Tomas Leijtens

Tomas Leijtens is the CTO and Co-founder of Swift Solar, a company developing next-generation efficient and lightweight photovoltaics based on perovskite technology.1 Here's a comprehensive overview of his background and achievements:

Education and Early Career

Tomas Leijtens received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University, graduating with honors for his research in dye-sensitized solar cells.1 He then pursued his doctoral studies at the University of Oxford, earning a Ph.D. in Condensed Matter and Materials Physics. During his time at Oxford, he conducted research on solution-processed photovoltaics and contributed to the development of perovskite solar cells in Professor Snaith's research group.1

Professional Experience

After completing his Ph.D., Leijtens held several research positions:

• Postdoctoral Researcher at the Instituto Italiano di Tecnologia (2014-2015)
• Marie Curie Fellow and Postdoctoral Researcher at Stanford University (2015-2018)
• Scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (2018-2019)

In January 2019, he co-founded Swift Solar and assumed the role of CTO.1

Research and Achievements

Leijtens has made significant contributions to the field of perovskite solar cells:

• He developed the first all-perovskite tandem photovoltaic technology with colleagues at Stanford University.2
• His academic work has resulted in over 60 publications with more than 20,000 citations.2
• He was named a Forbes 30 under 30 Fellow in Science in 2018.12
• The Journal of Materials Chemistry recognized him as an "Emerging Investigator" in 2017.2

Personal Background

Leijtens has been passionate about renewable energy since his teenage years, experimenting with hydrogen fuel production at home at the age of 15.2 He is multilingual, speaking French, English, and Dutch.1

Current Role at Swift Solar

As CTO and Co-founder of Swift Solar, Leijtens is working on developing high-performance perovskite solar technology.4 The company aims to create more efficient and lightweight solar cells to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and combat climate change.3

Tomas Leijtens' expertise in perovskite solar technology and his dedication to advancing renewable energy solutions make him a key figure in the development of next-generation photovoltaics.