QMC to integrate quantum dot-based solar photovoltaics into Freschfield’s SmartSkinz
Quantum Materials and Freschfield PLC have announced a funded collaboration agreement by which they will work together to integrate Quantum Materials’ nanomaterials including quantum dot-based solar photovoltaics into Freschfield’s SmartSkinz.
Freschfield has synthesised solar and hydrogen fuel cell technologies into an outer layer building skin – SmartSkinz – which is said to create a perpetual carbon-free energy source, under any weather condition, time of day and location.
Quantum Materials’ development will focus on developing and deploying nanomaterials to optimise system performance on several levels including the building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) component of SmartSkinz.
Under terms of the agreement, Freschfield will fund development by providing $1 million over four quarters to Quantum Materials beginning June 2017.
“The Freschfield SmartSkinz technology represents a masterful combination of state-of-the-art advances in diverse technologies into one building material, the Freschfield SmartSkinz,” stated Freschfield board member George Koo. “It will revolutionise the way new cities will be built and by retrofitting, will convert existing buildings into energy self-sufficient structures.”
“Quantum was a natural fit for us, Stephen and I have great synergy and see a similar future,” said Freschfield founder and executive chairman Randolph Allen St James II. “We look forward to this first step in an extremely important relationship as we develop ground breaking products.”
“This is an ideal application for a number of our high performance nanomaterial technologies not the least of which being quantum dot photovoltaics and we are excited to work with Freschfield to optimize system efficiencies of their revolutionary SmartSkinz offering,” stated Quantum Materials Corp founder and CEO Stephen Squires.
Freschfield, which is based in the UK with offices in North America and Asia, combines commercial construction with energy generation and storage. After several years of R&D, the company is now introducing its first generation of smart building panels called Chameleon Z 7 iSKIN. According to the company, these enable energy harvesting and storage, ultra high-speed data management, and ‘an independent secure Nano grid all within an Architectural Active Envelope’.