Karlstad University Launches New Master’s Program in Mechanical Engineering with Data-Driven Specialization.
The new Master’s program in Mechanical Engineering – Specialization in Data-Driven Mechanical Engineering, set to begin in August 2026.
Research on organic solar cells at Karlstad University is now taking another step forward, thanks to support from WISE, the Wallenberg Initiative Materials Science for Sustainability.
The sun is an enormous resource and increasingly important for electricity production. Roughly one to two hours of sunlight hitting the Earth corresponds to the entire annual energy consumption of humanity.
The new project HiPER-Ni aligns with the global transition to renewable energy by addressing resource scarcity, reducing manufacturing costs, and improving both sustainability and efficiency, according to the Swedish Energy Agency, which is the funder.
– The project aims to replace costly silver with a new, silver-free metallization based on nickel, says Markus Rinio, Professor of Physics.
As the solar cell industry scales up toward an annual production capacity of 1,000
Ellen Moons, Professor of Physics at Karlstad University, has been elected new Secretary General of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. She will succeed Professor Hans Ellegren at the beginning of 2026.
– I am very happy for the trust I receive from the members of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (KVA) and I look forward to the new role.
Over the course of several weeks, two researchers from Bangalore, India, have visited the university as part of an ongoing collaboration funded by STINT, the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education.
This is a long-term collaboration, says Sergej Moroz, Associate Professor of Physics. This time, it’s a PhD student, Ankush Chaubey, and his advisor, Subhro Bhattacharjee, who are here for a couple of weeks.
International mobility enables valuable collaboration for researchers from Karlstad University and UMONS, the University of Mons in Belgium. The collaboration promotes research in materials science through exchange of knowledge on methods for studying material properties at the nanoscale.
– My visit here at Karlstad University has been enriching in many ways, says Philippe Leclere from UMONS.
Organic solar cells have great potential in renewable energy, however their long-term stability and operational lifespan are challenges.
Organic Solar Cells (OSCs) are at the forefront of next-generation renewable energy technologies, due to their lightweight, flexibility, transparency, and potential for low-cost production.
The sounding rocket SubOrbital Express-4 which was launched from the Esrange Space Center outside Kiruna contained an experiment module from Karlstad University. The module is about studying how the active layer of organic solar cells forms in microgravity.
– In this project, we were able to conduct experiments in an unmanned rocket, says Jan van Stam, professor of physical chemistry at Karlstad University.
Research on organic solar cells has been conducted for a long time. Recent advancements in understanding their molecular structures are now paving the way for the development of highly efficient solar cells.
– By using atomic force microscopy-infrared spectroscopy, AFM-IR, we’ve been able to create clearer images of the morphology or structure of the material, says Ishita Jalan, postdoc in physical chemistry and main author of a recently published scientific article.
A battery made from zinc and lignin that can be used over 8000 times. This has been developed by researchers at Karlstad University, Linköping University and Chalmers with a vision to provide a cheap and sustainable battery solution for countries where access to electricity is limited.
Researchers from several European countries gathered for a two-day workshop at Karlstad University. The general theme was research on polymers and their application for organic solar cells and energy storage.
– There are several purposes behind the workshop, says Jan van Stam, Professor of Physical Chemistry. We want to learn from other experts, expand our networks and make new contacts, as well as putting Karlstad University on the map in this field of research.
Patricia Saenz Mendez came to Karlstad University in 2020, in the midst on the pandemic. A rather strange start, but as a newly appointed docent in chemistry, she feels that she is in exactly the right place.
- I completed my PhD in Uruguay and after that I ended up in Sweden. Before Karlstad University, I was a postdoc at KTH and Örebro University, as well as at University of Gothenburg for a short period, says Patricia Saenz Mendez.
Perovskite solar cells degrade when exposed to sunlight, which results in decreasing performance over time. A new research project will examine how such solar cells could recover and self-repair at night.
– Electronic components, such as solar cells and LEDs, are made from semiconductor materials, says Ellen Moons, professor of Physics. Such materials form the basis of all electronics, computers, cell phones and screens.
Solar cell researchers from Karlstad University have once again conducted experiments in zero gravity during parabolic flights in Bordeaux, France. The aim is to study how the structure of the active layer of the polymer solar cell is formed, to thereby be able to increase its efficiency.
– This is the second time we have conducted experiments during parabolic flights, says Jan van Stam, Professor of Physical Chemistry at Karlstad University.
Solar cell research at Karlstad University has been granted further funding from the Swedish National Space Agency, SNSA. Later this year, the research group in chemistry and materials physics will carry out experiments under microgravity conditions on parabolic flights in Bordeaux, France.
Carbon nanotubes are of great interest in both scientific research and commercial applications thanks to the unique properties of the material. A new thesis at Karlstad University looks at how the atomic structure influences the different properties of the material.
- At the moment, there are too few measuring standards and no proper classification system for carbon nanotubes, says Mattias Flygare, recently qualified doctor of physics who just published his thesis.
