How many times a year do you change a battery somewhere in your home? From smoke detectors to remotes, there are enough electrical devices in our lives that keeping a supply of several different types is virtually a necessity. And then there is the disposal problem…

That’s why news of a study published on April 30 in the journal Advanced Functional Materials caught my eye. This study announces (in very technical terms I don’t understand, but that’s not important) that a group of researchers has invented a new type of solar cell that can draw energy from indoor light. They used a material called perovskite which can efficiently gather lower-power, ambient light to produce electricity. Already in other solar cells, perovskite’s use has been limited because it has disadvantages in stability and longevity. But (without getting too technical) the team found a combination of chemicals to mitigate the disadvantages.

The research team is currently in discussions with industry to explore commercial possibilities for the perovskite solar cells. Let’s hope they succeed. Maybe someday soon, we won’t need batteries at all!

For the complete story, see “Your Household Gadgets Could Soon Be Battery-Free — Scientists Create Tiny Solar Cells That Can Be Powered By Indoor Light” by Ross Kelly (https://www.livescience.com/technology/your-gadgets-could-soon-be-battery-free-thanks-to-new-solar-cells-powered-by-indoor-light?)