New technology developed by Hydro-Québec and McGill University is capable of harvesting and storing energy using light – a self-charging battery. To create the light-charged batteries, a standard cathode from a lithium-ion battery can be “sensitized” to light by incorporating photo-harvesting dye molecules.

The team simulated a charging process using light as a source of energy. Depending on the power it can generate when the device is miniaturized, it could be used for portable devices such as phones.

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