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48^th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva - over 800 exhibitors from 45 countries, about 1,000 inventions, 5 exhibition halls, 30,000 visitors from all over the world.

The event was attended by scientists from Lublin University of Technology.

Prof. Paweł Węgierek, head of the Department of Electrical Devices and High Voltage Technology and dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, as well as his PhD student - Justyna Pastuszak, MSc. - showed a series of inventions related to the production of silicon photovoltaic cells with increased efficiency.

In turn, Prof. Janusz Sikora from the Department of Polymer Processing presented the plasticizing system of a single-screw extruder. It was created as part of cooperation between Lublin University of Technology and the Maria Curie-Skłodowska University.

Solutions by Węgierek and Pastuszak were awarded twice.

– We received the main prize of the fair, i.e. the Thailand Cup for the best international invention and innovation, and a gold medal of the International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva. This is a great honor for us, because the competition was tough. It is worth noting that all the exhibited solutions were shown for the first time and are ready to be introduced to the market - says Prof. Paweł Węgierek.

As admitted by Justyna Pastuszak, the invention allows to increase the efficiency of the photoconversion phenomenon, and consequently the efficiency of the silicon photovoltaic cells, from which photovoltaic panels are made, commonly used in photovoltaic installations and PV power plants.

– About 80% of all existing photovoltaic installations are made of silicon panels. The solution is designed for this type of panels. Its implementation will boost the profitability of their use by increasing the efficiency of electricity generation in PV installations. Thanks to this, the popularity of photovoltaics as an alternative energy source will increase. Implementation of the invention has a chance to revolutionize the photovoltaics market – says Justyna Pastuszak.

For many years, the Lublin scientists have been conducting research on changing the electrical properties of silicon through the use of neon ion implantation. Their effect is the development of an original method of producing silicon photovoltaic cells with an additional energy level in the bandgap of the semiconductor, made by ion implantation based on silicon doped with boron, phosphorus or antimony.

Project by Prof. Janusz Sikora and Dr. Andrzej Puszek won a bronze medal and an individual award from the King Abdulaziz University in Saudi Arabia as an outstanding invention.

– The essence of the invention is to activate the screw extruder cylinder by setting in reciprocating motion the mixing pins located in the cylinder of the plasticizing system. This movement is caused by installing electromagnets in the system and the flow of electric current. The controlled direction of the current flow creates a magnetic field and generates an attractive or repulsive force, resulting in the extension or retraction of the mixing pin and, at the appropriate times, preventing it from colliding with the rotating screw of the plasticizing system of the single-screw extruder. The proposed solution can be used in machines of the polymer processing, food and cosmetics industries to increase the efficiency of the mixing process, homogenize the thermal, mechanical and other properties, as well as the structure of the extruded material, significantly improving the quality of the products or substances obtained - informs Prof. Janusz Sikora.

Prof. Zbigniew Pater, rector of LUT, is really proud of the achievements of the researchers: - I congratulate them on their success in Geneva. It is gratifying to see that their scientific work is bearing fruit. This is yet another confirmation that Lublin University of Technology is highly rated in terms of innovation. According to the Perspektywy ranking, we are the third university in the country in terms of inventiveness. Last year, our scientists received 95 decisions on obtaining patents and reported 175 inventions to the Patent Office.

The International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva is the world's largest event dedicated exclusively to inventions. It is a cyclical event. All novelties at the fair can be shown only once. The exhibition is under the patronage of, among others, the Swiss federal government, the City of Geneva, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Federation of Inventors' Associations (IFIA).