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Renewable Energy News

THURSDAY 28 FEBRUARY, 2013 |

Ultra Thin Solar Film Boosts Cell Phone Talk Time

by Energy Matters

Wysips - solar film for handheld devices

A new ultra-thin transparent film applied to mobile phone screens can provide extended battery time and emergency charging.

SunPartner Group's Wysips Crystal technology can transform any surface into a solar collector producing energy from a natural or artificial light source (500-1500 Lux).

The 0.5 millimetre, up to 95% transparent surface is currently able to generate 5.8 milliwatts-peak per cm2 - and SunPartner is aiming to double that amount by 2014 using photovoltaic materials involving organic semi-conductor polymers.

The film is able to operate in a temperature range of -25°C - +70°C and has an expected service life of 7 years; far longer than most people keep a cell phone for.

According to SunPartner Group, enough film for a mobile screen costs just $A1.28 to make.

Exposing a Wysips enabled phone to just 10 minutes worth of sunshine will provide enough charge to communicate for two minutes. 1 hour of solar exposure provides an estimated 10 minutes additional talk time or 20 minutes listening to music.

A complete charge would require 6 hours in the sun. However, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to expose a smartphone to Australia's harsh summer sun for that period and the company acknowledges its technology "is not necessarily for a full recharge but rather for an energy boost for specific applications".

Wysips Crystal technology is integrated during screen manufacturing and can be implemented either beneath or on top of the touchscreen. The film is connected to an electronic chip that converts and manages the electrical energy produced.

The technology isn't limited to cell phones and tablets.

Wysips Cameleon works on the same principle and is being developed suited to outdoors display applications of any shape or size up to 2 m².

Wysips Glass will enable windows to produce enough energy and Wysips Textiles are being promoted as "the fabrics of the future".