The Laboratory for Energy Materials employs advanced optical characterization techniques and materials chemistry to transform the way we produce and consume energy as a society. We work on uncovering the design rules to enable the next generation of cheap, efficient and flexible solar cells & ultra-bright displays, and unlock entirely new applications in quantum information technology.
Research topics
1
Cheap, flexible and highly energy-efficient solar cells
2
Efficient, flexible, ultra-bright displays and holography
3
Emerging qantum information technologies for ultra-efficient computing
Our key projects
Lead-Free Perovskites
Developing lead-free halide perovskites as sustainable, highly energy-efficient emerging semiconductors. These materials are printable from solution, cheap to manufacture and show enhanced electron spin lifetimes compared to their lead-counterparts.
EPFL Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering
Ultrasensitive Polarization Microscopy
Development of an ultrasensitive polarization microscope with unprecidented spatiotemporal and energy resolution at record polarization sensitivity, in collaboration with the leading microscopy and optics manufacturer Zeiss.
Carl Zeiss AG
Chiral Light–Matter Control
Understanding and controlling chiral light-matter interactions in molecular semiconductors for polarization-resolved organic optoelectronics.
EPFL Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering
Our results and highlights
1
Publication in the premier global research outlet: Nature. Celebrated as the most important journal globally across all scientific disciplines, our recent publication in Nature on a broadband sensitive polarization detection scheme highlights the importance of our work beyond just the immidiate research field we work in.
2
Sascha has won the Wiley Young Innovator Award and was named a C&EN Talented 12, two of the most competitive early-career research awards worldwide.
3
Sascha was awarded an ERC Starting Grant by the European Research Council – the most prestigious award in Europe. He also was awarded an international MAPS grant, an SNSF project funding grant, and a Swiss-Korean Quantum grant.
4
Two patents were filed regarding a) a new formulation for ultrabright QLED displays and b) an ultrasensitive polarization detection scheme.
We enable energy production & consumption applications with unprecidented energy conversion efficiencies. All devices based on semiconductors in modern society would operate based on cheaper to manufacture materials, yet at higher efficiency.
2
Valais in particular is affected very strongly by the consequences of climate change. The outlook of sustainable renewable energy sources based on cheap yet efficient photovoltaics is of key interest for the future development of this canton.
3
Industry partners at large benefit from the IP we create regarding more energy efficient solar cells and ultra-bright display materials.
Perspectives and challenges
Priority 1
Lead-free halide perovskite semiconductor development with enhanced efficiency and stability
Priority 2
Commercialication of an ultrasensitive polarization microscope
Priority 3
Enabling achiral molecular materials to be imbued with chiral properties.
Main challenges
Stability issues in lead-free halide perovskite materials (high trap density) -polarization artifacts in optical components – absence of a mechanistic understanding of chirality induction mechanisms
Future Partnerships
Quantum information technology companies interested in novel material platforms for qubits – Solar cell companies interested in novel material platforms which are cheaper, flexible and more efficient than silicon -microscopy manufacturers interested in the highest possible polarization contrast
Laboratory for Functional Inorganic Materials (LFIM)
Prof. Wendy Queen
Laboratory for Functional Inorganic Materials (LFIM)
Chemistry
Our mission
LFIM pioneers advanced porous materials for gas and liquid separations—specializing in CO₂ capture, water purification, and recovery of valuable metals from waste—to reduce global energy consumption and advance environmental stewardship.
Research topics
1
Carbon Capture: We will develop better ways to remove CO2 directly from the atmosphere e and from large point sources, with the aim of making the process cheaper and more effective to help reach carbon neutrality goals.
2
We create cost-effective and sustainable ways to extract valuable metals like platinum, palladium, and gold from waste for its reuse, with the aim of helping ensuring secure material supply chains necessary for the energy transition while promoting environmental stewardship.
3
LFIM designs selective porous materials capable of removing targeted contaminants from water sources, with the aim of helping secure clean water access for all and aid environmental remediation.
Our key projects
Carbon Capture Demo Unit
We have constructed a demonstration unit for carbon capture. This combined with process modeling allows us to optimize our materials performance in a given separation process and estimate the cost and energy consumption of per ton of captured CO2.
Gaznat, SFOE, Etat du Valais and Casale
Direct Air Capture Materials
We are developing porous materials able to capture CO2 directly from the air. The project will feature the design and implementation of a CO2 capture unit that will be installed at a local incineration facility in conjunction with ton scale carbon capture from the plant itself.
