Molly Ayala
The conversion of laser light into electricity is a process that has been explored by researchers and companies such as PowerLight Technologies. This process, known as Power-by-Light or Power-over-Fiber, involves the use of photovoltaic cells to convert laser light into electrical energy. The efficiency of this conversion can reach up to 50% or more with advanced laser photovoltaic cell receivers. This technology has potential applications in various fields, including powering vehicles, UAVs, and spacecraft, as well as in structural health monitoring systems and fuel gauges in aircraft. Additionally, the plasmoelectric effect has been discovered as a new mechanism to convert light into electricity, offering further possibilities for all-metal optoelectronic devices.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Method | Power-by-Light systems (also known as Power-over-Fiber) |
| How it works | Optical power transfer is used to supply electricity to electronics |
| Application | Can be used in systems located in remote or critical locations where a conventional power supply based on copper wiring is not feasible or difficult to install |
| Advantages | Reduces sparking danger resulting from defects; advantageous in areas exposed to explosion hazards, e.g. as a power supply for fuel gauges in aircraft |
| Efficiency | Wireless power transmission through laser beam is 50% efficient, but the efficiency could be increased by using advanced technology of laser photovoltaic cell receivers |
| Conversion efficiency of modern laser technology | 85% |
| Output efficiency of off-the-shelf semiconductor diode lasers | 50% |
| Conversion efficiency of a photovoltaic receiver for monochromatic (or laser) light | Over 50% |
| Band gap energy of silicon | 1.12 eV, equivalent to a wavelength of about 1100 nm |
| New mechanism | The 'plasmoelectric effect' |
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What You'll Learn
Photovoltaic cells can convert laser light into electricity
Photovoltaic cells can efficiently convert laser light into electricity. This process, known as Power-by-Light or Power-over-Fiber, involves using optical power transfer to supply electricity to electronic devices. In this method, laser light is transmitted through a fiber optic cable to a receiver, where it is converted into electrical energy by a photovoltaic cell.
Power-by-Light systems offer several advantages over conventional power supply methods. They are particularly useful in remote or challenging locations where installing copper wiring may be impractical or difficult. Additionally, these systems reduce the risk of sparking in high lightning-risk areas, making them ideal for applications such as structural health monitoring systems for rotor blades in wind turbines.
Photovoltaic laser power converters, or PVLPCs, are the key component in Power-by-Light systems. These converters excel at transforming laser light into electricity. The monochromatic nature of laser light, containing only a single wavelength, simplifies the absorption process. By matching the band gap energy of the absorber material, transmission and thermalization losses are minimized, resulting in efficient electricity generation.
Researchers at Fraunhofer ISE have been actively exploring the potential of photovoltaic cells for laser light conversion. Their work has led to advancements in Power-by-Light systems, showcasing the versatility of photovoltaic cells beyond their traditional role in converting solar radiation.
Furthermore, a group of scientists led by the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has developed a monocrystalline mini solar panel capable of converting laser light into electricity. This silicon-based technology is designed to be inexpensive and adaptable to various applications, including wireless data transmission and energy transfer in medical implants. The modular nature of these mini solar panels allows for scalability, catering to diverse power requirements.
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Laser power beaming for wireless energy transmission
PowerLight's laser power beaming system involves transmitting laser energy through free space or via optical fiber. In one demonstration, the company transmitted 400 watts of power across 325 meters, which was used to power lights, laptops, and a coffeemaker. The company has also equipped a Lockheed Martin Stalker UAS with a laser receiver, successfully powering it for over 12 hours.
The process involves converting electrical energy into laser light, which is then transmitted and converted back into electricity by a receiver. This technology has numerous potential applications, including powering drones, autonomous ground vehicles, and providing temporary power in disaster areas or on the battlefield. It could also be used to transmit power from solar or wind energy facilities to a central grid.
One of the key advantages of laser power beaming is its potential to provide power in remote or critical locations where traditional power supplies are difficult to install or maintain. PowerLight's technology has received support from the US military and is expected to transition to Department of Defense and commercial use in the near future. The company also intends to increase the wattage and distance of its system and improve overall efficiency.
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Power-by-light systems for remote locations
Power-by-light systems, also known as power-over-fiber, use optical power transfer to supply electricity to electronics. This is particularly useful for remote or critical locations where conventional power supply methods are not feasible or difficult to install. For example, in areas with a high risk of lightning, such as wind turbines, power-by-light systems can be a viable solution as they do not require copper cables, reducing the risk of sparking. Similarly, in areas with a high risk of explosion, such as aircraft fuel gauges, power-by-light systems are advantageous.
The core of a power-by-light system is the photovoltaic laser power converter (PVLPC), which transforms the laser light delivered through an optical fiber into electricity. The first PBL system was built in 1978, but it is only recently that these systems have gained popularity due to continuous efficiency improvements and the increasing number of companies entering the market.
