But the research is the same and the results are the same... buttons don't produce enough power to make it worthwile compared to larger solar cells. The differ

But the research is the same and the results are the same... buttons don't produce enough power to make it worthwile compared to larger solar cells. The difference would be, if the buttons produced a comparable amount of power, where academics could then write "while expensive, with mass production, the cost of buttons will fall to a level to make it economically viable" and product designers would tell their bosses BOM prices for both options, and then a decision would be made.