Instead of searching for an outlet to keep your phone alive, what if all you needed was some sunshine? An MIT startup has created a transparent coating that transforms surfaces into solar panels.
The panels would have to be dark, because the darker a material, the more visible light it absorbs. The idea of transparent panels would usually get dismissed because they don’t, by definition, absorb any visible light—it just passes right through them. Ubiquitous Energy has created a coating made of organic molecules that absorb the sun’s ultraviolet and infrared rays. Since the light isn’t in the visible range, the coating appears clear. The material doubles as a semiconductor: When photons hit the surface, they excite electrons that flow as an electrical current to power the device. “You can put the coating on anything and turn it into an electrical source,” says company founder Miles Barr—smartwatches, phones, windows, or even cars. When the tech is mature, Barr anticipates it will convert solar energy into electricity with 10 percent efficiency—two-thirds the industry average for solar panels. Who doesn’t want an excuse to spend more time at the beach? For full article: http://www.popsci.com/turn-your-smartphone-into-solar-panel
1 Comment
Jackie Medina
2/19/2016 07:49:52 pm
You have no idea how happy this makes me. This alternative would be much more convenient (and cheaper in the long run)
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