via Marina Freitag
In a future where most things in our everyday life are connected through the internet, devices and sensors will need to run without wires or batteries. In a new article in Chemical Science, researchers from Uppsala University present a new type of dye-sensitised solar cells that harvest light from indoor lamps.
The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to a network of physical devices and applications connected through the internet. It is estimated that by 2025, many facets of our lives will be mediated through 75 billion IoT devices, a majority of which will be located indoors. Broad installation of such IoT devices requires the devices to become autonomous, meaning that they should no longer need batteries or a grid connection to operate. To achieve this, it is crucial to identify a local low-maintenance energy source that can provide local power to IoT devices, especially in ambient conditions.
Towards this goal, a research team led by Marina Freitag, assistant professor at the Department of Chemistry, Uppsala University, has developed new indoor photovoltaic cells that can convert up to 34 per cent of visible light into electricity to power a wide range of IoT sensors. The team has designed novel dye-sensitised photovoltaic cells based on a copper-complex electrolyte, which makes them ideal for harvesting indoor light from fluorescent lamps and LEDs. The latest promising results establish dye-sensitised solar cells as leaders in power conversion efficiency for ambient lighting conditions, outperforming conventional silicon and solar cells made from exotic materials.
The research promises to revolutionise indoor digital sensing for smart greenhouses, offices, shelves, packages and many other smart everyday objects for the Internet of Things.
“Knowing the spectra of these light sources makes it possible to tune special dyes to absorb indoor light. While generating large amounts of energy, these indoor photovoltaics also maintain a high voltage under low light, which is important to power IoT devices,” says Freitag.
In cooperation with the Technical University of Munich, the researchers have further designed an adaptive ‘power management’ system for solar-powered IoT sensors. In contrast to their battery-limited counterparts, the light-driven devices intelligently feed from the amount of light available. Computational workloads are executed according to the level of illumination, minimising energy losses during storage and thus using all light energy to the maximum of its availability. Combining artificial intelligence and automated learning, the solar cell system can thus reduce energy consumption, battery waste and help to improve general living conditions.
In the future, scientists expect that billions of IoT devices self-powered by indoor solar cells will provide everything from environmental information to human-machine and machine-machine communications. Such advanced sensors can further enhance the next wave of robotics and autonomous systems currently in development.
“Ambient light harvesters provide a new generation of self-powered and smart IoT devices powered by an energy source that is largely untapped. The combination of high efficiency and low cost with non-toxic materials for indoor photovoltaics is of paramount importance to IoT sustainability,” says Freitag.
The Latest Updates from Bing News & Google News
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Indoor solar cells
- Solar Energy News
May 15, 2024 — Researchers who contributed to the development of record-breaking solar cells a few years ago, expanded their invention. The self-assembled monolayers can now be applied not only ...
- Memorial Day Generator Sales 2024: Save Up to 45% on Emergency Backup Power
While gas-powered generators provide robust backup power, their bulk can be a hassle. Portable power stations offer a compact and lightweight alternative, making them easy to pack in a car and ...
- Sick of smart home subscriptions? 11 security cameras that don’t cost extra to unlock every feature
Buy some security cameras and you'll need to pay month after month to realize their full value. If that sticks in your craw, check out these alternatives.
- Ascent Solar Collaborates with University of Stuttgart IGTE for the Development and Distribution of Sustainable Power Generation Technology
THORNTON, Colo., May 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Nasdaq: ASTI) (“Ascent” or the “Company”), the leading U.S. innovator in the design and manufacture of featherweight, flexible, and durable CIGS ...
- The 7 best residential solar panels money can buy
Discover the best solar panels for your home with our comprehensive guide. From cost to efficiency to warranty, find the perfect fit for you.
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Indoor solar cells
[google_news title=”” keyword=”indoor solar cells” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
Go deeper with Bing News on:
Indoor photovoltaics
- Best cycling indoor trainers 2024
Whether you are a casual rider or a serious cyclist, a smart trainer can transform your indoor training routine into an immersive and interactive experience. When considering an indoor cycling ...
- Sustainable Indoor Environment For The Comfort And Well-Being Of Buildings’ Users
Buildings often account for the largest part of a country’s energy usage which is still mainly based on fossil fuels. There is a great emphasis on reducing the reliance of buildings on fossil fuel ...
- Fiera Milano, the largest rooftop photovoltaic system in Italy “turned on”.
Energy from the sunrenewable, sustainable provided by 52,000 photovoltaic panels installed on the roofs of the pavilions of Fiera Milano in Rho on a surface of 330,000 square metersequal to that of 45 ...
- Startup debuts wall-mountable, tabletop residential heat pump
Quilt unveiled a residential heat pump with a coefficient of performance (COP) of up to 4 and noise levels of 27 dBA to 47 dBA. The startup recently raised $35.9 million from a group of investors.
- Ascent Solar Collaborates with University of Stuttgart IGTE for the Development and Distribution of Sustainable Power Generation Technology
THORNTON, Colo., May 16, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (Nasdaq: ASTI) (“Ascent” or the “Company”), the leading U.S. innovator in the design and manufacture of featherweight, flexible, and durable CIGS ...
Go deeper with Google Headlines on:
Indoor photovoltaics
[google_news title=”” keyword=”indoor photovoltaics” num_posts=”5″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]