Thomas Rath

Thomas Rath is a Senior Scientist at the Institute for Chemistry and Technology of Materials (ICTM) at Graz University of Technology since 2019. His research focuses on developing advanced materials for solar energy conversion, particularly organic and hybrid solar cells. Rath has established himself as an expert in solution-processable photovoltaic materials, with extensive experience in both academic and industry-driven research settings.

Dr. Rath studied Industrial Chemistry at Graz University of Technology, where he also completed his PhD in 2008 under the supervision of Prof. Franz Stelzer. His doctoral research focused on hybrid nanomaterials for solar cell applications. After his PhD, he joined the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Nanocomposite Solar Cells as a postdoctoral research associate. From 2013-2015, he was a postdoctoral research associate at Imperial College London working on the Erwin Schrödinger Fellowship Project "Chemical Interface Tailoring in Hybrid Solar Cells" funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).

Dr. Rath's primary research interests include organic and hybrid non-toxic absorber materials for solar cell applications, with focus on novel solution-based synthesis and processing routes, X-ray scattering-based characterization, and interface aspects. He investigates the correlations between material and interface properties and the photovoltaic performance and lifetime in organic solar cells. His work also encompasses lead-free perovskite-based solar cells and precursor-based synthesis of semiconducting metal sulfide films for photovoltaic applications.

Analysis of Dr. Rath's recent publications (2022-2024) reveals a strong focus on advancing organic and hybrid photovoltaic technologies. His work spans multiple fronts including non-fullerene acceptor development, perovskite solar cell optimization, thin film fabrication techniques, and interface engineering. A notable trend is the increasing emphasis on environmentally friendly processing methods using non-halogenated solvents and sustainable materials. His research demonstrates a consistent trajectory toward improving device efficiency, stability, and sustainability in next-generation photovoltaic technologies.

Dr. Rath has secured significant research funding through multiple competitive grants. He serves as project coordinator and principal investigator for Horizon Europe's HALOMAT project, FWF's Porous Materials@Work for Sustainability, and a TU Graz Lead project. Additionally, he collaborates as a scientific coworker on several other major initiatives including FWF Austria Japan, MSCA DN, PEROPTAM, and EIC Pathfinder Challenge projects.

As a Senior Scientist at ICTM, Dr. Rath leads research activities within the Trimmel Group, focusing on solution-processable hybrid and organic solar cells. His team employs advanced characterization techniques including X-ray scattering to understand structure-property relationships in photovoltaic materials. The group maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with Imperial College London where Dr. Rath previously conducted postdoctoral research.