Enevi
Advanced MOF Composites
Developed innovative MOF/polymer composites using post-synthetic modification to selectively extract precious metals (Pt, Au, Pd) and toxic contaminants (Cr, As, Pb) from water, achieving scalable solutions for e-waste recycling and environmental remediation.
University of Basel, Columbia University, Technical University of Dresden, European Synchrotron Radaition Facility, University of Tokyo
Gold Recovery Exhibit
An interactive gamified exhibit with 4 stations demonstrating gold recovery from e-waste using our materials. Toured Switzerland and San Francisco, engaging thousands in circular economy concepts. Won 2022 SNSF Agora Optimus Prize for science communication.
University of Basel, Columbia University, Technical University of Dresden, European Synchrotron Radaition Facility, University of Tokyo
Our results and highlights
1
A postdoc in our laboratory, Nazanin Taheri, just received a brigde proof of concept grant to help bring her technology to market.
2
Dr. Till Scherlenleib has been selected as one of the MatChem PhD Student Award winners for 2025. His PhD thesis, “A Local Structure Perspective on Metal–Organic Frameworks”, was recognized for its outstanding contribution to the field. Timo Felder for being awarded the Outstanding Poster Award at EuroMOF2025. Sanjay Venkatachalam received the Outstanding Poster Award at the GRC on Carbon capture, utilization, and storage.
3
Our NCCR made it to the final round. We should be prepared with a press release in case it happens.
4
. We just had the postdoc, Dr. Nazanin Taheri, get the bridge proof of concept which could be a second start up coming out of our team. We have had two patent applications in the last year filed.
Team & talents
Lab team size
15
Introducing a specific team member
Timo Felder, is an exceptional Swiss student who has published an impressive number of papers so far and will complete his PhD in November. He just won the poster competition at the EuroMOF conference in Crete, which is impressive given the high competition level.
Skills developed by the scientific team
Inorganic and organic synthetic techniques to make builiding blocks and then porosu materials from those building blocks, stndard characteirzation techniques like NMR, IR TGA, SEM, Surface area analysis, and adsorption and breakthrough studies, advanced in-situ characterization techniques (XRD, PDF, XAS) to look at mechanisms, degradation pathways, and assess the structure and performance of porous materials, handling air sensitive materials, structuring techniques, process modeling design, and life cycle assessments.
Regional and social impacts
1
We develop advanced porous materials to combat climate change through efficient CO₂ capture, purify water by removing toxic metals, and recover valuable metals from e-waste—enabling a circular economy while training future leaders and engaging society through research translation.
2
LFIM helps boost visibility of Valais as a world-class science hub, helps drive economic growth through the creation of startups and bringing in investments, trains future scientists globally, engages the public via GoldRush exhibitions and local media (Canal 9, Nouveliste, RTS, Migros displays), and strengthens regional partnerships for the energy transition through presentations to decision makers and working wiht local industry, and engaging with local schools
3
Our research tackles the industrial energy challenge head-on: separation processes consume 10-15% of global energy. We deliver economic impact through startup creation (Sunchem), patent development protecting novel materials and methods and tech transfer, and through direct industry collaborations in an effort to help bring cutting-edge separation technologies to market.
Perspectives and challenges
Priority 1
Provide new scientific knowledge that may help address exisitng global challenges related to climate change and water scarcity.
Priority 2
Scale our breakthrough materials from lab to industry—transforming CO₂ capture, e-waste recycling, and water purification from research innovations into deployed technologies.o inspire action on climate and circular economy.
Priority 3
Train the next generation of sustainability leaders while expanding public engagement to inspire action on climate and circular economy.
Main challenges
Bridging the gap between laboratory success and industrial-scale deployment. Making our energy-efficient technologies cost-competitive with existing methods. Securing pilot-scale funding to demonstrate real-world performance. Moving from promising prototypes to commercially viable products that industries will adopt. Developing necesary industrial partnerships
Future Partnerships
Our NCCR will be aimed at adressing the above challenges and accelerate separation technology development to more rapidly meet industrial needs related to cost, energy consumption, and enviornmental sustainability. Within the context of this project we already have 7 academic partners and at least 15 supporting industrial partnerships which could be leveraged.
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