Graphene Solar Cells Power Sensors for the First Time

Researchers in the US have powered a temperature sensor using only graphene solar cells for the first time. The technology could enable long-lasting autonomous systems.

Researchers at the University of Arkansas and the University of Michigan have, for the first time, powered an ultra-energy-efficient temperature sensor solely using graphene-based solar cells. The tests are considered an important step toward autonomous sensor systems that draw energy exclusively from their environment.

To achieve this, according to the announcement, the teams reduced the energy requirement to a few nanowatts and connected several solar cells that charge capacitors and power the sensor for more than 24 hours.

Long-Lived Battery-Free Operation

Since the technology does not require conventional batteries, the researchers expect significantly longer operating times. In the future, the systems will combine multiple energy sources and compensate for solar power shortages with thermal or kinetic energy.

The participants see potential applications in areas where battery replacement is expensive or impossible, such as environmental monitoring, building surveillance, or agricultural technology. The work was published in the Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B and funded by the WoodNext Foundation.

This is a partly automated translation of this german article.