Scientists at the University of Kaunas, Lithuania, have made a significant leap in energy harvesting by developing indoor solar cells with an impressive 37% charging efficiency. This groundbreaking technology addresses a long-standing challenge: converting artificial light into usable energy, a process far less efficient than traditional solar power generation.
Unlike conventional photovoltaic cells that struggle in low-light indoor environments, the Lithuanian team’s new perovskite solar cell excels at capturing energy from artificial light sources. This innovation holds immense potential for powering a vast array of low-energy devices, such as smart sensors and digital clocks, that rely on electricity even during nighttime hours.
The key to the cell’s high efficiency lies in its unique composition. A combination of organic semiconductors and perovskite materials enables it to effectively convert the limited light spectrum available indoors into electricity. Rigorous testing under standard indoor lighting conditions, simulating a typical living room environment, demonstrated the cell’s exceptional performance. Notably, the technology achieved a 37% efficiency rate using a warm white LED light source,surpassing its 19% efficiency when exposed to solar energy.
While the commercialization timeline for this revolutionary technology remains uncertain, the promising results achieved thus far indicate a bright future for indoor solar power. As research progresses, it is anticipated that indoor solar cells will become a viable and sustainable energy solution for a wide range of applications.
