press release

Fujikura Ltd. (President and CEO: Masahiko Ito) is pleased to announce that it has received the 2020 Iodine Society Award for its contribution to the practical application of dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs).

This award is given to developers who have made significant contributions to the development of the fields of basic iodine research, applied research, and the iodine industry.

The main strong point / feature of our DSSC products are their efficient power generation over a wide range of illuminance, from indoors to outdoors, and their excellent long-term reliability. The successful use of iodine-based electrolytes has also contributed greatly to the realization of these product strong point / feature. While iodine-based electrolytes exhibit excellent properties in the charge transport of DSSCs, the strong reactivity of iodine and the difficulty of sealing to prevent the electrolyte from scattering over a long period of time have been technical barriers to practical use. This award recognizes our comprehensive technological development of DSSC modules, which we have been working on to overcome these challenges, and our achievement in commercializing DSSCs as energy harvesting (EH) power sources to be installed in IoT sensor network terminals, etc., based on the technology and knowledge gained from that development.

Appearance of DSSC product

Recently, there is a growing need for efficiency and automation using IoT sensing in various aspects of our lives. The use of various IoT sensor devices is expanding, but in response, new issues have emerged, such as the increased effort and cost of maintenance such as battery replacement for these devices. We will promote the spread of DSSC and various EH devices that can generate electricity in our various living environments, reduce the cost of battery replacement through EH, and reduce the associated battery disposal, thereby contributing to the realization of an environmentally friendly and comfortable society.

For more information about Toshiba's DSSC and IoT solutions using DSSC, please visit the following websites:
・DSSC: https://dsc.fujikura.jp/
・IoT solutions using DSSC: https://eh-iot.fujikura.jp/

Iodine Society: A society established by volunteers from academia and industry with the cooperation of the government, aiming to further explore and utilize iodine, a precious natural resource and an element essential for human growth (http://fiu-iodine.org/) ).

Charge transport: DSSC generates electricity by transferring charges generated by exposure to light in the form of electrons and ions through the electrodes and electrolyte. It is necessary for the transfer and exchange of charges in the electrolyte and at the interface with the electrodes to occur stably at an appropriate speed, and we use an iodine-based electrolyte for this purpose.

Energy harvesting: The process and technology of harvesting various forms of low-density energy such as heat and vibrations from around us and converting them into electrical energy.