Using paper to generate solar power

Can printed solar cells be used to generate energy?

Unlike traditional silicon panels, which are rigid and heavy, solar cells could be deployed in previously impossible ways to generate energy from the sun. This includes being adhered to buildings, vehicles, clothing and wearables. However, scaling up production while maintaining efficiency has long been a hurdle for printed solar cell technology.

What are printed solar cells?

Printed solar cells are highly efficient, flexible, and decreasing in cost. Unlike traditional silicon panels, which are rigid and heavy, solar cells could be deployed in previously impossible ways to generate energy from the sun. This includes being adhered to buildings, vehicles, clothing and wearables.

What are paper-thin solar cells?

The paper-thin solar cells are made of semiconducting inks using printing processes that can be scaled in the future to large-area manufacturing. One-hundredth the weight of conventional solar cells, the former generates 18 times more power per kilogram, which is quite impressive.

Can printed solar cells improve efficiency?

However, scaling up production while maintaining efficiency has long been a hurdle for printed solar cell technology. Many researchers have only achieved efficiency levels of one or two per cent with a full printed flexible solar panel.

How much power does a Dyneema solar cell generate?

Outshining conventional solar cells When they tested the device, the MIT researchers found it could generate 730 watts of power per kilogram when freestanding and about 370 watts-per-kilogram if deployed on the high-strength Dyneema fabric, which is about 18 times more power-per-kilogram than conventional solar cells.

How are solar panels made?

They are one-hundredth the weight of conventional solar panels, generate 18 times more power-per-kilogram, and are made from semiconducting inks using printing processes that can be scaled in the future to large-area manufacturing. Because they are so thin and lightweight, these solar cells can be laminated onto many different surfaces.