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Researchers create new material that converts visible light into ultraviolet light and expands applications of advanced photonics in energy and industry.
Researchers at Kyushu University in Japan have developed a new material capable of converting visible light into ultraviolet light using only natural sunlight. The discovery represents an advancement for advanced photonics and could pave the way for more efficient optical equipment, as well as new applications in solar energy, 3D printing, and industrial processes.
According to an article published in Nature Magazine on June 23, 2026, the organic semiconductor achieved 1.9% efficiency in light conversion using only a donor molecule and showed a fluorescence yield of over 60%. The material also uses low-cost raw materials and has already been submitted for a patent application.
Visible light drives an unprecedented conversion mechanism to ultraviolet light
The study was conducted by the team at the Faculty of Engineering at Kyushu University, led by researcher Yoichi Sasaki. The research uses a phenomenon known as upconversion, which combines two low-energy photons of visible light to generate a single photon of ultraviolet light.
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This process was already known to science, but reproducing it in solid materials with good efficiency has always been a challenge. The differential of this work is achieving this transformation using only natural sunlight.
Today, ultraviolet radiation accounts for about 6% of the sunlight that reaches the Earth’s surface, with only a portion of this total being usable in technological applications.
New material organizes molecules to increase light conversion
To achieve this result, scientists modified the molecular structure of the new material by adding alkyl chains to carbon atoms. The change allowed precise control of the distance between neighboring molecules.
This balance favors energy transfer and reduces losses caused by undesirable electronic interactions, increasing the system’s efficiency.
The main results obtained were:
- efficiency of 1.9% in upconversion;
- fluorescence above 60%;
- operation with natural sunlight;
- low-cost raw material;
- technology submitted for patent application.
According to Yoichi Sasaki, the achieved performance is significant because few solid materials can reach this level functioning solely with sunlight.
The researchers estimate that the system produces approximately 2 ultraviolet light photons for every 100 visible light photons absorbed.
Advancement strengthens advanced photonics and expands technological possibilities
The discovery represents an important step for advanced photonics, an area dedicated to the development of technologies based on the manipulation of light.
Since the amount of ultraviolet light naturally available is limited, transforming part of the abundant visible light into UV radiation can increase the efficiency of various equipment without requiring high-power artificial sources.
Besides energy savings, the use of an organic semiconductor can facilitate the development of lighter and more accessible devices for different sectors.
Light conversion can benefit solar energy, 3D printing, and the healthcare sector
The researchers believe that the new material could be used in various applications that depend on ultraviolet radiation.
Among them are:
- increasing the efficiency of solar energy systems;
- air purification in indoor environments;
- 3D printing with UV-activated resins;
- hardening of dental resins;
- curing gels used in aesthetic procedures;
- drying of special coatings.
As the system uses natural sunlight, these applications could reduce energy consumption and enhance the efficiency of various industrial processes.
Technology could accelerate the next generation of optical equipment
Although the research is still in development, the results show that light conversion in solid materials can achieve significant levels of efficiency using only natural lighting.
The work of Kyushu University demonstrates that the combination of visible light, ultraviolet light, and a new material can drive the evolution of advanced photonics, creating opportunities for more efficient optical equipment, sustainable industrial solutions, and new technologies aimed at energy, health, and manufacturing.
