Michael Grätzel wins 2022 Rank Prize for optoelectronics
The Rank Prize was created in 1972 by Lord Arthur J. Rank (1888-1972), a prominent British film producer and philanthropist, to advance research in two fields of research Rank himself pursued during his own career: human and animal nutrition, and optoelectronics.
Since its foundation, the Rank Prize for Optoelectronics is given every two years. The 2022 Prize is awarded to seven internationally leading scientists, from several research laboratories “for pioneering the development of new solar cell technology based on perovskite semiconductors which promises to play a key role in the future of solar power.”
Among the seven winners this year is Professor Michael Grätzel at EPFL’s School of Basic Sciences. Grätzel, who became world-famous for the invention of dye-sensitized solar cells (popularly known as “Grätzel cells”) directs the Laboratory of Photonics and Interfaces within the Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering (ISIC).
“I was overjoyed when I learned I was one of the recipients of the 2022 Rank Prize for Optoelectronics and wish to extend my sincere congratulations to my fellow laureates,” says Grätzel. “I take this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude to my co-workers and colleagues for their precious help in accomplishing this remarkable breakthrough and to Rank Prize for awarding this prestigious prize to myself and the other awardees.”
“The Rank Prize Optoelectronics Committee is delighted to recognise the outstanding achievements of these internationally leading researchers,” says Professor Donal Bradley CBE FRS, the Chair of the Optoelectronics Committee. “Their work is a key example of fundamental contributions to physical science being rapidly and successfully translated into new technology, technology moreover that is poised to address truly urgent societal challenges linked to climate change. It is particularly gratifying that we have been able to announce this recognition in the lead up to the COP26 UN Climate Change Conference.”