This solar panel attached to an old phone is perhaps not the most elegant solution but it’s a working one. A pair of cells from inexpensive solar landscaping lights glued to the back of the cellphone pumps above 5V which is just about enough needed to charge the cellphone. Not sure how safe it is either but I am sure that over time it could be developed to look better and perhaps find a casing for it, much like how there are inductive battery casings for some smartphones these days, although this would be more handy as it wouldn’t even require a power mat to begin with.
Check out the video here for a demonstration on how it works. Could solar powered phones be the next big thing?
