The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology

News

• 2026-06-02

  Efficient and sustainable organic solar cells

  Organic solar cells are highlighted as a promising future technology. They are flexible, lightweight and can be manufactured at low cost in large volumes. In recent years, their efficiency has surpassed 20 per cent. However, despite this progress, a crucial challenge remains: lifetime.

  In a new doctoral thesis at Karlstad University, Suraj Prasad shows why the materials degrade and how the problem can be addressed.

  “We already have high efficiency. The main challenge now is to make the solar cells last,” says Suraj Prasad.

  Light and oxygen trigger degradation

  In the study, organic solar cell materials were exposed to simulated sunlight in air. The results show that degradation is driven by chemical reactions in which oxygen plays a central role.

• 2026-05-29

  Leading close to the patient presents challenges for nurses in municipal home healthcare

  Time constraints, inadequate organizational conditions and insufficient collaboration create challenges for nurses leading the care of older adults in municipal home healthcare. This is shown in new research from Karlstad University.

  In her doctoral thesis, Erica Lillsjö explored nurses’ patient-centred leadership in municipal home healthcare for older people. The findings show that nurses in municipal home healthcare strive to lead with a focus on the older person’s wishes, needs and best interests, while also seeking to create a sense of security for both the older person and their relatives.

  – The nurses wanted to lead, and they wanted to lead in ways that promote person-centred care. However, the organizational conditions created challenges for their leadership, says Erica Lillsjö.

• 2026-05-28

  The Knowledge Foundation funds Infinity Fiber – aims to multiply the value of Sweden’s forest raw materials

  The Knowledge Foundation (KK-stiftelsen) is granting funding to the research profile Infinity Fiber at Karlstad University. The aim is to significantly increase the value of Swedish forest raw materials by extending fibre lifespans from today’s 2–3 uses to more than 20.

  The forest industry is central to the Swedish economy but faces increasing demands for sustainability, resource efficiency and biodiversity. Infinity Fiber aims to contribute to this transition by developing new circular ways of using wood fibres.

• 2026-05-11

  Pulp can replace plastic in future packaging

  Through green chemistry and smart processing, cellulose can be given new properties that result in stronger paper and improved barrier materials. This is demonstrated in a new doctoral thesis from Karlstad University.

  Plastic is currently widely used in paper‑based packaging, such as milk and food cartons, to protect against air and moisture. However, plastic is fossil‑based and difficult to recycle together with paper. In her doctoral thesis, Mozhgan Hashemzehi shows how pulp can be modified in a more sustainable way to reduce the need for plastic in packaging.

• 2026-05-08

  MAX IV Visited Karlstad University

  On 5 May, MAX IV visited Karlstad University as part of the MAX IV Roadshow. During the visit, both current research opportunities and future plans for the world leading synchrotron radiation facility in Lund were presented. Joachim Schnadt, Science Director at MAX IV, gave a broad introduction to the facility and its scientific capabilities.

  “Going out and speaking directly with people at universities is crucial for showing what MAX IV is, what the facility can be used for, and the opportunities the infrastructure offers,” says Joachim Schnadt.

  An infrastructure for many research fields

  MAX IV provides advanced methods in X‑ray imaging, scattering and diffraction, as well as spectroscopy, with applications ranging from life sciences and medicine to energy, the environment and advanced materials. Today, 16 beamlines are in operation, covering a wide energy range from 4 eV to 40 keV.

• 2026-05-07

  Adaptive Battery Reduces Energy Costs and Peak Power Demand in Greenhouses

  Researchers at Karlstad University have developed a new intelligent control strategy for battery storage in climate controlled greenhouses. By combining artificial intelligence and signal processing algorithms with short term forecasts of electricity consumption and solar power generation, energy costs can be reduced while simultaneously easing the load on the power grid.

  Greenhouses provide optimal conditions for year‑round food production but are also highly energy‑intensive. In the present study, the researchers show how a battery storage system controlled by reinforcement learning can be used more efficiently when the greenhouse has a high share of locally generated renewable energy, such as solar photovoltaics.