The Internet of Things (IoT) revolution is one of the fastest-growing technological segments of our time, yet it carries a severe, underlying environmental crisis. Billions of connected wireless devices currently rely predominantly on disposable, limited-lifespan batteries. This practice not only generates significant maintenance costs but also produces an enormous amount of electronic waste. To directly address this systemic issue, Azure Photon, the latest recognized spin-off company from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto (FEUP), was established to replace traditional batteries with an innovative, clean, and renewable energy source.
Critical Figures: A Billion-Scale Device Fleet and Daily Mountains of Waste
The global severity of the problem is best highlighted by international forecasts and statistical data. According to market research, the number of connected IoT devices is expected to exceed 40 billion by 2030. Concurrently, the replacement of portable power sources poses an unsustainable waste burden: projections indicate that in the near future, approximately 78 million disposable batteries will be discarded daily worldwide.
This volume directly threatens the carbon neutrality goals of the European Union and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals set by the United Nations (UN). Azure Photon specifically aims to radically reduce this environmental impact.
The Technological Breakthrough of Perovskite Cells in Indoor Light
The technology developed by Azure Photon is based on the extraordinary properties of third-generation photovoltaic devices, specifically perovskite solar cells (PSC). Perovskite is one of the most promising materials in current photovoltaic research, as it can be produced from abundant and extremely low-cost raw materials. Its primary technological advantage is its ability to generate electricity with exceptional efficiency under very low light conditions, such as low-intensity indoor artificial lighting.
Laboratory and practical measurements have shown that the energy conversion efficiency of third-generation photovoltaic cells (including DSC and PSC technologies) in indoor environments can reach a maximum of over 40 percent for small devices with a surface area of less than 1 square centimeter. This performance is more than sufficient to continuously power low-voltage (1.5–9.0 V) electronic equipment and sensors operating in buildings, completely eliminating the need for battery replacements throughout the devices’ entire lifespan.
Laser Sealing: The Solution for Durability and Stability
Although the efficiency of perovskite cells has long been known to science, their vulnerability to environmental factors posed a significant obstacle to their industrial application: oxygen and moisture in the air quickly degrade the material’s structure, impairing its performance. The founders of Azure Photon—researchers Adélio Mendes, Jorge Martins, and Seyedali Emami—bridged this problem with a unique, patented technological process.
The company developed a laser-assisted hermetic encapsulation process that seals the cells using glass frit. Precision laser welding ensures the high temperatures required for fixing in the critical sealing zones, while the temperature remains low around the highly heat-sensitive perovskite layers. The resulting hermetic protection completely isolates the cell from oxygen and moisture, ensuring outstanding reliability and continuous operation for more than a decade (10+ years) in indoor settings.
Industrial Integration and Market Launch
The startup, which grew out of FEUP, offers more than just a theoretical solution; it is actively working on the market transfer of the technology. The development is taking place within broader industrial consortiums, such as the Portuguese PVBoost project, in which Azure Photon, together with FEUP as a co-promoter, is collaborating with the engineering and consulting company A400, which has over 25 years of experience.
The project aims to directly integrate the technology into building engineering and architectural solutions (e.g., testing in hotel environments). Thereby, the technology not only minimizes the operation and maintenance costs of smart devices but also drastically cuts the ecological footprint of businesses and supports sustainable building operations.
Official Institutional Sources:
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University of Porto (Universidade do Porto) Official Newsletter: A crise silenciosa das baterias – UP FEUP
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FEUP Spin-off Registry: FEUP Spin-off Companies – Azure Photon