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Winchester, UK - Sunovia Energy Technologies, Inc. and EPIR Technologies, Inc. have successfully demonstrated a new optical down-conversion technique that offers increased solar cell energy efficiency.
Optical down-conversion enhances solar cell efficiency by converting the sun's ultraviolet (UV) light into visible light which can be used more effectively by the solar cell. With optical down-conversion, much of the energy from UV light that would be wasted can now be converted into electricity, making the overall solar cell system more energy efficient. Optical down-conversion aims to maximize solar cell efficiency and speed the commercialization of the companies' high-efficiency solar cells.
Sunovia and EPIR have demonstrated energy down-conversion in glass ceramic materials containing ultra-small crystalline particles (nanoparticles). The nanoparticles contain a rare earth ion that makes them transparent to visible light, creating an ideal top layer for solar cells which are typically covered with a sheet of glass in most cases. The ceramic glass material which hosts the nanoparticles is also particularly instrumental in safeguarding efficiency by minimizing energy loss due to heat. Further, this down-conversion technology is compatible with nearly all types of rigid solar cells in the market today.
The demonstration was accomplished by Dr. Jacqueline Johnson while employed at EPIR in a program sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate under the direction of Program Monitor Dr. Paul E. Hausgen.
www.sunoviaenergy.com
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