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Energy Harvesting: Solar-Powered 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? What’s 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). Solar Powered Flower and Calculator How Solar Panels Work Now try this! (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? What’s 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. Solar powered Cell Phone Charger with 2 devices charging.
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Esta Lampkin Version Demo_Template Solar Phone Charger

Sep 08, 2015

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An application of harnessing energy using solar power to charge cell phones.
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Energy Harvesting: Solar-Powered Cell Phone ChargerTry 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). Solar Powered Flower and CalculatorHow Solar Panels Work

Now try this! (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?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 direction, creating an electrical current.

. Solar powered Cell Phone Chargerwith 2 devices charging.

Photovoltaic Cells

How is this ASSIST? Wearable Devices

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.

Learning Objectives 1. Participants will explain how solar energy is converted into electrical energy2. Participants will describe evaluate solar energy as renewable, clean energy.Materials

Solar powered calculator Solar powered flower or other item

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-energy2. http://energy.gov/eere/education/clean-energy-jobs-and-career-planning

3. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/green-tech/sustainable/5-solar-powered-gadgets.htm

4. http://theinstitute.ieee.org/technology-focus/technology-topic/everyday-nanotechnology

5. https://www.wearable-technologies.com/2014/07/energy-harvesting-for-wearables/6. https://www.wearable-technologies.com/store/health.htmlCredits and rights

Esta Lampkin, ASSIST Center at North Carolina State University. http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/solar-cell1.htm

HYPERLINK "http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/travel/solar-battery-chargers1.htm" http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/gadgets/travel/solar-battery-chargers1.htm