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Spray-On Solar-Power Cells Are True Breakthrough
National Geographic ^ | January 14, 2005 | Stefan Lovgren

Posted on 01/28/2005 5:47:41 AM PST by presidio9

Scientists have invented a plastic solar cell that can turn the sun's power into electrical energy, even on a cloudy day.

The plastic material uses nanotechnology and contains the first solar cells able to harness the sun's invisible, infrared rays. The breakthrough has led theorists to predict that plastic solar cells could one day become five times more efficient than current solar cell technology.

Like paint, the composite can be sprayed onto other materials and used as portable electricity. A sweater coated in the material could power a cell phone or other wireless devices. A hydrogen-powered car painted with the film could potentially convert enough energy into electricity to continually recharge the car's battery.

The researchers envision that one day "solar farms" consisting of the plastic material could be rolled across deserts to generate enough clean energy to supply the entire planet's power needs.

"The sun that reaches the Earth's surface delivers 10,000 times more energy than we consume," said Ted Sargent, an electrical and computer engineering professor at the University of Toronto. Sargent is one of the inventors of the new plastic material.

"If we could cover 0.1 percent of the Earth's surface with [very efficient] large-area solar cells," he said, "we could in principle replace all of our energy habits with a source of power which is clean and renewable."

Infrared Power

Plastic solar cells are not new. But existing materials are only able to harness the sun's visible light. While half of the sun's power lies in the visible spectrum, the other half lies in the infrared spectrum.

The new material is the first plastic composite that is able to harness the infrared portion.

"Everything that's warm gives off some heat. Even people and animals give off heat," Sargent said. "So there actually is some power remaining in the infrared [spectrum], even when it appears to us to be dark outside."

The researchers combined specially designed nano particles called quantum dots with a polymer to make the plastic that can detect energy in the infrared.

With further advances, the new plastic "could allow up to 30 percent of the sun's radiant energy to be harnessed, compared to 6 percent in today's best plastic solar cells," said Peter Peumans, a Stanford University electrical engineering professor, who studied the work.

Electrical Sweaters

The new material could make technology truly wireless.

"We have this expectation that we don't have to plug into a phone jack anymore to talk on the phone, but we're resigned to the fact that we have to plug into an electrical outlet to recharge the batteries," Sargent said. "That's only communications wireless, not power wireless."

He said the plastic coating could be woven into a shirt or sweater and used to charge an item like a cell phone.

"A sweater is already absorbing all sorts of light both in the infrared and the visible," said Sargent. "Instead of just turning that into heat, as it currently does, imagine if it were to turn that into electricity."

Other possibilities include energy-saving plastic sheeting that could be unfurled onto a rooftop to supply heating needs, or solar cell window coating that could let in enough infrared light to power home appliances.

Cost-Effectiveness

Ultimately, a large amount of the sun's energy could be harnessed through "solar farms" and used to power all our energy needs, the researchers predict.

"This could potentially displace other sources of electrical production that produce greenhouse gases, such as coal," Sargent said.

In Japan, the world's largest solar-power market, the government expects that 50 percent of residential power supply will come from solar power by 2030, up from a fraction of a percent today.

The biggest hurdle facing solar power is cost-effectiveness.

At a current cost of 25 to 50 cents per kilowatt-hour, solar power is significantly more expensive than conventional electrical power for residences. Average U.S. residential power prices are less than ten cents per kilowatt-hour, according to experts.

But that could change with the new material.

"Flexible, roller-processed solar cells have the potential to turn the sun's power into a clean, green, convenient source of energy," said John Wolfe, a nanotechnology venture capital investor at Lux Capital in New York City.


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: energy; nanotechnology
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Comment #41 Removed by Moderator

To: Squawk 8888

Hard to believe Canada doesn't have electric cooperatives.


42 posted on 01/28/2005 6:45:00 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: presidio9

Hmm...if I sprayed my frying pan with it...


43 posted on 01/28/2005 6:49:22 AM PST by AmericanChef
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To: Boot Hill
Solar cell prices bottomed out almost 20 years ago...

Silicon solar cell prices bottomed out. The polymer cell technology has changed the game completely, especially for large panels that could be made as a single unit in a mold instead of a mosaic of smaller cells.

44 posted on 01/28/2005 6:50:00 AM PST by Squawk 8888 (With enemies like Michael Moore, who needs friends?)
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To: presidio9

Spray on and heat powered?.
How about a underarm deodorant than can recharge your cell phone while keeping you dry and fresh all day?


45 posted on 01/28/2005 6:50:01 AM PST by atchoo2
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Comment #46 Removed by Moderator

To: Samurai_Jack

47 posted on 01/28/2005 6:51:48 AM PST by presidio9 (Islam is as Islam does)
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To: Boot Hill; All

Yes but what is energy independence worth to a homeowner subject to shocks in terms of foriegn and domestic energy price jumps. To spend a couple of thousand bucks for a low maintenance energy production system that may not pay for itself for many years may seem foolish, but if you have energy when others don't due to price hikes, wars or natural disasters, the potential costs are insignificant compared to the freedom and flexibility such a system gives a home-owner!


