ABSTRACT
Smartwatch? Fitness tracker? Portable electrocardiogram (ECG)? Smartphone? Posture monitor? Hearing aid? MP3 player? e-reader? Wireless headset? As the list of devices that can be worn or carried by a single individual continues to get longer, the question of how to power these devices in a convenient, environmentally acceptable, and otherwise sustainable manner comes up more frequently. Portable power banks have grown in popularity to support portable and wearable devices, but, because they are batteries themselves, they do little to diminish the impacts of the increasing numbers of batteries consumed per capita. Because improvements in battery technology do not keep pace with advancements in technology, functionality, and sheer number of these devices, interest in alternative sources of power is increasing. One such alternative which is already popular on rooftops, in fields, and on mobile vehicles is solar energy. Solar energy systems capitalize on an abundance of sunlight to meet electricity demand. But, is the power of light sufficient for portable and wearable devices? In our daily lives, do we expose ourselves to enough light energy to power all the gadgets we carry and wear? This chapter examines these basic questions surrounding wearable solar cell systems.
