Scientists from RIKEN have developed a new kind of solar cell that can be stretched without losing too much power, making it a promising option for wearable electronics.
This breakthrough could eventually lead to smartwatches and medical devices powered by solar energy, reducing the need for frequent recharging.
Wearable devices, like fitness trackers and health monitors, are becoming more popular, but they still rely on batteries that need to be charged often.
To solve this problem, researchers are focusing on creating flexible, stretchable solar cells that can generate electricity as the user moves.
However, most solar cells are not stretchable, and they tear easily when stretched by more than a small percentage.
Kenjiro Fukuda and his team at RIKEN are working to make solar cells that can stretch without breaking.
They want to develop devices that are thin and flexible, but also durable enough to handle everyday body movements.
The challenge is finding the right materials for each part of the solar cell so that it remains stretchable while still working efficiently.
The team has now developed a solar cell that performs well even when stretched. When stretched to 1.5 times its original length, the cell’s ability to convert sunlight into electricity only drops by 20%.
Even more impressively, it retains 95% of its power after being stretched 100 times by 10%. These results were recently published in the journal Nature Communications.
The key to this success is an organic compound called ION E, which the researchers added to the solar cell’s electrode layer.
Initially, they added ION E to make the electrode more flexible, but they discovered an unexpected benefit—it also helped the different layers of the cell stick together better. This stronger bond made the entire device more stretchable and durable.
While this is an exciting development, Fukuda says that there are still challenges to overcome. One of the main hurdles is improving the conductivity of the materials used in the solar cells to allow electricity to flow better. The team is now exploring solutions to this problem, with the hope of eventually creating large, stretchable solar panels that can be used in wearable technology.
This new approach to making solar cells stretchable could bring us closer to a future where wearable devices are powered by the sun, making them more convenient and sustainable.
