporting project of Leading Industry Supporting Group in Jeolla Province Economic Zone. It is expected to be a place for international trend and technological information exchanges by holding technological development presentation per each section and energy forum by inviting specialists from industry, academy and research institute from home and abroad in the field of CIGS, amorphous silicon (a-Si) thin film, III-V family thin film and organic thin film.

After holding the ground-breaking ceremony for an independent new regeneration energy research building last month in GIST, the Research Institute is expected to perform the stronghold function of new regeneration energy research along with Heeger Center for Advanced Materials by completing the construction of its building by coming 2011.