The new research center of the CNC, with Prof. Frank Würthner as head, is part of the interdisciplinary project Solar Technologies Go Hybrid. SolTech is a 50 million euro interdisciplinary project initiated by the Federal State of Bavaria to explore innovative concepts for converting solar energy into electricity and non-fossil fuels.

The research focus of the CNC laboratories lies on arranging small organic molecules into bigger molecular super structures, absorbing sunlight and transporting it to electrodes which is subsequently being converted into electricity. Another goal is to develop a kind of “artificial photosynthesis”, which possibly helps to reduce carbon dioxide and produce high energy raw-materials such as sugar, starch and methane.

University President Alfred Forchel was proud about the new building which will not only be the university’s “new flagship of energy research”, but will also provide 50 workplaces for young scientists. According to Joachim Fuchs, Head of the State Construction Authorities Würzburg, the new laboratories will probably start operations in the middle of 2016.

Click here to read the hole article of the University Press (only in German available)

The centre will provide ideal conditions for the staff of Professor Frank Würthner to develop innovative concepts of harnessing solar energy among other research activities. The newly built research premises located on the University of Würzburg's Hubland Campus offer about 1,500 square metres of space for laboratories, offices and state-of-the-art research infrastructure.

"If you want to take the lead in the international competition for researching technologies of the future, you have to be able to rely on top-notch technical infrastructure. The 8.75 million euros worth of funding from the Free State of Bavaria and the university are a good investment," said Bernd Sibler, Secretary of State in the Bavarian State Ministry for Education, Science and the Arts. The centre is part of the research network "Solar Technologies Go Hybrid (SolTech)" which is also funded by the Free State. Five Bavarian universities participate in the network. "The subject we are promoting here is really important and very exciting," Sibler said. SolTech's aim is to develop innovative concepts to convert solar energy into electricity and design novel energy carriers in well-equipped laboratories, the so-called "Key Labs".

"The inauguration of the CNC is therefore crucial to solve a central question of our society: How can we achieve and secure a sustainable energy supply?" asked University President Alfred Forchel.

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