One example of a company utilizing power-by-light systems is PowerLight Technologies, an American engineering firm providing power transmission via lasers. Their primary products are power-over-fiber, which transmits energy in the form of laser light through an optic fiber, and "laser power beaming," where laser energy is transmitted through free space. PowerLight Technologies has explored various applications for its laser power beaming technology, including transmission of power to and from spacecraft, aerial vehicles, and satellites.
Another challenge in implementing power-by-light systems is the issue of production costs and material synthesis. The working substance in solid-state lasers is crystals, which are delicate, expensive to produce, and easily damaged. Additionally, the laser beam generates a significant amount of heat, which can be destructive if not properly managed.
Despite these challenges, power-by-light systems offer a safer and more efficient alternative to conventional power supply methods in certain contexts, especially those with strict safety conditions or requiring galvanic insulation.
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The plasmoelectric effect: using metal nanostructures
The conversion of laser light into electricity has many applications, especially in remote or critical locations where conventional power supply methods are not feasible. One method to achieve this conversion is through the plasmoelectric effect in metal nanostructures.
The plasmoelectric effect involves the conversion of optical power to electric potential through the optical excitation of semiconductor materials. Researchers have developed a method that uses an all-metal geometry based on plasmon resonance in metal nanostructures. This phenomenon is observed in arrays of gold nanoparticles on an indium tin oxide substrate and arrays of 100-nanometer-diameter holes in 20-nanometer-thick gold films on a glass substrate. During monochromatic irradiation, negative and positive surface potentials are detected, demonstrating the plasmoelectric effect.
The plasmoelectric effect is driven by a thermodynamic increase in entropy, which is influenced by the dependence of plasmon resonance on electron density. By exploring a simplified model of a single plasmonic nanoparticle in a vacuum, scientists have described the fundamental theory behind this effect. This effect results in an optically induced electrostatic potential when a metal nanostructure is illuminated off-resonance.
Furthermore, the plasmoelectric potential is influenced by illumination intensity, with the amplitude of the potential dictated by the steady-state thermal conditions. This potential has been observed to reach values as high as 473 mV under specific illumination conditions. The plasmoelectric effect also influences the photoconductivity of films of metal nanoparticles and has been shown to generate macroscopic currents in plasmonic energy conversion devices.
The development of plasmoelectric devices based on metal nanostructures offers the potential for all-metal optoelectronic devices capable of converting light into electrical energy. This technology has promising applications in various fields, including energy transmission and sensor electronics.
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Space-based solar power (SBSP)
The basic idea behind SBSP is not new, with science fiction writer Isaac Asimov describing a similar concept in his 1941 short story, "Reason". The term SBSP was first introduced in 1968, and various proposals have been researched since the 1970s. However, the high cost of space launches has been a significant barrier to its economic viability. In recent years, the decreasing trend in worldwide launch costs has made SBSP more feasible, and it is now being actively pursued by several countries.
The process of converting laser light into electricity involves the use of photovoltaic cells. These cells are typically used to convert solar radiation into electricity, but they can also be utilized in Power-by-Light systems to convert laser light. In this system, energy transmission is carried out in the form of light through fiber optic cables, and the photovoltaic cell converts the transmitted laser light back into electricity at the receiver. This technology is particularly useful for supplying power to electronics in remote or critical locations where conventional power supplies are difficult to install or unsafe, such as in wind turbines that are at high lightning risk.
PowerLight Technologies, an American engineering firm, has been a pioneer in laser power transmission technology. They have successfully demonstrated the transfer of 400 watts of power over 1 kilometre and have powered a quadcopter UAV for more than 12 hours using infrared semiconductor diode lasers. Their primary products include power-over-fiber, which transmits energy as laser light through an optic fiber, and laser power beaming, where laser energy is transmitted through free space.
In summary, SBSP offers a promising solution for a continuously available source of clean energy. While there have been technological and economic challenges, advancements in launch capabilities and the urgency for clean energy sources have renewed interest in SBSP. The efficient conversion of laser light into electricity using photovoltaic cells is a crucial component of SBSP, enabling the transmission of energy from space-based collectors to receivers on Earth's surface.
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Frequently asked questions
Power-by-Light systems, also known as Power-over-Fiber, use optical power transfer to supply electricity to electronics. Laser light is converted into electricity using photovoltaic cells.
Photovoltaic cells are used to convert laser light energy into electrical energy. They can be over 50% efficient for monochromatic (or laser) light.
The plasmoelectric effect is a new mechanism discovered by the AMOLF-Caltech team. They found that illuminating metal nanostructures with laser light can create a negative electrical potential, which can be converted into electrical energy.
Laser-to-electricity conversion can be used for wireless power transmission, such as powering UAVs, electric vehicles, and aircraft fuel gauges. It can also be used for space-based solar power (SBSP) to provide carbon-free electricity wirelessly to the Earth.
Power-by-Light systems offer several advantages over copper wiring in certain applications. They reduce sparking dangers in high lightning-risk areas, such as for wind turbine rotor blades. They are also beneficial in areas with explosion hazards and can reduce weight in automotive sensor cabling.
