Once a joke in a classic Hong Kong film, solar-powered gadgets that only work under light are now becoming practical, scalable solutions for everyday devices.
By integrating an ultra-thin flexible layer—thinner than a playing card—devices can generate electricity directly from ambient light. This layer is a flexible perovskite light-energy cell, offering lightweight design, high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and the ability to operate continuously without disposable batteries.
Perovskite materials are widely regarded as a core technology for next-generation photovoltaics. Between 2021 and 2022, investment in China’s perovskite sector approached RMB 10 billion, attracting leading global investors including Tencent, Hillhouse, IDG, Temasek, and Sequoia Capital.
Recently, Yanhe Technology completed a Series A financing of over RMB 100 million, led by Oriental Jiafu Asset Management, with participation from ZJC Ventures, Xingxiang Capital, Guoke Ventures, Xiaochi Capital, and follow-on investment from existing shareholder Caixin Capital.
Founded in 2024 by Feng Fan and Peng Zongyang, both alumni of Peking University’s Department of Materials Chemistry, Yanhe Technology focuses on lightweight, compact, and ultra-thin perovskite energy modules for consumer electronics and smart devices. This approach differs fundamentally from traditional photovoltaic companies that primarily serve utility-scale solar power plants.
Feng Fan holds a bachelor’s degree in Materials Chemistry from Peking University and a master’s degree in Management Science and Engineering from Columbia University. Prior to founding Yanhe Technology, he worked in investment and strategy roles at CITIC Securities and DP Technology. Through his experience, Feng observed that while AI-driven software has advanced rapidly, hardware innovation remains constrained—largely due to limitations in energy supply.
"In the AI era, hardware cannot evolve without breakthroughs in energy," Feng says. "Perovskite technology offers a new path forward."
Why Perovskite for Consumer Devices
Yanhe Technology entered the market at a key inflection point for perovskite commercialization. According to Feng, three factors supported this timing.
First, manufacturing processes have matured significantly, with clearer production pathways and sharply reduced costs. Building a 100 MW production line now requires around RMB 100 million, compared with several times that amount in earlier stages.
Second, perovskite cells have achieved major improvements in both efficiency and stability, making commercial deployment increasingly viable.
Third, perovskite technology excels in areas where crystalline silicon falls short—low-light power generation, flexibility, lightweight form factors, and extreme miniaturization. These advantages align naturally with the needs of consumer electronics, smart home devices, and distributed sensors.
Based on this assessment, Yanhe Technology chose to focus on consumer-grade energy solutions rather than traditional power generation.
Yanhe Technology Founder Feng Fan, a graduate of Peking University’s Department of Materials Chemistry
From Lab to Scalable Production
In early 2024, Yanhe Technology established its R&D and pilot-scale platform in Beijing and deployed a manufacturing base in Changde, Hunan Province, successfully launching China’s first fully automated production line for consumer-grade perovskite light-energy cells.
The company has since formed deep strategic partnerships with global technology leaders including Lenovo, Aqara, and Signify, co-developing products such as solar-powered keyboards, sensors, and smart wearables. To date, Yanhe Technology has collaborated with nearly 100 brands across more than 50 countries and regions.
For low-power devices such as remote controls and electronic shelf labels, perovskite modules can fully replace disposable batteries, enabling truly battery-free operation. For medium-power devices such as smartwatches and AR glasses, integrating perovskite cells can extend battery life by over 30 percent, significantly reducing charging frequency.
Yanhe Technology’s manufacturing facility in Changde, Hunan Province, supplying products to leading companies including Lenovo, Aqara, and Signify
Toward a New Energy Paradigm
Yanhe Technology operates as a B2B energy solutions provider, positioning itself as "a new energy solutions partner for AI hardware." Rather than selling batteries directly to consumers, the company supplies integrated energy modules to device manufacturers, enabling seamless, charge-free user experiences.
In the near term, Yanhe Technology sees scalable commercial opportunities in replacing AA, AAA, and coin-cell batteries—particularly in remote controls, electronic shelf labels, passive sensors, and smart building controllers.
Looking ahead, Feng believes perovskite technology should not be confined to comparisons with traditional photovoltaics.
"Its real value lies in integrating energy directly into everyday objects," he says. "When power becomes lightweight, flexible, and invisible, energy generation can finally move closer to daily life."
