Chinese researchers achieve 38.49% efficiency in laser drone charging
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Researchers at China’s Civil Aviation University have demonstrated a laser-based wireless charging system that converts energy at 38.49% efficiency. The system pairs a perovskite solar cell with a thermoelectric layer to harvest waste heat, overcoming a major thermal barrier. Published in Matter & Light, this marks one of the highest efficiencies reported for over-the-air drone charging.
Laser-to-Power Conversion
The receiver uses a perovskite laser cell-thermoelectric (PLC-TE) tandem device. The perovskite layer converts incoming laser energy into electricity, while the thermoelectric layer recovers heat generated by the laser and turns it into additional power. The system’s output increases as the temperature difference between the laser-facing and cooler sides grows. The study’s senior author, Jianhua Han, noted that heat buildup in early tests reached 80–90°C, far higher than expected.
Thermal Breakthrough
To address overheating, Han’s team added nanocrystals to the receiver, which act as a thermal barrier due to their poor heat conductivity. They also integrated air channels into drone wings, using propeller-driven airflow to carry away excess heat. In tests, the combination of nanomaterials and aerodynamic cooling yielded a 38.49% energy conversion efficiency, one of the highest in this technology class.
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