By Allan Maurer
RESEARCH TRIANGLE, NC—NanoLume hopes to create a new generation of quantum dot-based solar cells that double the efficiency of those based on silicon photovoltaics. The company has raised part of a $2.8 million first round as it works to commercialize the multiple application technology developed at Duke University.
Originally founded in 1998, the company reincorporated in 2005, says Jim Johnson, chief scientist.
The five-person company specializes in semiconductor nanocrystals composed of elements from groups III(13) and V(15) of the periodic table of elements, primarily gallium nitride and indium nitride initially.
Semiconductor quantum dots exhibit extraordinary electronic and optical properties as a consequence of their small size and composition. Periodic Table of Elements III-V quantum dots generally have superior electronic, optical and chemical properties with respect to alternative formulation.
“Every shape and size of quantum dots have specific properties,” explains Johnson. “The band-gap and resonant frequency varies and can be made from the infrared into the ultraviolet.” That’s possible because the quantum dots are so small they exhibit quantum effects instead of conventional laws of physics.
Tuning light key to efficiency
The quantum dots can be tuned to specific frequencies by size and composition.
That “tunablity” is one thing that gives them such potential for virtually any application involving light. But they can also create devices that are not as disturbed by ionizing radiation, which makes them ideal for use in space, where no atmosphere shields devices from it.
Current solar panels based on silicon only capture infrared light, giving them an efficiency of about 25 percent. “They’ve pretty much maxed out the efficiencies they can get from silicon because it only uses a sliver of the light spectrum,” says Pete Yancy, NanoLume’s VP of engineering.
Efficiencies of up to 80 percent might be possible with quantum dot technologies, says Johnson. “But we’re shooting for 50 percent as the best trade-off between efficiency and cost. Whoever makes the better mousetrap can win this game.”
The company sees the greatest market opportunity in more efficient solar panels, but emphasizes that potential applications are “limitless.”
Many applications possible
Yancey says, “There are so many potential applications that we have to focus to have a company. We see solar as the best fit for our materials. Then we can expand to other markets.”
Those future markets might include lighting, high-speed computing, telecommunications and principal circuitry.
Meanwhile, the company may rake in some revenue by selling nanomaterials (primarily in the nitride series) for research purposes. “Basically, there are not a lot of nanomaterials commercially available,” says Johnson.
“Nanostructures are often sold for $10,000 a gram. One company was selling them for $40,000 a gram. In a perfect world, we might choose not to sell these materials, but in reality we need to generate revenue. That’s not a long term plan for the company, though,” he notes.
The company expects to co-develop products with larger corporate partners.
NanoLume’s technology evolved from work by the Wells Group at Duke University.
Gerald Soderquist, interim CEO, is managing director of Nanotech Capital, a nanotech intellectual property management and development company, and an advisor to the Research Triangle Nanoscale Technologies Cluster and a member of the Governor’s Task Force for the North Carolina 21st Century Nanotechnology Initiative. Soderquist has been involved with five other start-up companies.
On the Web: www.nanolume.net
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