The primary objective of this NATO Advanced Study Institute (ASI) was to present
an up-to-date overview of various current areas of interest in the field of
photovoltaic and related photoactive materials. This is a wide-ranging subject
area, of significant commercial and environmental interest, and involves major
contributions from the disciplines of physics, chemistry, materials, electrical
and instrumentation engineering, commercial realisation etc. Therefore, we
sought to adopt an inter? disciplinary approach, bringing together recognised
experts in the various fields while retaining a level of treatment accessible to
those active in specific individual areas of research and development. The
lecture programme commenced with overviews of the present relevance and
historical development of the subject area, plus an introduction to various
underlying physical principles of importance to the materials and devices to be
addressed in later lectures. Building upon this, the ASI then progressed to more
detailed aspects of the subject area. We were also fortunately able to obtain a
contribution from Thierry Langlois d'Estaintot of the European Commission
Directorate, describing present and future EC support for activities in this
field. In addition, poster sessions were held throughout the meeting, to allow
participants to present and discuss their current activities. These were
supported by what proved to be very effective feedback sessions (special thanks
to Martin Stutzmann), prior to which groups of participants enthusiastically met
(often in the bar) to identify and agree topics of common interest.