Stained glass hydrangea dye solar cell made in Tokyo

A new dye solar cell made at the University of Tokyo combines energy generation in a decorative floral pattern. The colour of the flower's petals even change colour as it charges and discharges.

Hydrangea
The multi-coloured cell is based on an image of a Hydrangea plant. As in a real flower the leaves of the design generate the power, this is then stored in the area of the cell which represent the flower.

As it gains charge the flower's petal turn from white to blue, as it discharges these turn back to white.

The design has been named Annabelle after a species of hydrangea.

Home use
The Annabelle, design draws on the traditions of Japanese painting. It is supplied as one 200mm side of a square wooden box. The aesthetically pleasing design is intended to allow it to be used at home, in a conservatory of similar room.

The Annabelle cell can hold enough power to recharge two modern mobile phones and the dye solar technology means it can be charged by the low light levels encountered indoors.

Hollande and more
The team led by University of Tokyo professor Hiroshi Segawa emphasises that a myriad of decorative designs will be possible using the dye solar technology.

Segawa has already produced versions of the Annabelle cell with images of French president Francois Hollande and the Japanese computer-generated pop singer Hatsune Miku.