26-07-2011 Solar Power: Good on Paper
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are developing a cheap alternative to regular solar power. Their discovery of printing solar cells directly onto fabric or paper is proving to be a complex mission for the team, but one that they think could be an economical and eco-friendly energy option for the future. The MIT researchers found the printing process works on just about any paper, from regular printer paper, to tissue paper and even newspaper with pre-printed news text. The printing must be done in a vacuum-tight room where the special “ink” is deposited onto the paper. The team announced that the cells are currently efficient enough to power a “small electric gizmo.” A solar powered phone charger could be on the cards sooner than we think.
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