Clúster Energía Aragón (CLENAR), III Energy Night, 20 Nov. 2024, 18:30
Aragon Institute of Nanoscience and Materials (INMA) – Innovation Award
The Nanostructured Films and Particles Research Group of the Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute (INMA) – a joint institute between the University of Zaragoza and the CSIC – is responsible for the Boniface project which, in collaboration with Gres Aragón of the SAMCA Group, develops innovative and accessible photovoltaic technology integrated into building materials. Boniface seeks to revitalise and revolutionise the sector by developing halogenated perovskite photovoltaic cells integrated in building materials, specifically in a porcelain stoneware used as a substrate. This approach not only promises technological breakthroughs in the field of solar energy, but also offers a unique opportunity to revitalise and diversify the national ceramics industry.
Boniface: When nanoscience meets traditional ceramics
The Aragon Nanoscience and Materials Institute (INMA), a joint centre between the University of Zaragoza and the CSIC, has been awarded the Innovation Prize for its Boniface project, an initiative that explores new horizons at the intersection between nanoscience and the traditional ceramics industry.
What is Boniface?
Boniface is a research project that seeks to respond to one of the great challenges of our time: how can we integrate solar energy generation into the materials we already use in our buildings? To do this, the INMA team is working closely with GRES ARAGÓN of the SAMCA Group, combining scientific knowledge with industrial experience.
The science behind the project
The project focuses on the development of solar cells based on halogenated perovskites, a material that has revolutionised the field of photovoltaics in the last decade. The innovation lies in trying to integrate these cells directly into the manufacturing process of porcelain stoneware, a ceramic material widely used in construction.
Why is this important?
The integration of photovoltaic technology into building materials could in the future allow buildings to generate their own energy without the need for additional installations. In addition, this research:
- Explores new applications/products for the traditional ceramic industry.
- Investigates solutions for renewable energy generation
- strengthens collaboration between academia and industry
A work in progress
It is important to note that Boniface is currently in the research phase. INMA scientists are working on solving the technical challenges involved in integrating photovoltaic technology into ceramic materials, from material stability to power generation efficiency.
The value of collaboration
This project, funded by the State Research Agency as a Public-Private Partnership 2023 project, stands out for its collaborative nature. The union between INMA’s experience in nanomaterials and the industrial knowledge of GRES ARAGÓN allows the challenges to be tackled from multiple perspectives, combining basic research with the practical vision of the industry.
Looking to the future
The Innovation Award recognises not only the project’s current progress, but also its potential to contribute to the development of new solutions in the field of sustainable energy. The INMA team continues its research work, aware that the path from the laboratory to practical applications requires persistence, scientific rigour and continuous collaboration with the industrial sector.
Photo: Emilio Juárez (from the NFP Group) collecting the award
21st Nov. 2024
