The exciting future of light energy
Excitons are the reason we see light and colour. Credit: University of Melbourne
In a world of growing energy needs, and a global imperative to halt carbon emissions, a tiny 'quasiparticle' called an exciton could provide the answer to our problems.
Excitons are formed when light is absorbed by molecules or crystals. But they can also emit light, after they are created electrically in things like light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
Although we're just beginning to understand their potential, excitons could help us harness solar energy more efficiently, and drastically reduce the energy and environmental cost of lighting.
By name and by nature, it truly is exciting.
The Centre of Excellence in Exciton Science is a new Australian Research Council research centre led by the University of Melbourne, in partnership with other top universities and organisations from around Australia. The multi-disciplinary team of chemists, mathematicians, physicists, computers scientists and engineers are focused on manipulating the way light energy is absorbed, transported and transformed in advanced molecular materials. And they want their work to ultimately translate into everyday life.
Excitons aren't new, they are around us all the time. The reason we see light and colour, the reason our TVs and phones light up, and the reason animals like fireflies can produce light, is because of excitons. But what is new is that we now understand and can manipulate excitons on a molecular level.
Read more ~ phys.org/news/2017-06-future-energy.html#jCp
