Next-Gen Glitter-Sized Photovoltaic Cells Unveiled

MikeChino writes "Sandia National Laboratories recently announced a new breed of glitter-sized solar cells made from crystalline silicon that use 100 times less material to generate the same amount of electricity as standard solar cells made from 6-inch square solar wafers. Perfect for soaking up the sun’s rays on unusual shapes and surfaces, the tiny solar cells are expected to be less expensive, more efficient, and have promising new applications in textiles, clothing, and building facade installations."

Comments

glitter - the new nano measurement standard

[thomasdz]

OK, we have a new standard of measurement... "glitter"
I can handle that. After all I understood volkswagon-sized meteors, a station wagon full of backup tapes, a library of congress -sized disk farm, and of course the old favorite, a football field sized nuclear storage facility.

Re:glitter - the new nano measurement standard

[FatdogHaiku]

My favorite measure is still the "buttload" as in, "We have a buttload of these old 1.6 gig Celeron machines, should we make a beowulf cluster?" There are instances of confusion when working between Asia or Europe and America, as the American (or imperial) buttload is larger that the metric buttload, however a buttload does imply plenty so things tend to workout in the end...

I'm sorry, I'll get a cup of coffee and take my meds now....

Re:glitter - the new nano measurement standard

[Waffle Iron]

Hmm... I always thought that a "metric buttload" was bigger, because people I've known tend to use it as a superlative over an unadorned buttload.

Does this tip the balance?

[Red Flayer]

Up until now we have all known that trench-coat ninjas > glitter vampires > eye-liner pirates.

Does this invention change this? Will glitter vampires now be able to overpower both eye-liner pirates and trench-coat ninjas?

Or does the "solar" aspect of these tiny solar cells make them useless, even deadly, to glitter vampires?

Also, can someone please explain where heroin-chic werewolves fit into the hierarchy? I'm having trouble placing them.

These are the questions that wake me in the middle of the night, sweating and with racing heart.

Re:Everything old is new again?

[Red Flayer]

And I thought glitter went out most of a decade ago. Time to dig into the closet!

While you're in there, can you say "hi" to Tom Cruise for us?

Re:Efficiency of current cells less than 1%????

[JrGrouch0]

Glitter?

Silly You!

[gbutler69]

A "Glitter" (si Unit, "gL") is a measure of conversion from Lumens/cm^2/s to kW/Hr. Get your facts straight!

Re:and I bet

[Swimsc]

Finally a reason for the wife to Bedazzle the house. Thanks Science!

Re:and I bet

[grumling]

My first thought when I saw the title was "Great, now women can get men to stare at their chest AND charge the iPhone!"

Re:Wiring them up

[baKanale]

China doesn't have any girls, you insensitive clod!

Re:There's more than efficiency to consider.

[Anonymous Coward]

I believe lifetime comes from the fact that the current is generated by electrons knocked free from the material in the solar cell. Over time the number electrons available to knock free and turn into current is reduced.

The lifetime doesn't refer to the material's lifetime, it is more to do with the useful producing lifetime of the solar cell.