Dracula Technologies, a leader in ambient light energy harvesting, announces a significant advancement in its LAYER technology, delivering 15% higher power efficiency along with new aesthetic improvements. This breakthrough enables manufacturers to integrate smaller Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) modules while maintaining the same electrical performance or achieving greater power output at the same size, meeting industry demands for compact, battery-free solutions. Additionally, a new aesthetic coating enhances the module’s appearance, allowing seamless integration into various product designs.
Aesthetic and functional enhancements
A new aesthetic coating will be applied to the upper surface of the module to improve its appearance and conceal any potential defects. Customers will be able to choose from various finishes according to their preferences, with a catalogue of available options to be released soon. This addition ensures that LAYER modules not only deliver superior performance but also blend seamlessly into product designs. Furthermore, the new silver bus bars enhance the module’s visual appeal while also playing a role in boosting efficiency.
Addressing the growing demand for compact, sustainable energy solutions
As industries seek to minimise battery reliance, the need for efficient, maintenance-free energy solutions is growing, particularly in IoT, smart labels, and industrial automation. Batteries increase device size, require replacements, and contribute to electronic waste. The latest iteration of LAYER enhances energy harvesting efficiency, generating sufficient power even under very low-light conditions (<100 lux). This enables device manufacturers to reduce power constraints, extend product lifespan, and eliminate battery-related maintenance, making self-powered electronics more viable than ever.
Enabling battery-free IoT, smart buildings, and retail applications
With improved efficiency and compact design, LAYER empowers manufacturers to create truly autonomous IoT sensors, smart building automation devices, and electronic shelf labels. In retail, this translates to sustainable, cost-effective solutions for electronic price tags, while logistics and asset tracking benefit from reliable, battery-free energy sources. Industrial automation applications, such as smart sensors and process monitoring, also gain increased energy autonomy, reducing operational costs and supporting energy-efficient operations.
A step forward in OPV innovation
Jérôme Vernet, VP Sales of Dracula Technologies, commented: “With 15% higher power efficiency, a more compact design, and enhanced aesthetics, we’re addressing the growing demand for smaller, more autonomous, and visually adaptable energy solutions in IoT and smart devices. This advancement helps reduce costs, increase design flexibility, and achieve sustainability goals. By leveraging cutting-edge material science and manufacturing innovations, we continue to push the boundaries of energy harvesting, reinforcing our leadership in the field and commitment to sustainable solutions.”
Technical advancements: More efficient and aesthetically adaptable
This technological advancement replaces the previous copper bus bars with screen-printed silver, allowing for precise control of the line width, down to 1mm, which increases the active area and enhances power generation by up to 15%. This improvement offers either a more compact design with the same power output or higher power with the same surface area, reducing costs by up to 15%. The use of screen printing ensures durability and stability, as it handles the dense silver paste more effectively, producing robust, long-lasting bus bars. In addition to these efficiency improvements, the aesthetic coating further enhances the module’s integration into product designs, ensuring both functionality and visual appeal.
Dracula Technologies will be exhibiting at Embedded World in Hall 3A/Booth 301. Attendees will have the opportunity to see live demonstrations at the Dracula Technologies booth and in various partner booths, gaining insights into the technology that drives indoor devices. For those interested, Dracula Technologies offers demo kits for product designers to order and build prototypes.