Lightwave Logic to collaborate on advanced solar energy capture initiative with The University of Alabama

NEWARK, USA: Lightwave Logic Inc., a technology company focused on the development of a Next Generation Non Linear Optical Polymer Materials Platform for applications in high speed fiber-optic data communications and optical computing, announced that the State of Alabama slated to fund a two-year research and development program on advanced solar energy capture and organic photovoltaics.

The University of Alabama will explore the advanced energy capture properties of the company's Perkinamine class of dyes and other novel proprietary structures inspired by the original Perkinamine design.

The Perkinamine-based dyes possess a panchromatic absorption (absorbing light across a wide range of wavelengths) from the near infra-red to the visible spectrum and into the near ultraviolet. This property enables these dyes to efficiently capture a wide range of solar radiation.

The Perkinamine-based dyes have also been developed to provide exceptional thermal stability and environmental stability that allows integration into existing electronic material manufacturing protocols that often require high temperature (250 ºC) processing. The electro-optic applications of Perkinamine™ dyes rely on laser irradiation to produce the desired non-linear optical responses and were developed to be phenomenally photostable (non-bleaching).

Jim Marcelli, CEO of Lightwave Logic, said: "This exciting initiative further demonstrates the enormous value of our core material's technology platform that has utility across a wide range of applications. If successful, it will add an additional leg to our growth strategy."

Anthony J. Arduengo III, Saxon Prof. of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry at University of Alabama and leader of the UA initiative commented: "While the ultimate goals of our previous non-linear optic collaboration and this new photovoltaic effort are separate, their mutual reliance on similar synthetic feedstocks and methodology will provide considerable synergy for material production and process development. If successful, this effort will open vast opportunities for application of Lightwave's materials and technology to solar energy capture."