By Bridgette Meinhold, Source: Ecouterre

Fiber optic cable meets photovoltaics in a new mashup of technology that could lead to integrating solar power into textiles. Researchers at Penn State University have created a new method to dope a regular fiber optic strand to give it photovoltaic properties. Their technique has produced meters-long strands that are thinner than a human hair. While many are trying to integrate solar power technology into clothing, no one has quite succeeded in creating a flexible, washable, wearable material that could serve as a mobile battery charger.

Recently published in the journal of Advanced Materials in December 2012 is a new paper outlining the solar fiber optic technique developed by the Badding Group at Penn State University. Led by John Badding, the group, which includes international scientists, has created a
a silicon-based optical fiber with solar-cell capabilities. The team made use of high-pressure chemistry techniques to deposit semiconducting materials into pores of optical fibers made from glass. This doping technique turns ordinary fiber optics into a working solar cell.

Less than the width of a human hair, these super thin strands are flexible and the team has made meters long strands with photovoltaic capabilities. This new technique opens up the doors to weave the strand into textiles and create a wearable photovoltaic materials. The 3D material also has the ability to soak up sun from any angle as compared to a 2D flat semiconducter. The team’s hope is to incorporate the strands into fabrics to serve as a mobile generator to power smart phones and other devices. The military certainly has their eye on this lightweight technology for their soldiers to be able to power their devices and gear while on the go. John Badding explains, “Long, fiber-based solar cells give us the potential to do something we couldn’t really do before: We can take the silicon fibers and weave them together into a fabric with a wide range of applications such as power generation, battery charging, chemical sensing, and biomedical devices.”

The research and technology is still in beginning stages, so no work has yet been completed to see how strong the strands are and whether than can withstand wear and tear or even washing. These fiber optic solar cells would need to be incredibly durable for the modern day soldier in order for it to work. As a bonus though, the researchers have also discovered that these doped fiber optics is that they have a very fast response to laser light and could be used to transmit data at high speeds.