It should be possible to charge a battery on a mobile device like a Samsung Galaxy with a solar panel embedded in the back of the device which has a lot of room. But I guess better battery charging technology needs to be invented before that is a reality.
There are several reasons why a modern battery would not be able to charge efficiently from a solar panel on a mobile phone:
- Efficiency: Solar panels are not very efficient at converting sunlight into electricity, especially compared to the batteries used in modern mobile phones. The efficiency of solar panels ranges from around 15% to 20%, which means that only a small portion of the sunlight that they receive is converted into electricity. In contrast, the charging efficiency of modern lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones is typically around 85%. This means that a much larger portion of the electricity that is supplied to the battery is actually stored and used to power the device.
- Size: Solar panels are relatively large and bulky, which would make them difficult to incorporate into a small and portable device like a mobile phone. In order to generate enough electricity to charge a modern mobile phone battery, a solar panel would need to be quite large, which would not be practical for a mobile phone.
- Cost: Solar panels are relatively expensive to manufacture and incorporate into a device, which would increase the cost of the device. While the cost of solar panels has decreased over time, they are still not cost-effective for use in mobile phones.
- Durability: Solar panels are not as durable as the batteries used in mobile phones, and they may degrade over time or become damaged due to exposure to sunlight or other environmental factors. This would make them less reliable as a source of charging for mobile phones.
- Charging time: Solar panels are relatively slow at charging a device, especially compared to the fast charging capabilities of modern mobile phone batteries. This means that it would take a long time to charge a mobile phone using a solar panel, which is not practical for most users.
- Performance in low light conditions: Solar panels do not perform well in low light conditions, such as on a cloudy or overcast day, or in the shade. This means that they may not be able to generate enough electricity to charge a mobile phone battery in these conditions.
- Performance in extreme temperatures: Solar panels can also be affected by extreme temperatures, which can reduce their efficiency and performance. In very cold temperatures, the efficiency of solar panels may be reduced by up to 50%. In very hot temperatures, solar panels may become overheated and may need to be shut down to prevent damage. This would make them less reliable as a source of charging for a mobile phone in extreme temperature conditions.
- Performance when moving: Solar panels also do not perform well when the device they are attached to is moving. This is because the angle of the solar panel relative to the sun’s rays will constantly change as the device moves, which can significantly reduce the amount of electricity that is generated.
- Performance in different locations: The performance of solar panels can also vary significantly depending on the location where they are used. In some locations, the amount of sunlight may be much lower, which would reduce the amount of electricity that is generated. In other locations, the amount of sunlight may be much higher, which could cause the solar panel to become overheated and reduce its performance.
Some new energy storage technologies could be a good way to improve the battery life of the common mobile telephone. These include:
- Solid-state batteries: Solid-state batteries are a type of lithium-ion battery that uses a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid electrolyte. This can make them safer, longer-lasting, and more energy-dense than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Solid-state batteries also have the potential to be charged and discharged faster than traditional lithium-ion batteries, which could make them suitable for fast-charging applications. However, there are still technical challenges that need to be overcome before solid-state batteries can be widely used in mobile phones, such as improving their energy density and increasing their lifespan.
- Supercapacitors: Supercapacitors are a type of energy storage device that can store and discharge large amounts of electricity very quickly. They have a much higher power density than traditional batteries, which means that they can charge and discharge faster. However, they have a lower energy density than traditional batteries, which means that they cannot store as much energy. This makes them less suitable for long-term energy storage applications, but they could potentially be used in conjunction with traditional batteries to improve the fast charging capabilities of mobile phones.
- Lithium-sulphur batteries: Lithium-sulfur batteries are a type of lithium-ion battery that uses a sulphur cathode instead of a traditional cathode material, such as cobalt or nickel. This can make them safer, longer-lasting, and more energy-dense than traditional lithium-ion batteries. However, lithium-sulphur batteries also have some technical challenges that need to be overcome, such as improving their cycle life and reducing their self-discharge rate.
- Sodium-ion batteries: Sodium-ion batteries are a type of battery that uses sodium instead of lithium as the main charge-carrying ions. Sodium is abundant and inexpensive, which makes sodium-ion batteries potentially much cheaper to produce than lithium-ion batteries. However, sodium-ion batteries currently have a lower energy density than lithium-ion batteries, which means that they cannot store as much energy in a given volume. This makes them less suitable for use in mobile phones, but they could potentially be used in other applications where energy density is less important.
- Graphene batteries: Graphene is a type of material that is made up of a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal pattern. It has many unique properties, such as being extremely strong, lightweight, and conductive. Researchers are exploring the use of graphene in batteries as a way to improve their energy density, charge and discharge rate, and lifespan. However, there are still technical challenges that need to be overcome before graphene batteries can be widely used in mobile phones, such as improving their stability and scalability.
To summarise, the current Lithium-Ion batteries are good but are dangerous when punctured, this is due to the Lithium metal contacting Oxygen in the air and self-igniting. We do need better energy storage and charging technology, with a faster-charging and longer-lasting battery for mobile devices, but at the same time make sure the technology is safe and affordable.