Energy Harvesting: SolarPowered Cell Phone Charger

Try this!

(1-2 minutes)

1. Choose a device from the choices listed on the

right.
2. Locate its source of energy (solar panel).
3. Cover the source with your finger. What happens?

Whats going on?

Solar cells or photovoltaic cells work by converting
sunlight into electricity directly using photovoltaics
(PV). Its beginnings can be traced back to 1876 when
William Grylls Adams and his student Richard Day
discovered that selenium produced electricity when it
was exposed to light. A second source of solar energy
involves the indirect use of concentrated solar power
(CSP).

Now try this!

Solar Powered Flower and

Calculator
How Solar Panels Work

(5 minutes)

1. Connect the fully-charger solar-powered

phone charger to your device (phone or
tablet).
2. Observe what happens.
3. Describe the energy conversion process
which occurs.
4. What are some drawbacks to using this
device?

Solar powered Cell Phone Charger

with 2 devices charging.

Whats going on?

Generally speaking: The photovoltaic cells in

the solar powered phone charger collected sunlight

directly, converted it to energy and transferred that
energy to the device. Specifically: A group of
photovoltaic cells are connected electrically and
grouped together in a solar panel. These photovoltaic
cells are made of semiconductors that absorb
sunlight and release electrons to flow freely. Photons
of light jar electrons loose from the material causing
an imbalance between the positive protons and the
negative electrons resulting in an electrical field. The
electrical fields that surround photovoltaic cells are
designed to cause electrons to flow in a specific

Photovoltaic Cells

direction, creating an electrical current.

.

How is this ASSIST?

The goal of ASSIST is to incorporate nanotechnology
into wearable self-powering devices that monitor and
transmit data for long-term trend analysis. Harnessing solar
power to fuel the operation of devices offers a promising
means for achieving this goal.

Wearable Devices

Learning Objectives
1. Participants will explain how solar energy is converted into electrical energy
2. Participants will describe evaluate solar energy as renewable, clean energy.

Materials

item

Solar powered calculator

Solar powered flower or other

Solar powered phone charger

Cellular phone or other device

with charger cord.

Notes to the presenter

Before doing this activity, please do the following:
Purchase or locate the calculator and the solar powered flower before the day
of presentation.
Charge the solar powered phone charger before the presentation.
Test the charger with the phone to make sure that it will work.
Tips:
1. Make sure that your solar charger corresponds to your phone; some models are
phone-specific.
2. Try out the demonstration ahead of time to work out any bugs; allow time to call
tech support if there is a problem with the charger.
3. Since the flowers do not cost much ($1-3) have extras on hand if one should get
dropped or damaged and doesnt work.
SAFETY: Exercise any precautions when you are using electricity (phone charger).
Cleanup: None.

Related educational resources

For further research: These are excellent articles on nanotechnology, solar power and
wearable devices.

1. http://energy.gov/articles/top-6-things-you-didnt-know-about-solar-energy
2. http://energy.gov/eere/education/clean-energy-jobs-and-career-planning
3. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/sustainable/5-solarpowered-gadgets.htm
4. http://theinstitute.ieee.org/technology-focus/technology-topic/everydaynanotechnology
5. https://www.wearable-technologies.com/2014/07/energy-harvesting-for-wearables/
6. https://www.wearable-technologies.com/store/health.html

Credits and rights

Esta Lampkin, ASSIST Center at North Carolina State University.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solarcell1.htmhttp://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/travel/solar-battery-chargers1.htm