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

You mean like this?

[Anonymous Coward]

http://www.nanosolar.com/

Re:I suggest you look up "Hubbert peak"

[oodaloop]

Yeah, it's been well-documented that BP and other oil companies in Saudi Arabia in particular have been under-reporting oil reserves for 40 years or more to keep oil prices down. They likely have WAY more oil than that. Thanks for bringing that up. That's a good point.

Re:I suggest you look up "Hubbert peak"

[Anonymous Coward]

under-reporting oil reserves for 40 years or more to keep oil prices down.

Someone's looking at their supply-demand curve sideways :)

Re:I suggest you look up "Hubbert peak"

[hamburger lady]

actually it's been reported that SA has been highballing the estimates for decades. which makes sense, as OPEC quotas are based on stated reserves - the more you claim to have in reserves the more you can pump and sell and the more money you make.

it's in every OPEC country's best interest to overstate their reserves. and of course, nobody outside of aramco is allowed to actually independently verify those numbers.