Advances in flexible solar cells for clothing, types, characteristics and uses

Clothing has been present in human life since its inception seeking to cover the body, comfort, and protection against inclement weather, the development of garments has gone hand in hand with the evolution of human civilization. In medieval times, garments were made from animal skins and skins, while textile fabric came from linen and cotton. This study investigates the integration of solar cells into textiles to create energy-autonomous garments that can power portable electronic devices. The recent advances in the different flexible solar cell technologies present in the market and the implementation of these in traditional fabrics as well as in smart garments are analyzed, evaluating the efficiency, durability, and commercial viability. The analysis reviews the type cells sensitive to red, quantum dot solar, cadmium telleride, organic solar cells (OSC), and pervskites, the latter reaching 20% efficiency, while the most used for integration in textiles are OSC and Perovskites. In addition, the main applications in final textile products are shown.