Perovskite Solar Module Enabled IoT Asset Tracking for Wildlife Conservation

Perovskite technology has shown impressive improvement in the last decade. Here, the first global positioning system (GPS)-perovskite-powered application is showcased by integrating flexible perovskite modules (fPSMs) onto an animal tracking collar for powering the Internet of Things (IoT) device that monitors wildlife bison to preserve the species and its habitat. A prototype of a solar-powered collar was designed to be more optimal for monitoring ample wildlife than commercially available asset-tracking devices, so it can provide necessary data to successfully introduce bison to new habitats. The fPSM were fabricated on a plastic substrate and connected in series configuration to generate power of 400 mW. A robust packaging with polycarbonate sheets and mechanical rivets was realized to withstand harsh environmental conditions, validated by conducting scratch and bending tests. The electronics and software system were optimized for ultra-low power mode operation, consuming only 1.9 mWh, which is 200 times less than the energy generated by our modules. The packaged modules in the outdoor testing setup retained over 30% of their initial power conversion efficiency (PCE) and power after 350 days (8400 h), giving still 60 times more power than necessary over ∼1 year of operational condition.