Phones that only need to be charged weekly

Battery life has become one of the biggest battles of modern computing and technology. Photo / Getty

The hassle of having to charge your phone could become a thing of the past following an invention by British scientists.

Oxford University engineers have created a material that replaces the screen glass on phones, tablets and smartwatches but doesn't use any power.

It's a significant discovery which could see us charging our devices just once a week, overcoming one of modern computing and technology's biggest stumbling blocks: battery life.

While technology firms have traditionally focused on improving battery life, British experts say tackling the main drain on a gadget's power - the screen - may render better results.

Oxford engineer Dr Peiman Hosseini, who invented the material, told the Sunday Telegraph: "You have to charge smartwatches every night. But if you had smart glass, you could recharge it just once a week."

The innovation works by using electrical pulses to create displays that don't require power and can also be viewed in direct sunlight.

As the power and technology of lifestyle gadgets has improved exponentially, battery power has not kept up.

While the Oxford scientists are confident they've cracked the battery battle and hope to have a prototype within a year, other technology companies are also exploring new power methods.

Apple is investigating using fuel cells to power phones and laptops and this year was granted a patent for a system it claims could power Apple devices for weeks.

Aside from mobile gadgets, improving battery technology is seen as being key to the success of electric cars, which currently have a limited mileage before they must stop to be recharged.

- nzherald.co.nz