Technology becomes a deep part of our lifestyle. So much so, that people can’t imagine existing without them. Electricity, an unending supply of hot and cold water, heating systems for buildings, cars and planes, are only beginning. However, there are so much more technologies, some for purely entertainment purposes, while others make our lives comfortable. People use more smart devices, smart speakers, and wearables in their homes and offices. Computers and smartphones become integral parts of our everyday life.
However, all these devices use some types of battery. Some of those are rechargeable, while we can use others single time. Unfortunately, these batteries contain toxic, dangerous chemicals, and they are unsafe for the environment. Furthermore, the manufacture, re-cycle, and disposal of batteries require a great deal of energy.
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Experts have been speaking about the damage to the environment for decades now. The more technology we create and eventually discard, the more damage it causes our planet.
Thankfully, there are better and more safe ways to power the devices. For example, we could harvest the energy from indoor lights emitted from ordinary light bulbs. It’s similar to how a solar panel generates energy from sunlight. Still, the solar panels are less suitable for generating energy from indoor light sources.
However, researchers from the University of Cambridge, the Imperial College London, and Soochow University in China made a discovery. They have found that new green material can harvest energy from indoor lights. Scientists currently develop this material for the next-gen solar panels. Advanced Energy Materials reported new findings, which could change the history of technology.
The experts have already investigated perovskite-inspired materials. First of all, perovskites are cheaper than silicon-based solar panels. And secondly, some outperform in terms of efficiency. Despite that, water solubility and lead toxicity prevent them from widespread implementation.
Scientists developed Perovskite-inspired materials for the next-generation solar cells, using safe elements like antimony and bismuth. But while Perovskite-inspired materials are safe for the environment, they are less efficient than the silicon-based cells in absorbing sunlight.
Perovskite better absorbs indoor lights
According to the research team, these materials are much more effective in absorbing indoor lights. They generate enough power to operate electronic devices, which is promising for commercial applications.
Professor Vincenzo Pecunia, from Soochow University, stated that their discovery opens up a new direction in search of green materials. They want to use it to power smart devices. Perovskite-inspired materials may enable battery-free devices for smart homes, wearables, healthcare monitoring, and even smart cities.
