Smartphones could be solar powered in the near future

Researchers at UCLA have developed a solar film that could be placed on a smartphone display to harvest energy from the sun.

Yang Yang, who led the research, said the cells could serve as a power-generating layer on windows and smartphone displays.

Composed of two thin polymer solar cells that collect sunlight and convert it to power, the solar film is see-through, so it won’t obstruct the user’s view of the screen.

UCLA has a working prototype of the film ready, although there is no word yet on when the technology will be deployed.