48 posted on 01/28/2005 6:52:53 AM PST by mdmathis6
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To: Squawk 8888
"That 5x comparison is against polymer solar cells...

If they want to argue efficiency, then they must compare their best to the industries current best. And the current state of the art is the poly-crystalline PV cells which is 2.5x more efficient than the numbers they offered.

--Boot Hill

49 posted on 01/28/2005 6:53:07 AM PST by Boot Hill (How do you verbalize a noun?)
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To: Squawk 8888
"The polymer cell technology has changed the game completely..."

Nope, the current crop of products using that technology cost more, are less efficient and have a shorter lifetime than current poly-crystalline PV technology.

As for the newer version of the polymer technology from the thread article...

Ping me if they ever begin shipping product!

--Boot Hill

50 posted on 01/28/2005 6:57:59 AM PST by Boot Hill (How do you verbalize a noun?)
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To: presidio9
For true geeks who must build their own...This college class at DVC (SF Bay Area)is great. I may take it someday. Tom, the professor, fell off the roof several years ago while adjusting the panels. Got messed up real bad but he's back teaching now.

http://www.dvc.edu/schedule/record_detailSP05.asp?keySection=8184Spring2005AlternateEnergyTechnologies

Catalog Course Description
AET-130 Photovoltaic Systems Design and Installation
2 Units SC May Be Repeated Once
2 hours Lecture / 1 hour Laboratory per Week
This course will show students how to do solar site evaluations, electrical load calculations, solar system size calculations, and installation techniques. This course will help students design and install their own solar system and/or obtain skills for employment. CSU

51 posted on 01/28/2005 6:58:06 AM PST by Drango (To Serve Man.....IT'S A COOKBOOK!)
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To: presidio9
Everything that's warm gives off some heat.

How much does one get paid to know stuff that advanced? ;)

52 posted on 01/28/2005 6:59:02 AM PST by smith288 ("Bravery is not a reaction to fear but the act of ignoring it from honor.")
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To: presidio9

Let me know when I can coat my house in this stuff so I can get off the power grid. Thanks.


53 posted on 01/28/2005 6:59:17 AM PST by SengirV
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To: Mamzelle
Re Solar - I know several families in Arizona that are "off the grid" - they have lights, refrigeration, PCs but no AC. We're getting there. ;-)

54 posted on 01/28/2005 6:59:25 AM PST by Tunehead54 (Repeal the 22nd Amendment!)
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To: Boot Hill

Actually, your figure won't work if Dr. Alvin Marks' Lumeloid (solar cell on a roll) becomes a reality. Lumeloid, a photovoltaic film, has a theoretical conversion efficiency of 72-84% and can cost as little as $1/m2. The table you cited only used a conversion efficiency of 12% (88% cell converison loss). Even if one were to assume a sold frame will increase Lumeloid's cost to $10/sq meter; the payback ratio will definitely be positive within the first year alone even if one prices it at only 3 or 4 cents/kWh

Here are my figures for an equatorial site:

Solar Intensity above the Atmosphere 1,370 W/m2
Loss of energy from passing through the atmosphere
Absorbed by atmosphere (20%) 274.0
Scattered (6%) 82.2
Reflected back into space by clouds (20%) 274.0
Reflected back into space by earth’s surface (4%) 54.8
Total loss (50%) 685.0

Remaining insolation hitting the earth’s surface (50%) 685.0
Insolation for solar power purposes (54%) 739.8

P.S. I did a Project Proposal for Lumeloid but for a 1,5 and 20 sq km solar power plant located in Yuma (32.67 degrees) latitude. My studies have shown a Lumeloid power plant of 1 sq km in Yuma can break even within two years even if selling the power to utilities for only 2 cents/kWh.


55 posted on 01/28/2005 6:59:34 AM PST by Edward Watson
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To: mdmathis6
"Yes but what is energy independence worth to a homeowner subject to shocks in terms of foriegn and domestic energy price jumps."

Its worth nothing to the homeowner, but having access to the lowest cost energy is worth plenty.

--Boot Hill

56 posted on 01/28/2005 7:00:22 AM PST by Boot Hill (How do you verbalize a noun?)
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To: Boot Hill
I know I have seen prices for less, right now I can find the 167W (almost the same as 175W) for $612 ... source is here: click here
57 posted on 01/28/2005 7:03:45 AM PST by ikka
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To: Tunehead54

My AC is almost free from geothermal wells.


58 posted on 01/28/2005 7:05:58 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: Edward Watson

Lumeloid is made from un-obtainium. My table is wholly insufficient to predict the performance or economics of such a non-product.

We don't live on the equator.

--Boot Hill

59 posted on 01/28/2005 7:10:46 AM PST by Boot Hill (How do you verbalize a noun?)
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To: rawhide
Sure, solar power is expensive, but isn't it just a one time expense, basically? I would think very little maintenance would be required? So solar power may cost a lot now, but it pays for itself in the future and you reap those savings year after year?

I always have heard that the life of a solar panel is only like 10 years with less efficiency each year. Very expensive in the long run with maintenance.

60 posted on 01/28/2005 7:16:15 AM PST by LowOiL ("I am neither . I am a Christocrat" -Benjamin Rush)
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