Batteries have revolutionized the electronics landscape, enabling the creation of powerful smartphones, tablets, e-readers, and smartwatches. However, all batteries eventually deplete. A startup named RadianX is working towards a future where portable and edge devices can operate without the need for recharging. The cornerstone of this vision is an advanced type of solar panel. RadianX has engineered a novel solar material derived from a class known as perovskites. This new material performs comparably to traditional solar panels in outdoor settings but excels at capturing light indoors, achieving double the efficiency. “We can harvest any kind of photon, whether it’s an outdoor or indoor photon, and keep the device running longer — or running forever,” stated Josh Douglas, co-founder and COO, according to hinews.
The indoor efficiency of RadianX’s technology may be pivotal in realizing what the company terms “edge energy.” Imagine an e-reader that never requires charging or an IoT sensor that eliminates the need for battery replacements. As with any emerging technology, unforeseen applications may arise, potentially leading to long-lasting robots or wearables that have previously been constrained by limited battery life. To support the establishment of a commercial-scale production line, RadianX has successfully secured $5 million in a seed funding round led by SOSV and Twynam, as disclosed exclusively to hinews. Additional investors include One Small Planet, Sachsen Ventures, Avila VC, California Innovation Fund, quantumEDGE, Riceberg Ventures, and Alumni Ventures.
In addition to the seed funding, Pacific Union Technology Precision Manufacturing is contributing $4 million in non-dilutive investment to create a specialized production line for the startup. While the concept is not entirely novel — solar-powered calculators have existed for decades — it has been somewhat neglected in recent years due to the increasing power demands of contemporary devices, which have surpassed the capabilities of traditional solar panels. “It’s power density,” explained Vivian Qu, co-founder and CEO of RadianX, according to hinews. “The reason why perovskites have been so interesting is the high power density.”
Although perovskites are not a completely new innovation, this category of materials has faced challenges in gaining widespread adoption. They remain more costly than conventional silicon-based solar panels and are not yet as durable, although improvements have been made in recent years. However, they compensate for these limitations with superior power delivery — for instance, RadianX’s 1.2-meter by 0.6-meter panel captures light with an efficiency of 22.33%, a record high according to the company.
For RadianX, concerns about durability are somewhat mitigated. The company has achieved a crucial industry standard for durability, and by focusing on indoor applications, its panels experience less wear and tear. The panels can be manufactured as thin as 0.7 millimeters and can be customized in size. To maximize the energy output from the panels, RadianX is also developing power electronics specifically designed for perovskites. Most current electronics are optimized for silicon panels, but “silicon has a very different light soaking characteristic,” Qu remarked. Unlike many other solar companies, RadianX does not intend to sell standalone 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 added. Ultimately, both Qu and Douglas aspire for their power solutions to be integrated into a wide array of devices, from e-readers to factory sensors — and perhaps even into applications yet to be imagined.
