Imagine being able to play Temple Run, browse through Facebook, watch YouTube videos, double-tap Instagram photos, make calls and chat while still not worrying about your phone’s battery life? Well, that is something may soon be reality considering scientists are actively researching the use of self-charging battery to ease the smartphones power woes.
Lithium-ion batteries have over the past decades powered our smartphones, computers and tablets. They have significantly aided in an upsurge of these devices but with several upsets in some cases – Samsung Note 7 can better explain this. However, the batteries need to be re-charged from time and again considering the limited battery density of the batteries.
Researchers now seek to avert that by developing a single device that will be able to harvest and store energy from light. If the device is correctly developed, hen study can be done further on how to integrate it into your smartphone and say goodbye to it dying due to lack of power.
Preliminary study already points out on the potential of a standard cathode from a lithium-ion battery being sensitized to light by including photo-harvesting dye molecules.
Hydro-Québec’s Andrea Paolella, who led the study, explains that their goal is to develop something close to a solar battery system, but the power it will be able to develop will be of great application in portable devices such as phones.
To finally create a self-charging battery, the team will have to figure out how to miniaturize it to a portable size.
Professor Demopoulos, chair of mining and materials engineering at McGill University is confident that they far they have come they can design the light-absorbing electrode.
So what can we look out for in the future? One theorized application is phones that will be able to recharge themselves and if not, then increase the battery life.
Advanced Phones with no battery progress
Giant smartphone makers such Samsung and Apple have made tremendous steps in improving the smartphone. Major advances have been made in the processors, display among other features but the battery seems to have be lagging behind.
The self-charging battery will be revolutionary except that it may demand for some changes on the phone design to let in light.