After the great success of the previous editions of the PV School on Physics of Solar Cells in 2018 (from basics to nanoscience), 2020 (from basic principles to advanced characterization), 2022 (from basic principles to material science), and in 2024 (from basic principles to high performance) in the famous Les Houches School of Physics, we are proud to announce the fourth edition of the PV School that will be held on 25-29 May 2026, in Les Houches, France. Save the date!

The PV School 2026 will focus on Physics of Solar Cells: from basic principles to interface science.

This school will cover the physics of solar cells, from basic principles to advanced concepts, with a focus on interface science. It will open on a series of lectures devoted to the basic physics for solar cells (thermodynamics, opto-electronic properties of semiconductors…) setting a frame shared by all materials and technologies. It will then turn to the increasing role of interfaces in emerging technologies (tandem, perovskites, ultrathin solar cells…), and we will investigate the functions, materials, processes, and characterization of interfaces in photovoltaics.

The targeted audience is focused on scientists (junior and senior), research engineers, PhDs and post-docs, and attendees new to the field of PV or wishing to enlarge their knowledge in photovoltaics.

Applications will open in December 2025.

The PVSchool 2026 might be selected as a CNRS thematic school: if confirmed by December 2025, it will be eligible for the “formation continue” for CNRS employees, and the registration fee will be fully handled by CNRS for CNRS employees.

The organizers can be contacted at pvschool2026@services.cnrs.fr.

Session organized by the CNRS and the IPVF:

  • Stéphane COLLIN, C2N, CNRS, Univ. Paris-Saclay, France
  • Nathanaelle SCHNEIDER, IPVF, CNRS, France
  • Andrea CATTONI, Politecnico di Milano, Italy
  • Daniel SUCHET, IPVF, Ecole Polytechnique, France

with the valuable contribution of Jean-François Guillemoles (IPVF, CNRS, France).

The PV School 2026 is supported by the CNRS, the Center for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (C2N), the Institut Photovoltaïque d’Ile-de-France (IPVF), the E4C Interdisciplinary Center and the FedPV. It is hosted by Les Houches School of Physics.

Physics of Solar Cells: from basic principles to interface science

25-29 May 2026, Les Houches School of Physics