Choosing the right wavelengths: how to improve photovoltaics to boost positive emotion
Choosing the right wavelengths: how to improve photovoltaics to boost positive emotion lead image
Organic materials used in photovoltaic devices can be manufactured to absorb light only in narrow wavelength ranges while being transparent in others, enabling them to be used for energy generation in windows and skylights. These materials, known as semitransparent organic photovoltaics (ST-OPV), can generate substantial clean energy for urban buildings.
However, which wavelengths of light to absorb and which to let through can have a profound impact on the people living and working in these buildings. Light and color can affect human emotional well-being, so any ST-OPV must balance its energy performance with its effect on the people around it. While many studies have examined the energy performance of these materials, none have considered their toll on human emotion.
Wu et al. evaluated the emotional effects of several ST-OPV materials and developed a method to tune their optical properties.
“This study bridges renewable energy technology with human-centered design, highlighting the importance of considering user experience in the development of sustainable technologies,” said author Yin Hang.
In their tests, the authors found that many high-performing ST-OPV materials have an emotional impact very different from sunlight, triggering negative emotional states in users. They remedied this by introducing an optical microcavity structure to the device that allowed them to adjust visible light transmittance and color attributes.
With this method, the researchers could manufacture ST-OPV materials that collect large amounts of energy while simultaneously boosting human emotional states.
“We hope that our research will inspire further interdisciplinary studies in photovoltaics, human psychology, and lighting design,” said Yin. “Ultimately, our goal is to contribute to the development of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly spaces that improve user comfort, foster relaxation, and boost productivity.”
Source: “Transforming semitransparent organic photovoltaics into catalysts for positive emotional responses,” by Zonghao Wu, Jiangsheng Yu, Wenxiao Wu, Zhenzhen Zhao, Siqi Ma, Beibei Shi, Rui Shi, Xin Liu, Yuguo Chen, Ziwu Ji, Feng Chen, Xiaotao Hao, Gang Li, and Hang Yin, Applied Physics Letters (2025). The article can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0256211 .
