Looking for new ways to keep warm, or just dazzle others with clothes that literally light up?
Then textile jointly developed by Industrial Technology Center of Fukui Prefecture and Kyoto-based solar cell manufacturer Sphelar Power Corp. may be just the thing.
The cloth can be made with thousands, or even tens of thousands, of tiny solar cells.
The spherical solar cells are woven into the fabric and connected to a battery through conductive wires to provide a source of light and heat during the nighttime.
Each solar cell, with a diameter of 1.2 millimeters, has an electrical output of 0.2 milliwatt during daytime on a clear day.
Because the cloth is thin and flexible, it is expected to be used as material for curtains and other commercial goods.
The fabric, with LEDs on its surface, could be a perfect choice for costumes worn by performers of the "Red and White" song contest, a popular year-end live music program on Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK).
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN