Researchers at the German Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) recently discovered that pseudo particles play a key role in converting light into storable energy. In addition, Fritz, Berlin. Scientists from the Fritz Haber Institute and Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland, also joined the group to study how so-called polarons form in zinc oxide. This pseudo-particle can pass through the photo-sensitive material and is then converted into electrical or chemical energy at the interface. New discoveries by researchers related to solar photovoltaic effects are now published in the journal Nature Communications. The process of converting light into energy stores is expected to contribute to the supply of renewable energy. Under the action of light, nature has been using this process for photosynthesis to form carbohydrates. Using photosensitive zinc oxide materials, scientists have been able to study the formation and migration of polarons. (Source: Northeastern University) The basic conversion process of solar PV has so far not been studied in detail. "The conversion of photons (optical particles) to electricity requires several steps," explains Christof Woll, director of the KIT Functional Interface Institute. First, the light is absorbed by the photosensitive material. After a single electron was removed in the original position left a hole. These holes can only be stable in a short time. They may then gradually decay or be separated into electrons and holes under light emission, moving independently in the material. Then, the fate of such charged particles depends entirely on the material. In most materials, active holes are not stable, but can be converted into so-called polarons at energy loss. A polaron is a special quasi-particle composed of particles that interact with the environment. After the polarization sub-shape can be long-term stability, and through the photosensitive material, and then at the interface into electrical energy or chemical energy. In order to study the formation and migration of polaron, KIT researchers under the leadership of Professor Christof Woll, the use of photosensitive zinc oxide materials for a number of experiments. Using experimental configurations, scientists implemented IRRAS at 100 millisecond resolution and infrared spectroscopy of single crystals of zinc oxide, and observed their densely-absorbed bands for the still-unknown pseudo-particles Such as fingerprints). It is still a challenge for KIT scientists to interpret data and identify new particles. So with Fritz. Hubble Institute and the University of Aalto to assist in their successful localization of the hole-polaron in the absorption band. Compile: Susan Hong (Reference text: Pseudoparticle discovery spotlights energy conversion processes for photovoltaics, by Paul Buckley)