International Team Develops Biodegradable Solar Cell to Power Agricultural Sensors

An international team from six research institutes developed a biodegradable solar cell module power source so small and light that it can be attached to a plant stem or leaf and decompose at the end of the growing season. “Right now, sensors still aren’t being used a great deal in agriculture, but this biodegradable solution makes it possible to more effectively implement them in agricultural applications,” according to the Research Team Leader at VTT, Maria Smolander. Scientists explained that the degradable solar sell is designed to serve as a short-term power supply for low-energy-consumption sensors used to monitor the state of the environment in the field, providing data to help improve yields, prevent plant diseases, and reduce emissions. The solar cell is made of a bio-based thin film substrate and has a partly inorganic structure. Depending on conditions, it will decompose within weeks or months without releasing harmful substances or microplastics into the environment.