Nanotechnology is growing up
12/13/2008Under this slogan, the Volkswagen Foundation presents its new funding initiative, providing 4 million euro for applied nanotechnology research in Germany. Researchers from Würzburg have been granted 569,000 euro.
Frank Würthner (chair of organic chemistry II) and Bert Hecht (professor of physics) convinced the evaluation commitee with their project "Antenna-based molecular optoelectronics". They are the first two members of the Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen Research Center who have been successfull with a joint application for external funding.
The project aims to assemble small antennas, consisting of gold nanorods and functional organic dye molecules, able to transform light into electric energy. The ultimate goal is the construction of a highly efficient photovoltaic mini power plant of about 100 nanometer size.
