The panel is 10 centimeters in width and length and has been combined with a Sony Reader electronic book to prove the concept, according to a photo issued by the South Korean company.

A working prototype of the panel and e-book reader will be on show at the International Meeting on Information Display (IMID) than runs this week in Seoul.

The cell is less than a millimeter thick and weighs just 20 grams so won't significantly increase the weight of an electronic book reader.

E-book readers already offer a long battery life because their electronic paper displays draw power only when the page is being turned so the addition of a solar panel could mean regular readers never have to worry about charging the devices again.

Exposure to sunlight for four or five hours would provide enough power to run the e-book reader for a day, said LG Display.