Researchers at the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (EMPA) have developed a flexible, light-harvesting material that can be integrated with a portable solar cell and incorporated into textiles for electricity on the go. They envision a future where smartphones and laptops can be charged with a portable power source that is integrated into clothing for people on the move.
The novel material is a photoluminescent material — i.e., it can use indirect or ambient light to generate energy. For example, luminescent phosphors are the main component of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are commonly used in energy-efficient lighting. Quantum dots are another photoluminescent material, as are luminescent dyes used for biomedical targeting and testing.
Today, the solar industry employs several photoluminescent materials to harvest solar energy. Photoluminescent materials can be combined to create luminescent solar concentrators (LSC), which absorb sunlight. The LSC reemits and amplifies the light so it can be stored in adjoining solar cells. The cells convert this light into energy by using the light to excite electrons and create an electrical current.
However, most LSCs are rigid and are unsuitable for textiles, making it challenging to create clothing that harvests solar energy to charge electronics. Moreover, the efficiency of existing luminescent...
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