Engineers at Florida International University in the United States have developed an ultra-thin solar device that can be integrated into clothing and wearable equipment, combining electricity generation from sunlight with light emission, in a technology that may help reduce reliance on batteries and traditional energy sources in remote areas.
Integrating Functions into a Single Unit
The tech website Tech Explorers reported on Wednesday that the device, which researchers named "SOLED," combines the functions of solar cells and light-emitting diodes within a single unit, enabling its use in applications including wearable power systems, sensors, and imaging.
High Efficiency and Advanced Materials
The device relies on the semiconductor perovskite material, and tests showed its ability to convert sunlight into electricity with an efficiency reaching 22 percent, while light emission efficiency reached about 11 percent, according to the study published in the scientific journal Nano Energy.
The device emits light at a wavelength of 818 nanometers, within the near-infrared range, which may allow its use in night vision sensors, biometric systems, and medical imaging technologies, while researchers are working to increase the intensity of the emitted light.
Expanding Area and Applications
The team managed to expand the device area to 1.1 square centimeters while maintaining an energy conversion efficiency exceeding 20 percent, and also tested devices with an area of 2.1 square centimeters, as a step toward developing larger units for practical use.
Research continues to improve the performance of this technology and expand the area of its devices, opening the door to future applications in smart clothing, displays, sensors, and wearable power systems.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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