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Modern soldiers depend on an increasing number of electronic devices, from communications equipment to sensors and navigation systems. Keeping that equipment powered can become a logistical burden, particularly during extended missions when battery replacements are difficult to obtain. Some soldiers carry up to 9 kilograms of batteries, adding considerable weight to equipment they must already transport.
Researchers at Florida International University (FIU) have developed an ultra-thin device that could help reduce that burden by generating electricity from sunlight while also functioning as a light source.
Called SOLED, the technology combines the functions of a solar cell and a light-emitting diode (LED) in a single component.
The device uses perovskite, a semiconductor material capable of converting incoming sunlight into electrical energy. When operated in the opposite direction, the same component emits light, eliminating the need for separate devices to perform these functions.
During testing, it achieved a solar power-conversion efficiency of up to 22%, placing its performance within the range of commercial solar technologies.
When functioning as an LED, the device reached nearly 11% light-emission efficiency, representing an improvement over earlier versions of the technology.
According to TechXplore, the emitted light peaks at 818 nanometers, near the boundary between visible and infrared wavelengths. It appears as a faint pink glow rather than a bright conventional light source.
That wavelength could be useful for applications involving night-vision equipment, biometric scanning and medical imaging, although researchers are also working to increase the device’s visible brightness.
For military applications, the technology’s thin structure is particularly interesting. Future versions could potentially be integrated into uniforms, backpacks or other wearable equipment, allowing soldiers to generate electricity while moving or operating in remote areas.
Such systems could reduce dependence on batteries and fuel-powered generators, which may be difficult to resupply in contested environments. Solar power generation could also avoid the noise associated with conventional generators.
The technology remains under development, with researchers currently working to manufacture larger panels without sacrificing efficiency.
In laboratory tests, a 1.1-square-centimeter device maintained more than 20% power-conversion efficiency. The team has also demonstrated devices measuring 2.1 square centimeters, although larger-scale performance figures have not been specified.
Scaling up is challenging because the device consists of multiple extremely thin layers that must retain their electrical and optical properties.
The next objective is to produce panels large enough for practical applications.
If successfully developed into wearable systems, it could provide soldiers with another way to generate power directly from their equipment, potentially reducing the number of batteries they need to carry and improving energy independence during extended missions.
The research was published here.
