News from the network

The promising new solar cells rely on iron compounds as sensitizers. They are bound to the semiconductor via carboxylic acid groups. In addition, branched alkyl groups optimize the arrangement of the compounds on the surface. (Image reproduced with the permission of the Royal Society of Chemistry)

An ironclad future
Solar energy plays an important role in the fight against climate change as a substitute for fossil fuels. Dye-sensitized solar cells promise to be a low-cost supplement to the photovoltaic systems we know today. Their key feature is the dye sensitizers attached to their surface. Researchers at the University of Basel continue to improve the performance with sensitizers using iron – a commonly available and environmentally friendly metal.

Media release University of Basel

In his PhD project, Fabian Züger focuses on mimicking the cellular composition of the heart using 3-dimensional bioprinting. (Image: F. Züger, FHNW and University of Basel)

Conductive nanocomposites as additives in 3D-biofabricated tissues
Scientists from the SNI network published a review paper on nanocomposites for tissue engineering. They summarize in the science journal Advanced NanoBioMed Research how conductive nanocomposites are currently used for the preparation of printable, electrophysiological tissues.

Original article in Advanced NanoBioMed Research