A French startup has developed a technology that makes it possible to collect solar and artificial light indoors. Devices based on this technology are expected to reduce energy consumption and waste.
Dracula Technologies is trying to solve the problem of dependence on batteries and accumulators through Organic Photovoltaic (OPV) technology. The gadgets, called LAYER, are made by ink-jet printing and can generate energy not only from natural light, but also from artificial light. One of the advantages of the technology is called flexibility, because, unlike conventional methods of making sensors, LAYERs can have any shape.
According to official UN data, the amount of e-waste in 2021 will reach 52.2 million metric tons. Batteries and used battery fuel cells will make up a large part of it. Dracula Technologies does not use expensive rare-earth elements or heavy metals in its production. Instead, LAYERs are made of carbon-based material. Representatives of the French startup assure that this approach will not only protect the environment, but also reduce the total cost of ownership of electronic devices by four times compared to traditional batteries.
Dracula Technologies is currently negotiating partnerships with semiconductor manufacturers. Contacts have already been established with Japan’s Renesas Electronics and AND Technology Research. There are plans to create autonomous battery-less devices for the smart home.
