Scientists Create Energy-Producing Solar Paint
A recent partnership between the steel industry and UK university researchers has led to the development of a unique photovoltaic paint that can be applied to steel.
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The paint is made up of dye and electrolytes that can be applied as a paste to steel sheets. Four layers of paint are applied to each sheet. When light hits the solar cells, excited molecules release an electron into an electron collector and circuit (nanocrystalline titanium dioxide). Finally, the electrons move back into the dye.
Photovoltaic paint has a number of advantages over traditional solar cells. It doesn’t have the material limitations of silicon solar cells, so it theoretically provides many terawatts of electricity at a low cost. Additionally, the paint can absorb light across the visible spectrum— so even cloudy days will reap lots of energy.
According to steel company Corus Colours, the solar cells can achieve a power conversion efficiency of 11 percent.
Production of solar paint will begin soon— a lab built to develop the new technology is starting work on October 30 in North Wales. Ultimately, researchers at the PV Accelerator Laboratory in North Wales hope to develop a way to apply solar paint to steel at 30 to 40 square meters per second.
I only wonder if solar paint will be available for purchase to consumers in the future— if so, it could easily lead to a do-it-yourself solar revolution.
Photo credit: Corus Colours
Wow! This is pretty cool. Did the original source mention any cost projections or comparisons to other PV technologies?
This is the type of thing that I think will enable solar PV to have a Moore’s Law-like improvement in price-performance. Right now we think of solar PV as all about silicon (or CIGS), but solar PV paint could change the game. Technology improvements in the collection itself (efficiency and manufacturing of the collectors, or simply painting them onto other surfaces) get us the first factor of ten price reduction. Combine these with other types of innovations - such as using this painted metal as roofing material, so it serves two purposes - get us another factor of two-to-five. With storage technologies to solve the “baseload” problem - if the PV collection is cheap, I can live with inefficient (and heavy - e.g., batteries in my basement) storage, as long as it too is cheap.
Nils
Nils - the original source speculates that the solar point should be cheap since it doesn’t require silicon, but doesn’t mention specific numbers.
I think the method they are using to bring cost down is not only in the materials used but also the process. They are using a printing technique very similar to printing newspapers. I really can’t wait to see this on the open market. As well as I heard that they are able to use the infrared spectrum of the sun ray, which is about 50% of the sun ray. Let me know if I’m incorret though.
And the naysayers said it wasn ‘t possible… Score for the alternative energy optomists!
Watch current solar panels become dirt cheap…lol OWNED!
OK, so I can see the bottom conductor - that’s the steel sheet. But what forms the top conductor? No top conductor - nothing to connect that second wire to for extracting the power.
Vik :v)
OK, so I’ve spotted the lower conductor for the cell -that’s the steel sheet. But what forms the top layer conductor? You need a second conductor to complete the circuit and get the power out. They’re a bit quiet on that one.
Vik :v)
If electrons move from one area to another area, that is the definition of electrical current.
One can apply a wire at one location where the electrons move, and another wire at the other side.
Perhaps the “covering” layer is just a conductor. That’s all they really need. The conductor could be embedded in the upper layer of the paint itself. The lower conductor is the steel sheet.
I would be willing to bet anyone here that this is how they do it.
Solar power as a paint will ultimately reduce the cost of solar energy, even if it is not as efficient as “regular” solar panels. After all, it is just a paint. Paints are easily amenable to mass produced manufacture and application.
sanjosemike
One thing… since it’s applied to steel, it’s not like mass production for regular consumption would allow us to paint our wood/brick/concrete houses with it. Unfortunately. Though painting every NYC skyscraper would probably have good effects. I hope it comes in a variety of colors
i wonder if it will come in clear as i could just skip the solar panels and paint my shingles with it then id just have to figure out how to connect the leads to it
Sir: 11% efficient is not very excity when others are around 40% now. So, it takes 4x the area to get the same kwatts. Paint also peels.
There is the same approach as this one on plastic film. So, this is a copy of existing developments.