abstract |
Novel photovoltaic cell systems, particularly silicon cells, for converting electromagnetic radiation into electric energy, wherein a luminescent medium or reagent which will absorb radiation at the shorter wavelengths, e.g. the UV, and emit it at longer wavelengths is disposed between the light source and the cell to increase its efficiency, the essence of the invention being the use of a class of anthracene dimer derivatives known in the literature as lepidopterenes as the luminescent medium or reagent. The structural formula for the lepidopterenes is shown in FIG. 1. |