ABSTRACT
First-generation photovoltaic (PV) technologies and solar panels are based on crystalline silicon and are predominantly rigid. These panels have been reduced in size and are commercially available to consumers to harvest solar energy on the go. Several second-generation PV technologies are thin enough to conform and bend to the irregular topologies associated with backpacks and other accessories for greater surface area and increased energy harvesting. Most third-generation PV technologies are also flexible and many are compatible with printing and manufacturing processes that allow solar cell systems to be integrated directly into fashionable textiles and many forms of clothing including shoes, hats, shirts, shorts, and pants. Together, the three generations of PV technologies provide multiple versatile options for generating electricity from both natural and artificial light. This chapter looks at the many possibilities for wearable solar cell systems to harvest light energy and power a broad range of portables and wearables.
