Institute of Innovative Research, 
Tokyo Institute of Technology.

2023.01.27

Press Release

Solid material that ‘upconverts’ visible light photons to UV light photons could change how we utilize sunlight

Ultraviolet (UV) light has higher energy photons than visible light and, thus, has more applications. Tokyo Tech researchers have now developed a brilliant innovation—a solid-state material that can stably and efficiently upconvert sunlight- intensity visible light photons to UV light photons. This photon upconversion (UC) material can utilize visible light to successfully drive reactions that would conventionally need UV light, broadening the spectrum of utility for the former.