Konarka Partnership Focuses on Solar "Nano-antennas"

Rhode Island-based Solaris' materials are nanoscale metallic structures that act as "nano-antennas" for light-sensitive molecules. Since the structure is much smaller than the wavelength of light, it concentrates, absorbs and potentially transfers the light more efficiently, resulting in enhanced energy conversion efficiencies.

"Our nano-antennas enhance the absorption of the solar spectrum much like a conventional antenna enhances the reception of a radio receiver," said Robert Afzal, vice president of
research and development, Solaris Nanosciences. "This leads to high absorption in thinner structures with highly favorable electrical properties possibly resulting in higher efficiencies."

The NanoAntenna will serve as an additive to Konarka's light sensitizing materials. The project is also part of Konarka's ongoing efforts to develop a variety chemistries for its light-activated power plastic, where each chemistry is tuned to a specific purpose, enabling customers to choose the performance that best suits the power requirements of their devices, systems or structures.

"Konarka's solutions are chemistry-agnostic," said Russell Gaudiana, vice president of research and development, Konarka. "We believe in finding the best possible combination of materials to create power plastic that meets the performance needed for a specific application, and this project with Solaris holds promise."

Konarka http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/market/business/view?cid=1637
Solaris http://www.solarisnano.com