Solar Energy

New Technique Tracks Dark Excitons for Future Solar Cells

Published

2 months ago

January 30, 2025

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New Technique Tracks Dark Excitons for Future Solar Cells

by Robert Schreiber

Berlin, Germany (SPX) Jan 30, 2025

How can modern technologies, like solar cells, be optimized? An international team of researchers, led by the University of Gottingen, is tackling this question using an innovative new technique. For the first time, the formation of tiny, elusive particles – known as dark excitons – has been precisely tracked in both time and space. These invisible energy carriers are poised to play a crucial role in the development of future solar cells, LEDs, and detectors. The findings were published in Nature Photonics.

Dark excitons are extremely small pairs consisting of an electron and the hole it leaves behind when excited. Despite carrying energy, these particles do not emit light, which is why they are referred to as “dark.” One way to think of an exciton is as a balloon (the electron) flying away, leaving behind an empty space (the hole), both still connected by a Coulomb interaction force. Though difficult to detect, dark excitons are especially important in atomically thin, two-dimensional structures found in certain semiconductor materials.

Previously, Professor Stefan Mathias and his research group from the Faculty of Physics at the University of Gottingen demonstrated how dark excitons are created in an incredibly short time span, describing their dynamics using quantum mechanical theory. Now, in their latest study, the team has introduced a groundbreaking method called “Ultrafast Dark-field Momentum Microscopy.” For the first time, this technique has allowed them to observe the formation of dark excitons in materials like tungsten diselenide (WSe2) and molybdenum disulphide (MoS2). Astonishingly, the formation process happens in just 55 femtoseconds (0.000000000000055 seconds), measured with a resolution of 480 nanometres (0.00000048 meters).

“This method enabled us to measure the dynamics of charge carriers very precisely,” said Dr. David Schmitt, first author and physicist at the University of Gottingen. “The results offer a foundational understanding of how the properties of materials influence the behavior of these charge carriers. In the future, this technique could be used to improve the efficiency and quality of solar cells, for example.”

Dr. Marcel Reutzel, Junior Research Group Leader at Gottingen, added, “This technique can be applied not only to specially designed systems, but also to the exploration of new types of materials.”

Research Report:Ultrafast nano-imaging of dark excitons

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Solar Energy

Star Catcher showcases space energy beaming tech at Jacksonville stadium

Published

16 hours ago

March 24, 2025

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Star Catcher showcases space energy beaming tech at Jacksonville stadium

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Mar 24, 2025

Star Catcher Industries, Inc. (“Star Catcher”), a leader in the field of space-to-space energy transfer, has completed its first public demonstration of space power beaming technology. This milestone event, held at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, marks significant progress toward the development of a space-based energy grid designed to provide uninterrupted power to satellites and space infrastructure.

During the demonstration, Star Catcher deployed its proprietary system to harness concentrated solar energy and beam it over a distance exceeding 100 meters. The energy was transmitted to a series of standard satellite solar panels, effectively showcasing the system’s compatibility with existing spacecraft hardware. This demonstration highlighted the adaptability of Star Catcher’s technology, which requires no modifications to current satellite power systems, allowing seamless integration into existing orbital platforms.

“This demonstration marks the first end-to-end test of our space power beaming technology, proving we can collect and wirelessly transmit energy with the precision needed for space applications,” said Andrew Rush, Co-Founder and CEO of Star Catcher. “Today’s success puts us one step closer to eliminating power constraints in space and unlocking new capabilities for satellites and the customers they serve.”

The EverBank Stadium event represents a foundational achievement for the planned Star Catcher Network, an orbital power infrastructure intended to offer on-demand, continuous energy supply to satellites and other space-based assets. By validating the core functionality of its power transmission technology in a real-world setting, Star Catcher has demonstrated its readiness to move toward larger-scale applications.

Looking ahead, the company is preparing for a more ambitious trial at Space Florida’s Launch and Landing Facility (LLF) this summer. This future demonstration aims to transmit hundreds of watts of power wirelessly across a distance greater than one kilometer, energizing multiple simulated satellites simultaneously. The LLF site, historically used for Space Shuttle landings, will provide a fitting backdrop for this next phase of development.

