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[November 2008]
Sunovia and EPIR Announce Successful Solar Cell Technology Advance
Sunovia Energy Technologies Inc (Sarasota, FL, USA) and EPIR Technologies Inc have announced the successful demonstration of optical down-conversion for 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. Therefore, with optical down-conversion, much of the energy from UV light which was wasted can now be converted into electricity, making the overall solar cell system more energy efficient. Optical down-conversion is said to be a major advancement in the race to maximise solar cell efficiency and will play a unique role in the commercialisation 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 minimising energy loss due to heat. Further, this down-conversion technology is compatible with nearly all types of rigid solar cells in the market today.
This important demonstration was accomplished by Dr Jacqueline Johnson while employed at EPIR in a programme sponsored by the US Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate under the direction of Programme Monitor Dr Paul Hausgen. Dr Johnson, now a professor at the University of Tennessee, said: "I believe EPIR is uniquely qualified to become the leader in the development of advanced solar cells due to their in-depth understanding of energy absorption in materials. Infrared technology and solar technology are very similar. EPIR President Dr Siva Sivananthan has proved his excellence as a leader in infrared detection over the last 25 years and development of solar cell technology is an incremental step in a new direction for EPIR".
ENDS