Plastic Solar Panels are inexpensive and easy to make
The increase in harmful gas emissions in the atmosphere because of the burning of fossil fuels has led to an increase in global warming. This is the reason why scientists and researchers are looking for different sources of energy. One of the most popular options in renewable energy sources is solar energy.
Today the harvesting of energy from solar radiation with the help of solar cells has become an important part of future global energy strategy. However there are challenges on creating cheap and inexpensive means and forms of harnessing solar energy as it is not possible for all consumers to process purified silicon.
This is why researchers at New Jersey Institute of Technology have worked out on developing inexpensive solar cells that can either be painted or printed on flexible plastic sheets. Researchers say that this process is so simple that homeowners of the future will be able to print sheets of these solar cells with the help of inexpensive home based inkjet printers.
Once done, all the consumer has to do to harness solar energy is to slap the finished product on a billboard, roof or wall and thus have their own power station in their reach.
These organic cells are made from polymers, and are a cheap and simpler alternative to purified silicon chips. The researchers are very optimistic about their work as their solar cells can be painted or printed inexpensively on the exterior of building walls and roof tops.
You can just picture the future of renewable energy benefits by your hybrid car getting powered by a solar panel that is painted on the roof of the garage. This solar panel will collect the required energy to produce electricity to drive the engine.
What happens in these organic solar cells is that sunlight falls on the cell wherein the energy generates positive and negative charges. Once the charges on the cell are separated and sent to different electrodes, current starts flowing through the cell. If these charges are not separated and sent to electrodes, this energy is wasted.
These cells are linked electronically where the cells form a panel, like what is seen on most rooftops today. There is no fixed size that has to be followed for the solar cells and panels. Some cells may be 1 millimeter long and others, several feet long.
The solar cell that was developed at NJIT was made with the help of carbon nanotubes complex which is basically a molecular configuration of carbon found in cylindrical shapes.
Though a nanotube may be 50,000 times smaller than human hair, it can conduct electricity better than any conventional electric wire and are better conductors than copper.
The researchers took these nanotubes to combine them with tiny carbon Buckyballs or fullerenes to create snake like structures. Buckyballs can basically trap electrons, but not make them flow. With sunlight, the polymers get excited and make the Buckyballs grab electrons.
These nanotubes then behave like copper wires and make the electrons or current flow. And it is this solar cell recipe that is expected to enhance the efficiency of the solar cells of tomorrow by becoming an inexpensive energy alternative for households worldwide.
For further Reference see
NJIT Researchers develop inexpensive solar panels. New Jersey’s Science & Technology University
Sunny Future for Nanocrystal solar cells. Berkley Lab
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8 Responses to “Plastic Solar Panels are inexpensive and easy to make”
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Please hurry up with this technology.
How long is it anticipated that it will take for these sort of products to come onto the market?
Are these early research papers close to entering industrial scale production?
I don’t think we will see them in a short time
Despite what the traditional media would have us believe, the future really is bright. This is just one of many many radical new possibilities within the solar power industry. Then theres breakthrough in ocean thermal, wind, even anti-matter is out there as a genuine clean alternative to fosslil fuel. So we don’t have to be reading about doom and gloom. Positive news might not sell as well as fear, but it sure is cleaner and better for you! I love this blog - keep on posting!
Thanks Sam
I am so glad that nano technologies are developing so fast. They will make our lifes better!
We could install solar panels in paint, walls, cloth etc…
companies such a s Nanosolar in the US and Xerocoat in Oz are developing this paint on solar cell dye for market right now. shouldn’t be long now.
This is nano technology we are talking about. I know its in use, but definately the cost of those nano tubes (and the printers) is what is keeping the cost high. They show a very bright picture buti cant see this happening in the next 10 years, but i hope im wrong