Fifty years in the making, solar power cells are still flat, rigid, and ugly. But new research shows how they could be made lightweight, flexible, and transparent.
These innovations could expand solar cell use to things like solar fabrics and power generating windows.
Duration : 0:1:50
[youtube s3ZbuZvq_30]
25 responses to See Through Solar Cells
so if they’re …
so if they’re transparent then cant u overlap them as many times as u want and make even more power? imagine having flexible transparent solar panels all over ur car or electric bicycle.
Silicon PV cells …
Silicon PV cells too only absorb small portion of the white light spectrum. The rest becomes heat of the cells, instead of electric energy, and gets wasted.
Law of diminishing …
Law of diminishing returns, r2dxhate. Far better one layer that is 100% absorbtive and converts 100% in one step.
I cant wait for …
I cant wait for these to start mass producing. Adding a whole bunch to the chevy volt car would increase the appeal of that vehicle
didnt he just say …
didnt he just say that they found a better material anyway?
Genius.
Genius.
To correct myself ‘ …
To correct myself ‘fact’.
This reporter has …
This reporter has his facts wrong, Silicon is not the best material for the solar cell!!
But, if efficiency …
But, if efficiency is how many photons get absorbed and converted to electron movement, how can transparent be a good thing? I’d rather they try and find ways of making them more *OPAQUE* and getting those additional photons converted to electron movement! Come on, guys! Solar cells that are as dark as platinum black, woohoo!
btw…how much this …
btw…how much this little piece give power?
agreed
agreed
yea, BUT if they …
yea, BUT if they introduced these it would lower the prices of the older ones. Problem solved
I agree, there will …
I agree, there will be a steep price to pay for this . Take a look at carbon fiber production it is old , yet still expensive to produce.
Nah, they are just …
Nah, they are just thinking differently. The material for this was sitting in front of everyone else but they never bothered. -_-’
sometimes i even …
sometimes i even wonder whether the people at science central have brains or not.
yea ing right. …
yea ing right. Less material = less expensive? Bullshit. Less material is more expensive because you make them more technology wise which is more cost. making things thinner means more delicate work = easy screw ups. Not efficient way of money.
yeah! I want about …
yeah! I want about 12 square feet of them please.
This could be used …
This could be used so well if they keep at it, Though I can hardly see how they could be as efficent as traditional panels as of yet…
Fair play to all the Scientists out there trying to bring benefit to society….
Project like these …
Project like these just never seem to make it in the end due to unresolved issues.
Heres a few things to think about.
1. Price of materials vs PV Panels.
2. Life expectancy vs PV panels.
3. Availability vs. PV panels.
4. Difficulty in tying to your power source.
As of now, the traditional PV Solar Panels are the best for best in the field. I’ve seen many different competitors, who all have draw backs. Since most installers work with PV, your going to get your best deal there.
It depends on what …
It depends on what wavelength they are operating at. At IR wavelengths, they can be the same efficiencies, but at visible light wavelengths, that lack of absorption means much lower frequencies. If they were 100%, for instance, they be platinum black in appearance. Having seen ultrathin cells that can work from IR to green absorption, there’s no way these are “just as” efficient.. misleading statement unless they tell you what conventional cell they compared them to…
the guy said ‘just …
the guy said ‘just as efficient’(at 1:10) not ‘almost as efficint’.
An important idea …
An important idea here is they are “just as efficient” as silicon based panels. Thin films are not new, not as efficient, nor, yet truly affordable for mass markets. This will be a good niche application, with potential through higher efficiencies, as well.
20 years, is …
20 years, is going to be sooo different….
wow these scientist …
wow these scientist are so pro @_@
We need to improve …
We need to improve the solar cell technology we have now so we can use it anywhere, espcially if is not combersome and expensive.
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