PCB integration of dye-sensitised solar cells for internet of things applications

Internet of Things is envisioned to drastically chance the way sensor data from physical phenomena can be utilized by users on the Internet. However, one concern in deploying and maintaining a large number of sensor nodes is that replacing spent batteries will not be feasible. One solution to this issue may involve utilising energy harvesting technologies, e.g. solar, heat, or vibration, with solar being the most promising for general applications. However, using solar panels is currently a relatively expensive approach as they require a time-consuming and therefore costly assembly process. As an alternative, this paper suggests a new approach to powering networked sensors: the direct integration of a solar cell onto a sensor node?s printed circuit board. This approach eliminates the need for manual assembly and the use of expensive connectors.