Researchers from the University of Florida and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory set out to improve global nuclear security by enhancing radiation detectors, and discovered, after evaluating a diverse list of over 60 candidates for alternative semiconductor compounds, that a hybrid organic-inorganic perovskite has the highest potential to succeed.

Better sensors can improve equipment used for detecting and identifying radioactive materials. (Image credit: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

The scientists reported that the identification of better sensor materials and the development of smarter algorithms to process detector signals are essential to enhance radiation detectors. Paul Johns, Physicist, University of Florida, said: "The end users of radiation detectors don’t necessarily have a background in physics that allows them to make decisions based on the signals that come in. The algorithms used to energy-stabilize and identify radioactive isotopes from a gamma ray spectrum are therefore key to making detectors useful and reliable".

After forming a strategic partnership in March 2019 between Meyer Burger and Oxford Photovoltaics, Meyer Burger has announced that it has received its first order from Oxford Photovoltaics (Oxford PV), for a heterojunction (HJT) manufacturing line including necessary adaptions enabling the upgrade to perovskite-on-HJT tandem technology.

The order for the upgrade itself will reportedly follow later this year. The current contract volume is about CHF 20 million and provides Oxford PV with an initial manufacturing capacity of 100 MW with plans to expand tandem solar cell production capacity to 250 MW by the end of 2020.

Saule Technologies announced that it finished construction of the first stage of its new cleanroom. The entire working area will be around 430 m², and should be complete in a couple of weeks.

Saule Technologies aims to launch a prototype production line by Q4 2019 . The production line will include a modular system of printers with an annual production capacity of 40,000 sqm. In 2020, the company aims to increase the annual production capacity to 200,00 sqm.

Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology (Tokyo Tech) have designed a new strategy to make efficient perovskite-based LEDs with improved brightness by leveraging the quantum confinement effect.

(A) Photoluminescence and (B) electroluminsecence in low-dimensional and 3D perovskite-based devices

Devices that emit light when an electric current is applied, are referred to as electroluminescent devices, which have become orders of magnitude more efficient than the traditional incandescent light bulb. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) make for the most notable and prevalent category of these devices. Many additional types of LEDs also exist.