Groundbreaking Indoor Solar Cell Innovation: Harnessing Ceiling Light to Support the Entire Internet of Things
In a groundbreaking development, researchers at University College London (UCL) have engineered a new class of indoor solar cells that have shown remarkable efficiency and durability under artificial light. These perovskite-based solar cells have achieved a record-breaking conversion efficiency of 37.6% under standard indoor lighting conditions (~1000 lux), which is approximately six times more efficient than the best commercially available indoor solar panels [1][2][3].
The secret to the new indoor solar cell lies in perovskite, a crystalline material that can be tuned to sip from the specific wavelengths emitted by LEDs and fluorescent bulbs. The researchers achieved this by using a triple-chemical treatment: rubidium chloride, DMOAI, and PEACl, which helped the crystals grow more uniformly, reduced strain, kept the ions in the material stable, and made it much easier for electricity to flow through the material [1][2][5].
In addition to high efficiency, these solar cells exhibit remarkable durability. After 100 days of continuous exposure to office lighting, the cells retained 92% of their initial performance. Even after 300 hours of relentless bright light at 55°C, the cells retained three-quarters of their efficiency, suggesting a projected lifespan of five years or more under typical indoor conditions [1][3][2].
The potential impact of this innovation is substantial. It could enable battery-free operation of low-power indoor devices such as remote controls, wireless keyboards, sensors, alarms, and headphones, by continuously harvesting ambient indoor light. This would reduce dependency on batteries, lowering costs and environmental waste associated with battery replacement [1][2][3][5].
Furthermore, because perovskite solar cells can be manufactured easily and cost-effectively compared to silicon-based solar cells, this advancement may accelerate the adoption of sustainable indoor energy harvesting solutions [2][5]. The UCL solar cells are currently in talks with industry partners for potential scale-up and commercial deployment.
If mass production becomes a reality, the impact could extend beyond convenience, helping reduce battery waste, support smart cities, and power the next generation of autonomous IoT devices. The findings regarding the UCL solar cells were published in the journal "Advanced Functional Materials" [1].
| Aspect | Detail | |---------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Efficiency | 37.6% conversion efficiency under 1000 lux indoor light; ~6x better than current commercial indoor cells | | Innovation | Chemical treatment with rubidium chloride reduces crystal defects (traps) in perovskite | | Durability/Lifespan | >90% efficiency retained after 100 days indoors; estimated >5 years lifespan | | Potential Application | Battery-free powering of devices like remote controls, sensors, alarms | | Manufacturing & Cost | Low-cost, easy production relative to silicon-based cells |
This breakthrough represents a significant step toward practical, durable, and efficient indoor solar energy harvesting, with promising implications for reducing e-waste and enabling more sustainable electronic device operation indoors [1][2][3][5].
[1] University College London. (2022). New indoor solar cells could power the internet of things. Retrieved from https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2022/nov/new-indoor-solar-cells-could-power-internet-things
[2] Science Daily. (2022). New indoor solar cells could revolutionize energy harvesting. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/11/221110150627.htm
[3] Phys.org. (2022). New indoor solar cells could revolutionize energy harvesting. Retrieved from https://phys.org/news/2022-11-indoor-solar-cells-revolutionize-energy.html
[4] Advanced Functional Materials. (2022). Record-breaking indoor perovskite solar cells. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/adfm.202208301
[5] Nature.com. (2022). Record-breaking indoor perovskite solar cells. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-03651-3
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