Muscat student designs AETHER windows that generate solar power with carbon quantum dots

Gaurish Metha, a grade 10 student at Indian School Muscat, has developed a concept called AETHER that uses carbon quantum dots to turn window glass into a light-collecting surface. The quantum dots absorb UV light and re-emit it as deep red light that travels through the glass to photovoltaic cells mounted around the edges. The design keeps more than 92% of the window area transparent while targeting over 35% efficiency for those edge cells. The project is still in research and development. The CQD layer has not been experimentally validated, and the efficiency and lifespan targets need testing under UV exposure, thermal cycling, and humidity. Gaurish and his partner Kaveesh Rayhan are working toward a physical proof of concept that shows the full optical-to-electrical chain. For Oman, the idea fits a context of strong sunlight and glass-heavy buildings, though durability remains an open question.