To overcome the structural rigidity and weight issues in traditional solar panels that restrict their use in flexible electronics, researchers at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Saudi Arabia have built rigid silicon segments joined by aluminium contacts.
The lightweight, highly-flexible, portable solar panels are aimed at powering the next-generation Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Â
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The screen-printed aluminium contacts linking the silicon sections are positioned at the back of the solar panel to ensure optimal light absorption. The aluminium contacts will also allow modifications of the silicon segments leading to high-structural flexibility.
Muhammad Hussain, the lead scientist said, the panel can be bent to different shapes and even folded to facilitate easy transportation.
Demonstration of the prototype showed applicability of the technology for the IoT. On commercialization, the aluminium contact-integrated portable solar panel could help meet growing demand for wearable and implantable devices with foldable displays.
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