A study published Friday in the journal Nature Communications reveals that scientists from the Ohio State University (OSU) successfully combined a battery and a solar cell into one hybrid device: the world’s first solar battery.

Researchers of the study, led by Yiying Wu, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at OSU, believe that the device will help tremendously in improving the costs of renewable energy. According to a recent statement from OSU, the university plans to license the patent-pending solar battery to industry.

“The state of the art is to use a solar panel to capture the light, and then use a cheap battery to store the energy,” said Wu. “We’ve integrated both functions into one device. Any time you can do that, you reduce cost.”

According to the statement, researchers utilized a mesh solar panel, which allows for entry of air into the battery, and a unique process for transferring electrons between the panel and the battery electrode. Within the solar battery, light and oxygen allow a number of chemical reactions to take place to charge the device.

“Basically, it’s a breathing battery,” said Wu. “It breathes in air when it discharges, and breathes out when it charges.”

OSU reports that Wu and his research team can use the solar battery to bring down costs by 25 percent, eliminating the loss of electricity that normally occurs when electrons travel between a solar cell and external battery. According to the statement: “Typically, only 80 percent of electrons emerging from a solar cell make it into a battery. With this new design, light is converted to electrons inside the battery, so nearly 100 percent of the electrons are saved.”