Materials and devices for photovoltaic energy conversion

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Sustainable, renewable energy production has become one of the most pressing issues in science, politics and society. Disappearing polar ice caps, record world oil prices, soaring gasoline prices and instabilities in natural gas supplies in Eastern Europe only underscore the need for sustainable, carbon-neutral, secure sources of energy. Further complicating the situation, most commercial products, such as silicon solar cells, and near-commercial technologies, such as fuel cells and dye-sensitized solar cells, are either far too energy intensive in their production or utilize scarce precious metals, such as platinum, as electrode catalysts. Both raise questions concerning the viability and sustainability of the present incarnations of the technologies. Top researchers throughout the world are promoting the concept of energy harvesting technologies that use only earth-abundant materials.