The workshop on Lasers for Clean Energy took place at the Central Laser Facility (CLF) on 13 May as part of the official program for the Laserlab-Europe Annual Meeting 2025. Organized by Giulio Cerullo (POLIMI-CUSBO) and Panos Loukakos (FORTH), the session gathered a panel of experts to share a review of their recent activities and results in relation to the workshop’s topic.
Insights and highlights
The workshop featured presentations from the following scientists: Tonu Pullerits (LLC), Giulio Cerullo (POLIMI-CUSBO), Mariangela Di Donato (LENS), Panos Loukakos (FORTH), Catalin Constantinescu (LP3-CNRS), Nicu Scarisoreanu (INFLPR), Francesco Furlan (Imperial College), and Franco Camargo (IFN-CNR).
Talks showcased how laser-based time resolved spectroscopy serves as an invaluable tool in understanding the basic mechanisms that are responsible for fundamental processes, e.g. energy harvesting from the sun and conversion into chemical forms, characterization of the dynamical processes in photosynthetic bio-materials, and developing state-of-the-art time-resolved imaging and holographic microscopy methods for investigating fast charge carrier interactions in perovskite photovoltaics and light harvesting systems.
In addition, the importance of light-matter interactions and the subsequent control of surface morphological characteristics at the nano domain employing laser-material processing was highlighted by showcasing applications of lasers in preparation of nanostructured electrodes, their growth and functionalization for energy storage applications such as batteries, hydrogen, fuel cells etc.
Concluding round table and next steps
A round table discussion concluded the workshop, during which participants identified opportunities for continued collaboration and funding. It was agreed to coordinate a proposal to be submitted in the “doctoral networks” call of the EU with a deadline in November 2025. This network will bring about the complementarities of the participating facilities in the training of young researchers on the applications of laser time-resolved spectroscopy and laser-based nanoprocessing in materials relevant to clean energy.