P2i, a leading maker of liquid repellent nano-coating technology, has teamed up with U.S.-based new technology launch and commercialization specialist, Energy Launch Partners, to develop its business proposition for the solar energy sector.
The new plasma process dramatically reduces the surface energy of a material, according to the company, so that when liquids come into contact with it, they form beads and simply roll off. When applied to solar cells, P2i’s patented technology can prevent water, frost and dirt from forming on the surface, radically improving performance. Furthermore, the company says it is extremely durable and has the potential to extend the range of environments in which solar cell arrays can be deployed.
P2i’s nanometer-thin polymer coating is applied in a vacuum chamber using a special pulsed ionized gas (plasma). It is molecularly bound to the entire product surface, which means it becomes inseparable from it and extremely durable. And, because the coating is one thousand times thinner than a human hair, it is invisible to sight or touch. And, because the application process is solvent-free and uses only tiny quantities of protective monomer, there is minimal waste and no adverse impact on the environment. In addition, P2i’s highly flexible platform technology can be optimized to meet very specific functional requirements, making this a perfect fit for the complex demands of the solar energy industry.
“P2i’s ground-breaking technology has vast applications in the solar energy sector. Renewable energy is a growing market like no other, with constantly evolving product needs, supply chains and customer requirements. We are hugely enthusiastic about our new partnership with P2i and the opportunities it presents,” says Ross Harding, managing partner and founder of Energy Launch Partners.
P2i Ltd was established in 2004 to commercialize liquid-repellent treatments developed by the UK’s Ministry of Defence. Now on a commercial scale, P2i’s patented process has been applied to a wide range of products in a wide range of markets including performance textiles, electronic devices, filtration media and bio-consumables. In consumer sectors the presence of P2i’s technology is indicated either by, ion-mask, its brand for footwear, outdoor clothing and accessories, or Aridion, its brand for electronics.
P2i
Energy Launch Partners
