A new breakthrough from researchers at the University of Ottawa could transform the way we power and connect devices in remote and hazardous locations.
By improving how laser light is converted into electricity, this innovation allows both power and data to be transmitted through a single optical fiber—over long distances and even in extreme environments.
The key to this development is a device called a photonic power converter. These devices convert laser light into electricity and can be used to power electronics without the need for traditional wires or batteries.
While this idea has existed before, older systems were inefficient, with much of the laser power being lost before it reached its destination.
That’s where the research team, led by Professor Karin Hinzer and working in collaboration with Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems, made a big leap forward.
By developing a new simulation model and design for the converter, the team created a much more efficient device that works with the same infrared wavelengths used in telecommunication networks.
The new device is a “multi-junction” photonic power converter. That means it uses multiple layers of semiconductors that absorb different parts of the laser light.
This setup captures more energy, allowing the device to reach over 53% efficiency and produce more than 2 volts of electricity. More importantly, it works over distances greater than a kilometer—something older systems could not achieve.
With this advancement, it’s now possible to send both electricity and data through long fiber optic cables at the same time. That opens the door for safer and more reliable technology in places where running wires or using batteries is difficult or dangerous.
For example, this system could power lightning-proof sensors on wind turbines, reduce fire risks in fuel tanks on airplanes, or connect remote sensors for the Internet of Things. It could even be used for underwater sensors, remote video feeds, or in outer space for powering drones, satellites, and lunar vehicles.
According to Professor Hinzer, this technology could greatly improve how we power high-voltage sensors used in smart grids, reducing the risk of lightning damage and sparking in hazardous areas. Best of all, it can be integrated into the fiber optic infrastructure we already use for internet and telecommunications.
This breakthrough could lead to stronger, faster, and more energy-efficient networks—bringing power and data to places once thought unreachable.
Source: University of Ottawa.
