MIT Unveils First Solar Cells Printed On Paper

lucidkoan writes "MIT researchers recently unveiled the world's first thin-film solar cell printed on a sheet of paper. The panel was created using a process similar to that of an inkjet printer, producing semiconductor-coated paper imbued with carbon-based dyes that give the cells an efficiency of 1.5 to 2 percent. That's not incredibly efficient, but the convenience factor makes up for it. And in the future, researchers hope that the same process used in the paper solar cells could be used to print cells on metal foil or even plastic. If they're able to gear efficiencies up to scale, the development could revolutionize the production and installation of solar panels."

Comments

Lots of "ifs"

[gyrogeerloose]

It would be great if this turns into a workable process but it seems like someone publishes a similar article like every week and only rarely does it amount to anything.

Re:Lots of "ifs"

[anza]

99% of science isn't big jumps and revolutionary new ideas. It's incremental gains and slow but (usually) steady progress. Proof of concept of printing solar cells on paper is a pretty substantial deal, even if it isn't usable in the market yet.

Re:Lots of "ifs"

[timeOday]

And that is manifest by the fact that solar power has dropped in price by about 1/3 (page 10) (pdf warning) in the decade from 1998 to 2008. So the idea that solar is "always coming and never arrives" is not true. It's getting more affordable all the time and the installed base is growing very rapidly (page 8).

Now if we can just eliminate the other 2/3 of the price solar energy will be free :)

During that same period, oil prices (also in inflation-adjusted dollars) went up by 500%. (Doubtless they have retreated during the recession; it's hilarious how quickly we all stop worrying about it as soon as prices fall at the pump. In a year gas will be sky-high again).