Harnessing Te Rā: Photon Splitting Solar Cells

This project looks to support energy transitions by ‘splitting’ photons in half to create more efficient solar cells. Currently, most photovoltaic cells (PVs) are expensive to manufacture and waste a vast amount of energy.  
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This project uses a new patented hybrid material to create PVs that can increase their maximum efficiency. As Māori organisations consider investment in future energy technologies, the research is a reminder of how Māui and his brothers improved their livelihoods by harnessing the sun, Tamanuiterā.
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This work is being led by Dr Nathaniel Davis with Chase Zemke-Smith (Ngāti Kahungunu ki Te Wairoa), a Māori PhD student, as well as Deputy Director Māori – Katharina Ruckstuhl, in collaboration with Māori advisors from the MacDiarmid Institute.