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Sun-powered textiles

Swatches | January 1, 2022 | By:

In this prototype jacket from the Sun-Powered Textile Project a “porous” textile is laminated to commercially available solar cells, The energy-autonomous product can generate its own energy by using light as a renewable energy source. In addition to sunlight, it can also generate energy from artificial light. Photos: Anne Kinnunen.

Researchers at Aalto University in Espoo, Finland, have created The Sun-Powered Textiles project. Because textiles can be purposely woven to let sunlight pass through them, the “porous” textile is laminated to commercially available solar cells, hiding the solar cells from view. The combination of the two can generate energy. This eliminates the need for battery charging or replacement in wearables. The energy-autonomous product can generate its own energy by using light as a renewable energy source. In addition to sunlight, it can also generate energy from artificial light.

The commercially available photoelectric cells are made of monocrystalline silicon, while larger flexible cells are made of amorphous silicon. The rigid crystalline silicon cells have higher efficiency and are especially suitable for outdoor use. On the other hand, the flexible amorphous silicon cells work better than the crystalline silicon cells in weak light, such as indoors. Being thinner and flexible, they can therefore be installed, for example, on a jacket with a larger surface area without the jacket being uncomfortable to wear. In tests, the cells endured 50 washes in a washing machine with no damage.

The working jacket prototype cannot yet generate enough electricity to power a cellphone but can easily power a temperature and humidity sensor built into the fabric.

The textile-cell energy harvesting module can be widely applied toward smart textiles and wearable technology solutions, such as occupational and professional wear, sportswear, well-being and fashion.

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