This is awesome. The article calls it a possible game changer and I think it's true.
UCLA researchers announced that they have created a new organic polymer that produces electricity that's transparent, durable and for malleable than silicon.
The possible applications are mind-boggling. Windows that produce electricity, buildings wrapped in transparent solar cells. Laptops, phones, cars, and planes whose outer coverings that can act as chargers. The promise of cheap and easy-to-apply site-generated solar electricity might now be a lot closer to reality.
Transparent Solar Film
Apparently, solar film isn't new, it's the fact that this solar film is transparent that's the big deal.
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UCLA Scientists Develop Transparent Solar Film
Started by Hardison, Sep 18 2012 04:04 PM
3 replies to this topic
#2
Posted 18 September 2012 - 10:37 PM
Wow! This really is an incredible advancement. Just today I was watching a solar installation on the news and thinking about how they could make it more applicable or put it into wider use. I think UCLA just figured it out. If this film could be applied to almost any surface, it would have to make panels obsolete at some point, don't you think?
The article says there is still more to be resolved. The film converts 6% of the sun's energy to electricity (as opposed to 11% for normal solar methods). But, it looks like they are on the trail of figuring out how to use more of the spectrum.
We are seeing an industry in its infancy, evolving into something big. I wonder if this is how people felt when hand crank cars first came out and then they saw the technology change and evolve.
The article says there is still more to be resolved. The film converts 6% of the sun's energy to electricity (as opposed to 11% for normal solar methods). But, it looks like they are on the trail of figuring out how to use more of the spectrum.
We are seeing an industry in its infancy, evolving into something big. I wonder if this is how people felt when hand crank cars first came out and then they saw the technology change and evolve.
#3
Posted 19 September 2012 - 10:16 AM
It's exciting, isn't it?! It's so unbelievable cool! I have faith the researchers at UCLA will be able to overcome any challenges. I can imagine that all of the buildings in our downtown area wrapped in this solar film being fully run on solar. Or even living in a house wrapped in it. I really think this new discovery is a game changer.
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