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Stained glass windows and a desk can help you charge your phone
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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Solar panels produced today are quite large and heavy, and lightweight self-adhesive solar films are not yet so widespread.
Marjan Van Obel, a designer from Holland, has proposed a more elegant and miniature technology. The designer has proposed using stained glass to collect solar energy. As Marjan herself said, she imagines her invention in a church, where stained glass would look simply stunning. But such panels can also be used in an office, library, museum, or instead of regular glass.
The design of the Marjan stained glass windows is based on dye-balanced photocells developed by Swiss specialists. The photocells are made of semiconductor crystals, dye, and titanium dioxide. When sunlight is absorbed, which activates electrons, an electric current is produced. The current is then transferred to a battery built into the window sill, from which you can charge your phone or other electronic devices.
The Dutch designer noted that in one day our planet receives enough solar energy to charge all electrical appliances; people are only faced with the task of collecting, storing and transporting electricity to where it is needed.
A photocell with a sensitive dye is installed inside the stained glass panels, which uses its color properties to create electricity. The process can be compared to plants, which use chlorophyll to generate energy from sunlight.
The principle of stained glass is based on the placement of titanium dioxide particles on thin transparent glass, which is then coated with orange paint. The painting helps titanium dioxide absorb solar energy more effectively, due to which the electrons stored in titanium dioxide are released and produce electricity. A special battery acts as a storage and saves electricity until a certain point.
In addition to the multi-colored stained glass windows, Marian also suggested using the surface of the desk as a solar panel, which would generate electricity in a similar way.
Maryan has developed an unusual design for a table with triangular legs that absorbs solar energy and uses it to recharge electrical appliances. The surface of the table is covered with orange glass, on which there are two sockets from which you can charge a tablet, mobile phone, etc., unused energy is saved in a special battery.
The table's distinctive feature is its ability to use diffuse sunlight for recharging (standard solar panels only use direct sunlight to generate energy). The table also has a light display that shows the amount of charge available.
The charging time from such a table depends on the amount of sunlight available at the time.
According to the designer, such tables are perfect for use in libraries, restaurants, and conference halls.