Solar-Powered Fabric Developed for Wearable Technologies

Researchers at Nottingham Trent University have developed a flexible, breathable, and machine-washable solar-powered fabric that can be integrated into clothing and used to charge devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches.

Characteristics of the Fabric

Integrated into flexible, breathable, and machine-washable textile products, the solar panels allow for the reduction in size of heavy and bulky batteries.

Thanks to the integration of small solar cells into the threads, the traditional properties, flexibility, and breathability of the fabric are fully preserved.

Energy Generation Capacity

Dr. Theo Hughes-Riley from Nottingham Trent University stated that solar-powered textiles could be used to charge portable devices.

A 160x485 millimeter panel can generate approximately 335 milliwatts of power under bright outdoor conditions, enough to charge basic devices.

Durability and Production

Protective encapsulation and fibers ensure the textile is resistant to machine washing and daily use.

Work is underway on new manufacturing technologies to automate the manual soldering process, which is the biggest challenge in transitioning the technology to commercial use.