New Power Source For Your Phone…Your Shirt!
Researchers at the University of Toronto have invented a flexible plastic-based solar cell that can convert 30% of received solar energy to electricity. That’s 5x the efficiency of current solar cells, which convert some 6%. With the plastic and flexible nature of the cells, they are also far easier to deal with than today’s rigid, heavy solar panels. The invention is said to be 5-10 years away from mass production, but the impact of more efficient solar panels would be huge, and of course would touch the mobile world: The new materials could conceivably be woven into a shirt, and used to power mobile devices. Hey! Maybe they could put this invention into the Motorola ski jacket!
