Technique Merges Solar Cell and Liquid Battery

A solar flow battery was developed that is made of silicon solar cells combined with advanced solar materials integrated with optimally designed chemical components. While solar flow batteries are years away from commercialization, they offer the potential to provide reliable electricity generation and storage for lighting, cellphones, or other fundamental uses for homes in remote areas. They combine the advantages of photovoltaic cells that convert sunlight into electricity with the advantages of flow batteries, which use tanks of chemicals that can react to produce electricity and be recharged by the solar cells.