The Future of Perpetual Power
Batteries have transformed electronics, giving us powerful phones, tablets, e-readers, and smart watches. But eventually, every battery runs flat.
One startup, RadianX, envisions a world in which portable and edge devices can cut the cord for good without running out of power. The key is a better breed of solar panels.
RadianX has developed a new type of solar material from a family known as perovskites. The material is just as good as existing solar panels outdoors, but twice as good at harvesting light indoors.
The company aims to harvest any kind of photon, whether it is an outdoor or indoor photon, to keep devices running indefinitely.
Unlocking Edge Energy
The indoor efficiency of RadianX’s tech could be the key to unlocking what the company calls “edge energy.” Potential applications include e-readers that never need charging, IoT sensors that eliminate battery swaps, and long-runtime robots or wearables.
To fund a commercial-volume production line, RadianX recently raised $5 million in a seed round led by SOSV and Twynam. Additionally, Pacific Union Technology Precision Manufacturing is contributing $4 million in non-dilutive investment to build a dedicated production line.
Advancing Perovskite Technology
While solar-powered calculators have existed for decades, modern device power demands have historically outstripped traditional solar capacity. Perovskites offer higher power density, addressing this limitation.
Perovskites have traditionally struggled with cost and durability compared to silicon-based panels. However, RadianX reports that its 1.2 meter by 0.6 meter panel achieves 22.33% efficiency, which the company claims is a record.
The company has reached industry standards for durability. Because the panels are intended for indoor use, they face less environmental wear-and-tear. The panels can be as thin as 0.7 millimeters and customized to fit specific device form factors.
Integrated Power Solutions
RadianX is also developing power electronics specifically tailored to the light-soaking characteristics of perovskites, which differ from silicon. Unlike many solar firms, the company intends to package these components and sell them as a complete solution to device manufacturers.
The founders hope their integrated power packages will eventually be utilized in a wide range of hardware, from factory sensors to consumer electronics.
To wring more power out of the panels, RadianX is also developing power electronics tailored to perovskites. Most existing electronics are tuned for silicon panels, but “silicon has a very different light soaking characteristic,” she said.
Unlike many other solar companies, RadianX isn’t planning to sell bare panels. “RadianX is trying to package all of this and sell this to device makers as something they don’t need to worry about,” Qu said.
Ultimately, Qu and Douglas hope their power packages will land in everything from e-readers to factory sensors — and maybe a few places they haven’t dreamt of yet.
