High-Efficiency Multi-functional Integrated Flexible Perovskite Photovoltaic Cells and Silicon Photo

Today’s solar panels mainly focus on generating electricity, but they cannot transmit data. At the same time, communication systems require separate power supplies, wiring, and hardware, which increases cost, weight, and energy loss.

Perovskite solar cells are promising but often suffer from stability issues, heat buildup, and limited integration with other technologies. Silicon photonic systems are excellent for high-speed data transmission, but they are rarely combined with energy-harvesting materials.

This separation between power generation and communication creates inefficiencies, especially for smart surfaces, IoT devices, remote sensors, and autonomous systems where space, weight, and power are limited.

The invention solves these problems by integrating a high-efficiency perovskite photovoltaic layer with silicon photonic transmission modules in one flexible film.

Special nano-structures such as quantum dots, photonic crystals, and plasmonic particles improve light absorption and electrical performance. Silicon photonic waveguides and modulators embedded in the structure enable high-speed optical data transmission (10–100 Gbps).

Additional thermal management and thermoelectric layers recover heat and maintain stable operation. The result is a single multifunctional material that produces energy, communicates data, and manages heat simultaneously.

Current technologies treat energy generation and data communication as separate systems, leading to higher cost, lower efficiency, and complex installation. Existing perovskite solar cells also struggle with long-term stability and heat management.

This invention overcomes these defects by combining both functions in one integrated structure, improving efficiency, reducing material redundancy, and enabling new smart applications that were not practical before.

• Dual-function power generation and data transmission
• Integrated perovskite photovoltaics and silicon photonics
• High light-capture efficiency using quantum dots and photonic crystals
• Flexible, lightweight thin-film structure
• Built-in thermal management and heat energy recovery
• Suitable for smart, self-powered systems

Industries where the invention can be useful?

Renewable energy Smart buildings and smart cities Internet of Things (IoT) Telecommunications Electric vehicles Aerospace and space systems Defense and security Agriculture technology Wearable and flexible electronics

An estimate of the total addressable market?

$100 billion

Potential Customers/End Users. Who might benefit?

Solar technology manufacturers Smart building developers IoT platform providers Telecom infrastructure companies Automotive and EV manufacturers Aerospace and defense organizations Government and smart-city planners