Low-light solar cells can help keep your devices out of battery.
California-based Ambient Photonics has been working on indoor solar cells since 2019, improving the performance and cost of this new technology.
The elements can be "printed" to almost any size and shape for use in everyday devices such as remote controls and wireless keyboards, which can eliminate the need for batteries and reduce the size and weight of electronic devices.
The devices, equipped with Ambiente's latest "bifacial elements" that can harvest light energy in two directions, will be shown at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 in Las Vegas, USA this week. A foundation that supports green innovation.
How does solar energy work in the premises?
Using both natural light from the shade and artificial light such as LEDs and halogen bulbs, low-light solar cells can convert any light source into energy. This allows devices to be continuously charged without having to connect the built-in batteries.
The technology is based on low-cost dye-sensitized solar cells (DSSCs), which originated in the 1990s as a way to capture energy from low-intensity indoor lighting.
These cells convert light energy more slowly than silicon cells, meaning they are less efficient in direct sunlight. But they are much cheaper to produce and can work with any indoor lighting, meaning they can provide an endless source of power for smart devices in homes, offices and other buildings.
"In today's world, connected electronics require constant power , often available through disposable or rechargeable batteries," says Bates Marshall, founder and CEO of Ambient Photonics.
" Solar power has long been an option for low-power electronic devices such as calculators or toys, but scientific advances in environmental photonics are needed to develop high-efficiency solar cell technology for mass-market devices."
How do bidirectional solar cells work?
The new two-layer Ambiente solar cells , made of optically clear glass, can simultaneously capture light energy from the back and front of the cell. They can triple the performance of conventional silicon cells and increase the performance of unidirectional environmental cells by 50 percent.
A device equipped with a two-level cell, such as a remote control, can be turned on by holding it face up or face down. As cells become more efficient and produce more power, they allow the use of more powerful electronic components.
"Our dual face solar technology is a game changer for all types of devices," explained Marshall. "We can envision a variety of connected devices, including electronic missile tags, benders, and more, that not only navigate ambient light more efficiently, but can be designed and installed in flexible ways and operate independently." or orientation."
The company announced today that it will partner with Google to launch a new solar-powered device, the first to use bifacial cells, in 2024.
How can home solar power help the environment?
Harvesting energy from ambient light will help electronics manufacturers prevent billions of batteries from ending up in landfills and allow companies to reduce their carbon emissions ," said Marshall.
Internal solar cells are already included in Universal Electronics remote controls and Chicony wireless keyboards. The company is working with electronic paper maker E Ink to integrate them into electronic price tags.
The Ambiente Center in California is the world's largest low-light solar energy production facility and the first in the United States, capable of producing ten million solar energy units per year. The company plans to open a second smart manufacturing facility in the US in 2025 to meet growing demand for its technology.
"We can offer a revolutionary sustainable energy option, as well as a smart, low-emission manufacturing method that matches the performance and price requirements of the world's largest electronic products," said Marshall.
Internal solar cell
