ICFO

The Institute of Photonic Sciences

General description of the activity

ICFO‐The Institute of Photonic Sciences was created in 2002 by the government of Catalonia and the Technical University of Catalonia. ICFO is a center of research excellence devoted to the sciences and technologies of light. The Institute carries out frontier research and trains the next generation of scientists and technologists. ICFO actively collaborates with many leading research centers, universities, hospitals, and a range of private companies based locally and all over the world.

ICFO currently hosts 20 research groups working in more than 50 different laboratories. Available to them are a Nanophotonics Fabrication Lab, a Super‐resolution Light Microscopy & Nanoscopy Lab, an Advanced Engineering Lab and a range of other support facilities. All research groups and facilities are located in a dedicated 10.000 m2 ‐ building situated in the Mediterranean Technology Park in the metropolitan area of Barcelona.

Research at ICFO is mainly focused on applications in Health, Renewable Energies and Information Technologies, and is conducted in the framework of long‐term programs and mid‐term projects in a variety of topics, including quantum information technologies, solar cells, nanophotonic devices, remote sensing, optoelectronics, integrated optics, ultrafast optics, biophotonics and biomedical optics, among others. ICFO is currently expanding, thus by 2015 the institute will host some 350 researchers organized in 25 groups. ICFO performs cutting‐edge research both in fundamental and applied fields. Spin‐off creation by ICFO researchers is also encouraged and promoted. ICFO also hosts an active Corporate Liaison Program (CLP) which serves as a bridge between ICFO researchers and all kinds of industries and corporations.

Specific areas of research energy field

Photonics is at the core of all light‐harvesting concepts and technologies, particularly in photovoltaics and solar cells, as well as in efficient illumination and lighting.

ICFO has an active Light for Energy Program which targets the challenges in energy efficient applications, developing disruptive approaches to renewable energies. Ongoing projects within the L4E Program include:

• Advanced micro and nano‐structured materials to enhance the performance of organic photovoltaic materials.
• Novel nanomaterials and devices for renewable energy applications.
• Low‐cost solar cells based on solution‐processed materials of high abundance, low toxicity and long‐term stability.
• Transparent photonic approaches and ultrathin metal films.
• Low cost highly efficient transparent solar cells and smart windows.
• Efficient lighting applications, organic OLEDs and advanced displays.
• Advanced materials and optoelectronic devices for the photonics industry. These include micro‐ and nanoengineered electro‐optic and acousto‐optic modulators for low‐power‐consumption optical communication, photonic crystal fiber and nanowire sensors for environmental monitoring and aerospace applications, photoelectric, thermoelectric and electromechanical transducers, and energy efficient sensors amongst others.
• ICFO also hosts a variety of projects in nanophotonics, including nano‐structured materials, nano‐cavities, nano‐antennas, low cost material processed nano photonic devices and plasmonic enhanced light harvesting technologies and nanoscale light technologies to be exploited in sensing, nano imaging, optical circuitry and data storage applications.
• ICFO´s Light for Energy Program also focuses on establishing links and joint projects with local, national and international research institutions, which develop, use or think of using photonics for energy efficient applications in the future, organizing workshops and conferences as well as fostering spin‐off creation, knowledge dissemination and outreach activities. ICFO collaborates with research centers, Universities and corporations worldwide, acting as a Green Photonics Hub.