Innovative solar cell structure stores, supplies energy simultaneously

In a quest for a smaller, more self-sustaining solar power source, a Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) electrical engineer has proposed a design for solar panels that can simultaneously generate power from sunlight and store power reserves for later, all within a single device.

The final design allows for a standard-size solar cell that can simultaneously power a device and store energy for later use, creating a closed-loop system for small-scale applications of solar energy. "We can have some energy set aside locally, right in the panel, so that when you need it, you can get it," says Jiang.


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