Material with light 'antennas' to visualize defects and increase efficiency of solar panels
Scientists have developed europium ions-based material Eu(III) that equipped with special molecules-light "antennas" and can intensively absorb and emit light. Based on the development, a wide range of light-converting compounds can be produced. They can help to increase the efficiency of solar panels, precisely visualize the stress areas in the solid materials, for example, revealing microcracks on aircraft wings etc.
The outcome highlights the capability of the molecular design method being developing by the joined research team of Far Eastern Federal University (FEFU) and the Institute of Chemistry of the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FEB RAS). Using a large dataset, scientists "sketch up" a theoretical model and amend the molecule to change or improve its properties. If they notice something interesting in the resulting "draft", they synthesize it and experimentally confirm the theory.
The approach allows first to comprehend the properties and potential areas of application of new materials and next directly synthesize them. This is a cost-effective time-savvy way with the advantage of smart consumption of valuable raw materials.
The current research paper published in Spectrochimica Acta explains the electronic structure of chemical compounds based on europium ions Eu(III), a heavy rare earth metal.
"We are heading from theory to practice when studying the electronic structure of a chemical compound and investigating the reasons behind the light emitting phenomenon demonstrated by complex compounds of rare earth elements (lanthanides). There are very few such studies due to the complexity of the analysis. For example, the output file for calculating of one compound takes 20MB, for one substance there are about 5 such files", says one of the authors of the study, Anton Shurygin, Ph.D., researcher in FEFU and FEB RAS Center for Fundamental Materials Science. "One of the interesting results we obtained during the molecular modelling of lanthanides is the discovery of the mechanoluminescent properties of the compounds. Being a crystalline powder, they "react" to an attempt to "crush" the crystals by emitting visible light or generating an electric current. A coating of the plane wing with such material will allow to check it out for microcracks formation. If to add such a powder to concrete, one will be able to see the deformation of building structures."
Eu(III) ions are the "brightest" ones used for light-transforming coatings. Such coatings absorb a wide spectrum of solar radiation and emit visible radiation of a strictly defined wavelength. For example, europium-based coatings emit light at 614 nm in orange colour (HEX # FF8D00).
Researchers nicknamed europium the champion of luminescence. Nonetheless, there are 14 more lanthanide elements (rare earth metals) with properties different from europium For example, when scientists were studying a complex of nitrates with switching only the central ion in it they realized that such ions as cerium, neodymium, erbium, and ytterbium change the properties of the all complex and, thereby, areas of its application. To give an example, cerium nitrate can be used as a fertilizer to accelerate the growth of the plant Anoectochilus roxburghii (precious orchids).
Next, the team plan to add transition metals like zinc to the compounds of rare earth elements to achieve greater photostability and expanding the physicochemical properties of the resulting structures.
The development of materials with new and manageable properties for different economical needs is one of the research priority areas at FEFU that the university implements in cooperation with the Russian Academy of Sciences. Recently, scientists have developed composite ceramic materials, phosphors, consuming 20-30 % less energy compared to commercial analogues.
More information:
www.sciencedirect.com/science/ … 1386142520313767?via%3Dihub
doi.org/10.1016/j.saa.2020.119397
Provided by Far Eastern Federal University
