MIT Envisions DIY Solar Cells Made From Grass Clippings

Posted by samzenpus on Monday February 6, 2012 @04:33AM from the growing-power dept.

Zothecula writes "Research scientist Andreas Mershin has a dream to bring inexpensive solar power to the masses, especially those in developing countries. After years of research, he and his team at MIT's Center for Bits and Atoms, along with University of Tennessee biochemist Barry Bruce, have worked out a process that extracts functional photosynthetic molecules from common yard and agricultural waste. If all goes well, in a few years it should be possible to gather up a pile of grass clippings, mix it with a blend of cheap chemicals, paint it on your roof and begin producing electricity. Talk about redefining green power plants!"

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Oh, please... by Jiro · 2012-02-06 05:00 · Score: 5, Informative

Yes, it takes grass clippings. Also "zinc oxide nanowires interspersed with titanium dioxide sponges".
Claiming that this is a solar cell made from grass clippings is like the Rubik's cube solver built from Lego (one component of which was a computer; the computer's not built from Lego). If you want a car analogy, it's like claiming your car is made from glass (since it has glass in the windows).