Star Catcher’s momentum in advancing space power solutions is further bolstered by recent financial and governmental support. The firm secured a $12.25 million seed investment co-led by Initialized Capital and B Capital. In addition, it received an AFWERX SBIR Phase 1 contract to enhance its capabilities in space-based power transmission.

Rooted in Jacksonville, Star Catcher has deep ties to the local space innovation ecosystem. By hosting its inaugural technology demonstration at EverBank Stadium, in partnership with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the company reinforced its commitment to community involvement. The event also served as a unique educational platform, allowing local students to engage with groundbreaking space technology developed within their region.

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Solar Energy

Framatome and Perpetual Atomics to Scale Up Space Battery Production for Future Missions

Published

16 hours ago

March 24, 2025

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Framatome and Perpetual Atomics to Scale Up Space Battery Production for Future Missions

by Sophie Jenkins

London, UK (SPX) Mar 24, 2025

Framatome and Perpetual Atomics have formalised a new strategic partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), aiming to scale up the production of americium-based radioisotope power systems, often referred to as “space batteries.” Signed during the Farnborough International Space Show, the agreement outlines a joint effort to advance the industrial processing of americium into sealed sources for radioisotope heater units (RHUs) and radioisotope thermoelectric generators (RTGs).

These power systems, which generate heat through the natural decay of radioisotopes, can use that heat directly or convert it into electrical energy. Among available isotopes, americium-241 stands out due to its lengthy half-life of approximately 430 years, making it an optimal choice for space missions requiring sustained energy over extended durations.

The collaboration is designed to address the need for reliable energy solutions for deep space exploration, with a focus on industrialising the manufacturing processes to meet the demands of upcoming missions.

“We are delighted to collaborate with Perpetual Atomics to jointly pioneer the further development of nuclear power technology, pushing new frontiers in enabling deep space exploration. The partnership forges Perpetual Atomics’ cutting-edge technology in radioisotope nuclear power systems with Framatome’s global nuclear pedigree in production-scale industrialisation,” said Dr. Kason Bala, Chief Commercial Officer, UK Defence and Space at Framatome Ltd.

Professor Richard Ambrosi, Chief Scientific Officer, founder, and Director of Perpetual Atomics, commented: “The UK and Europe host a large inventory of americium, and this combined with the technology maturity, know-how, and industrial capability to scale production and manufacturing establishes an important foundation for the UK and European Space Agency (ESA) programmes. Perpetual Atomics looks forward to working closely with Framatome to develop industrialisation solutions for radioisotope power systems at scale.”

The agreement leverages Framatome’s extensive experience in nuclear manufacturing and regulatory compliance and Perpetual Atomics’ two decades of innovation in the field, much of which has been driven by the Space Nuclear Power group at the University of Leicester. Framatome Space and Framatome Ltd are expected to play significant roles in supporting lunar and Mars exploration missions under UK and ESA initiatives later this decade.

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Solar Energy

800-mn-euro battery factory to be built in Finland

Published

4 days ago

March 21, 2025

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800-mn-euro battery factory to be built in Finland

by AFP Staff Writers

Helsinki (AFP) Mar 20, 2025

A Chinese-Finnish company announced Thursday it would begin building a battery materials plant in Finland in April, the first of its kind in the Nordic country.

The plant will produce cathode active material, a key component in lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles and for energy storage, said Easpring Finland New Materials, a company co-owned by Finnish Minerals Group and Beijing Easpring Material Technology.

It said the investment was worth 800 million euros ($868 million).

The announcement came one week after a bankruptcy filing by Swedish battery maker Northvolt, which had planned to develop cathode production but dropped those plans to focus on battery cell production as it fought for survival.

Easpring Finland New Materials said commercial production was expected to begin in 2027.

The plant, to be located in Kotka in southeast Finland, will initially produce 60,000 tonnes of cathode active material annually.

At full production capacity, it could supply cathode material for the production of around 750,000 electric vehicles annually, the company said.

Matti Hietanen, the chief executive of Finnish Minerals Group, said the investment created an “entirely new kind of industry in Finland related to the production of lithium-ion batteries” and represented a European “spearhead project for the industry.”

The new plant will employ 270 people and an area of around 80 hectares had been reserved for its construction.

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