News in Press-centre

Innovative polymer material to transform solar energy into electric power is developed by the researchers of the Far Eastern Federal University School of Natural Sciences (FEFU SNS). The new polymeric fluorescent composition will potentially lead to the creation of the energy generating window, capable of converting sunlight into electric power.

According to the developers, fluorescent light concentrator is an effective and inexpensive alternative to the conventional photovoltaic cells (PVC), i.e. solar batteries. On the basis of this innovative material, one can create a film that will be mounted on a window glass or any other surface where sunlight falls, will collect and convert it into electric power. The technology allows one to gain energy in diffuse skylight, it does not require special conditions of orientation to a radiation source like conventional solar cells, and it has several other advantages.

The work is carried out in the Industry Specific Department of Chemical and Resource-saving Technologies, FEFU SNS, in collaboration with the Institute of Chemistry, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The research is supervised by Elena Fedorenko, D.Sc. (Chemistry), Senior Researcher, Institute of Chemistry, and Lyubov Lim, Associate Professor, FEFU Industry Specific Department of Chemical and Resource-saving Technologies. The idea of innovation belongs to Alexander Khrebtov, graduate students in Chemical Technology of Functional Materials.

A typical solar panel requires large area to be installed; it has low efficiency in diffuse light conditions and is pretty expensive. Light concentrators allow one to significantly reduce the need for PV converters, to use diffused light and to place devices on any surfaces, including dense urban development," explains Alexander Khrebtov.

The researchers point out that the development is still at the stage of research. Currently the researchers are trying to increase the efficiency of collecting sunlight and light conversion using this technology.