HyperSolar Granted Chinese Patent
Company protects the design of its multi-junction artificial photosynthetic cell
HyperSolar, a developer of compound semiconductor-based technology to produce renewable hydrogen using sunlight and water, has announced that the China National Intellectual Property Administration has granted HyperSolar patent No. ZL 201580026002.0 entitled 'Multi-junction artificial photosynthetic cell with enhanced photovoltages'.
This patent is jointly held with HyperSolar and the Regents of the University of California, as a result of the collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara in developing the technology.
The patent protects the company's Gen 2 proprietary design of a self-contained high-voltage solar hydrogen production device made up of billions of solar-powered water-splitting nanoparticles, per square centimetre. These nanoparticles consist of multiple layers of solar cells that increase the photovoltages of the nanoparticles for higher solar-to-hydrogen conversion efficiency. The nano-sized design of the structure enhances the light absorption by the solar cell thus requiring much less materials compare to traditional film solar cells.
The innovative integrated structures of high-density arrays of nano-sized, high-voltage solar cells will serve as the core of the company's future hydrogen production units. The high-light absorbing properties of the nanoparticle solar cells enable production of ultrathin solar cells with significantly lower amount of materials. The nanoparticle solar cells can be produced through a conventional roll-to-roll process which requires substantially lower materials and manufacturing cost compared to conventional solar cells used in rooftop power applications.
China's commitment to hydrogen is a focus of its economic planning. Aggressive investment in hydrogen infrastructure, recent record increases in fuel cell-related stock valuations, and overall national enthusiasm for hydrogen signal the inexorable progress toward the hydrogen economy in the world's most populous country.
"The China patent is key for HyperSolar," commented HyperSolar's CEO Tim Young."With China's aggressive commitment to hydrogen, we see a real possibility of widespread adoption of our technology there in years to come."
