Imagine a future where your TV remote, keyboard, or alarm clock never needs a battery again. That future might be closer than you think.

Researchers at University College London (UCL) have developed groundbreaking solar cells that capture electricity not from direct sunlight—but from ordinary indoor light. Even more exciting, these cells can be produced in a way that resembles printing a newspaper, making them simple and scalable.

The Secret Ingredient: Perovskite

At the heart of this innovation is perovskite, a family of minerals already being explored for traditional outdoor solar panels because of their high performance and low cost. Standard perovskite solar cells can achieve nearly 30% efficiency, higher than silicon’s typical 24%–25%. However, they’ve struggled with durability, lasting just 30 months compared to silicon’s 30 years.

The UCL team found a way to tune perovskite for indoor light wavelengths while improving stability. Their specially designed chemical blend limits the material’s degradation and enhances the flow of electricity inside the cell.

“Our specially engineered perovskite indoor solar cells can harvest much more energy than commercial cells,” said Associate Professor Mojtaba Abdi Jalebi, senior author of the study.

Record-Breaking Results

The prototype smashed records for indoor light conversion, turning 37.6% of ambient light into electricity. Even after 100 days, the device retained 92% of its performance. It also survived a grueling test of 300 hours at 131°F, showing strong durability.

The chemical mix encouraged perovskite crystals to grow with minimal strain, reducing “traps” that usually block charge flow. This breakthrough solved one of the biggest bottlenecks in perovskite research.

Easy to Manufacture

Beyond its efficiency, the production method may be its most exciting feature.

“They use materials that are abundant on Earth and require only simple processing,” Jalebi explained. “They can be printed in the same way as a newspaper.”

This means the technology could scale quickly and cheaply, unlocking a new era of battery-free electronics powered by the light already present in homes and offices.

A Global Race for Light-Powered Tech

The UCL breakthrough joins other innovations in this space. In Japan, scientists are developing stretchable solar cells for wearable devices. Meanwhile, California-based Ambient Photonics is working on cells that harness low-level indoor light to power gadgets.

Why It Matters

Devices powered by ambient light could cut down on disposable batteries, reducing waste and the pollution linked to manufacturing and energy production. Combined with smart home appliances and rooftop solar panels, these innovations have the potential to lower household energy bills and reduce harmful emissions from fossil-fuel power plants.

What’s Next?

The UCL team is now seeking partners to bring their technology to market. If successful, everyday gadgets might one day run entirely on the light already surrounding us.