Automated Discovery Accelerates Photon Upconversion and Introduces Novel Hexameric Structures for Solar Energy
A research team has unveiled an automated platform that vastly accelerates the development of triplet–triplet annihilation photon upconversion (TTA-UC), a process enabling low-energy photons to be transformed into more energetic ones—crucial for improved solar energy harvesting. TTA-UC systems can potentially boost the capture of near-infrared light, leading to more efficient solar technologies and advanced applications in 3D printing and photopharmacology.
The breakthrough centers on high-throughput automation and real-time spectroscopic analysis, allowing over 100 concentration scans in just two hours. This approach dramatically reduces labor and material consumption while mapping precisely how key parameters—such as sensitizer and annihilator concentrations—affect efficiency.
A major highlight comes from the team led by Dr. Przemyslaw Gaweł, which synthesized novel “hexameric” annihilators. These multi-unit molecules have been shown to mitigate some of the losses that occur at higher sensitizer concentrations, a longstanding challenge in TTA-UC. By increasing the density of triplet-accepting sites, the hexamers preserve strong photon output while resisting quenching processes that hamper conventional monomer-based systems.
According to lead researcher Prof. Kasper Moth-Poulsen, “Our automated platform not only identifies optimal conditions faster but also reveals hidden loss mechanisms. The new hexameric annihilators are particularly exciting for scaling up TTA-UC in real-world devices.”
This technology has implications well beyond solar energy, extending to any application that needs stable, low-oxygen photochemical conditions—from targeted drug activation to volumetric 3D printing. By streamlining experimentation, it paves the way for wide-ranging innovations in clean-energy systems and beyond.
P. Baronas, J. Lekavičius, M. Majdecki, J. L. Elholm, K. Kazlauskas, P. Gaweł, K. Moth-Poulsen, “Automated Research Platform for Development of Triplet–Triplet Annihilation Photon Upconversion Systems” ACS Cent. Sci.