Game-changer in technology: Solar-powered phone screens charge devices directly

South Korean scientists at UNIST have developed transparent solar cells that can charge smartphones using sunlight.

Researchers from the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Koran have successfully created transparent solar cells that can be applied to mobile devices, cars, and even the glass surfaces of buildings, converting sunlight into electricity.

The transparent solar cells, led by Professor Kwanyong Seo from the School of Energy and Chemical Engineering, feature breakthrough technology uses an “All-Back Contact” design, ensuring that all components of the solar cell are mounted at the back, leaving the front surface completely transparent.

The design eliminates the need for visible metal wires, cords or power outlets, thanks to the development of Seamless Modularization technology, which bridges the gaps between the solar cells.

Professor Seo emphasised the importance of this innovation in the eco-friendly future-energy industry and highlighted the team's ongoing efforts to commercialise transparent solar cells.

The research team successfully tested their 16 cm² solar cell module, which achieved high efficiency with transmittance ranging between 20% and 14.7%. The team tested the transparent solar cells by charging a smartphone using only sunlight, demonstrating the potential of this innovation as a sustainable energy source for mobile devices.

“This study fundamentally solved the aesthetic problem of the existing solar cell modularization method through the design of the new device structure,” said researchers Jeonghwan Park and Kangmin Lee. According to the researchers, the solar cells have broad applications, including use in smaller devices, buildings, and vehicles. The team is optimistic about the future, with plans to continue their research to make transparent solar cells an environmentally friendly and efficient energy source.

The findings from the research have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences journal.